Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-14
THE PANAMA CANAL AFFAIR.
Investigating the American End of the
Scandal.


Investigating the American End Of the
Scandal.
The congressional committee charged with
the investigation of the American end Of the
Panama canal scandal met in the Federal build
ing in New York yesterday. Congressman Fell
lows, Geary, Powell. Patterson and Storer APP
peared at the morning session. When chairs
had been brought in for all the people inter-
ested in the hearing there was not elbow ROOM
The first witness called was Xavier Boyard.
VIM. N. Cromwell, his counsel, was present to
look after his interests. There were also pres
ent Francis Lynde Stetson of the counsel for
Wright of Drexel, Morgan & Co., and a repre-
sentative of the firm of J. & W. Sel;gman.
Mr.. Boyard was the purchasing agent Of the
canal company in New York. He said he went
INTO the service Of the company in 1882. He
came to New York with a letter from M. de
lesseps. Then he went to the isthmus.
Mr.. Boyard was sent from the isthmus as Sec
rotary of Saleta who went to New York city ms
purchasing agent He was Mr.. Saleta's score
tary until 1887. Then he eucceeded him as
purchasing agent in New York and he filed
that position till the construction Of the canal
stopped.
1t was all plain sailing for Mr.. Boyard until
he was cross-cxamined, although he halted and
pondered once or twice when Congressman
Fellows referred to Losseps as "Moshoe de
Lacy"
"Did you use money for any other purpose
except purchasing goods for the canal COM.
pany?' asked Congressman Patterson.
mot one cent, said Mr.. Boyard earnestly.
Then he said he had brought only ledger and
a check book with him to the hearing.
Congressman Fellows trowned. "Mr. Boyard"
he said, this subpoena calls for books, letters.
inc in, fha
documents referring to the Panama Canal Com
pany or the American committee. wish you to
so at once and bring all those books and docu-
ments here. You can have the assistance OF the
sergeant-at-arms"
Ia the afternoon Nathan Appleton of Boston
was put on the stand. When asked about his
connection with the canal company he said that
he would have to go back to the beginning Of
the scheme to explain it, and go back he did.
In great many words he told the whole history
of the Panama canal.
After telling Of the international conferences
at Paris on the Panama canal proposition, Mr..
Appleton described the various canal routes
across the isthmus that had been considered and
rejected. At the last meeting Of the canal con-
gress in the summer Of 1879 he said that
Lesseps had voted for the canal scheme and had
said: III put myself at the head OF the canal
enterprise
HE wanted the company to be interna-
tional. said the witness. HE wanted leading
men OF other nations to be- prominently con-
nected with it. The only position he could
offer in America was vice president Of the COM
pany and he offered that to Gen. Grant,"
Hump" SAID Congressman Patterson, dryly,
and did Gen. Grant accept?''
HE did not" replied the Witness
Appleton said he became a kind Of promoter
at-large OF the enterprise in the United States
at a regular salary, which he received through
the Seligman firm. In this capacity of pro-
moter he went on tours, made speeches, and
also. as he expressed it, submitted to be inter-
viewed" whenever occasion offered.
LEssEps' VISIT TO AMERICA
After the failure of the first canal subscrip-
ton Lesseps came to America and Mr.. APPLE
ton did all he could to make the counts mis-
sionary trip success. N. de Lesseps was on
that visit, it appears. most warmly welcomed at
San Francisco The subscription opened by
Lesseps on his return to Europe was, Mr. Ap-
pleton testified, an immense success.
His salary, as he stated with great precision
was 81 ,6e6 francs and 66 confines per month.
gentlemen. that SUN being one-tweltth of
20, 600 francs, the equivalent Of which is about
"a, 000."
Cross-examined as to his knowledge Of the
relations of Mr.. Thompson to the canal COM
pany he made vague replies and the results
were meager.
in the company who had custody or control Of
money in connection with the canal except tho
banking house of Seligman?"
81 have not any knowledge that they had any.
I never got any from them
He was pressed to tell Of Col Thompson's re-
lations to the company and said: II don't pro-
pose to- As for him having some great mission
in connection with the Panama canal-well, he
never told me anything Of that and neither did
De Lesseps."
Who composed the American committee?'
"Mr. Thompson, chairman; Mr.. Cohie, Sec
rotary; J. W. seligman, Drexel, Morgan 4
Co. and Winslow, Lanier Co. I believe
there were some gentlemen subpensed today
who were not in that committee at all. But I
don't want this recorded as coming from me"
'What was the scope of that committeep"
"How can tell?' responded Mr. Appleton.
The remaining questions brought out moth.
ing. and il was decided by the COMMITTEES to
have another public hearing tomorrow.