The record-union., 1893-01-14
Special to the REooRD-Ux1ox.

earnest in pushing the Panama investi-
CATION, declare they will not rest until
| Carnot is forced to resign. The strength
of the case against the President depends
upon the credibiiity of Baihut, ex-
Minister of Public Works, and Carnots
| friends claim no faith whatever should
| be attached to Baihut's disclosures; that
he is malignant against Carnot for not
having protected him from prosecution
| and he wishes to drag the President
! down with him. On the other hand, it is
pointed out by the enemies of Carnot
that Baihut's charges agree with the
facts as known, and that Charles De
Lesseps would probably corroborate
Baihut if permitted to reveal AL he could
reveal. These enemies of Carnot argue
that the trial of the two De Lesseps has
been fastened to bring them within the
i grasp of Carnot and keep them silent as
to any connection of the head of the State
with the Panama affairs. They argue
also that Bourgeois has not been as earn
est as he might have been in bringing
the truth to light, and that the opposi-
tion of Bourgeois to the arrest of Baihut
was really based upon his fear that Bal
hut might accuse his former fellow-Min.
lister Carnot.
Meantime. President Carnot preserves
his serene temper and seems Indifferent
to the assaults upon him. These assaults
are not confined to himself. The Radicals
condemn Madame Carnot for spending
so much money on dress, and trying to
initiate the grande DANES of the Fauboure
| st. German. In addition, they pretend
monarchist habits and customs are in
vading the Elysee, therefore its present
occupants must be turned out in the
sacred interests of the republic.
Constans is credited by nearly every
one with being at the bottom of the at
tack upon Carnot. He is known to have
bitter feeling toward the President on
account of his election from the Cabinet,
and to be desirous also of removing Car
not from Presidential rivalry. Constans
keeps very quiet. He disclaims RESPONSE
| bility for the existing agitation, but his
disclaimer finds no credence among the
well informed. AL eyes are turned to-
ward Constans as the coming master, il
not already the master OF the situation
L
other prominent figure is General Saus-
! ser, whose control of the military in
Paris would give him, in the event of an
uprising, almost unlimited opportunity
| to crafty his own ambition, or serve the
purpose of others. 1t is known Saussier
has been sounded both by the Socialists
and the Bonapartists, but they have not
met with announcement.
THE TRIAL OF THE ACCUSED.
PARIS, Jan. 13.-The Panama trial was
resumed this morning. A number OF
witnesses were called to show that favor
able reports were made by the canal
company which were known to be untrue
by the officials, and insurmountable diff
| culties, known to be so by De Lesseps
and others, were brushed aside.
Captain Fraysse, the Superintendent Of
the canal works, said that he frequently
told Ferdinand De Lesseps of the diff
culties that were hindering the enterprise.
Etienne Martin, once Chief Secretary OF
the Canal Company, described his expe-
rience while he was in Office and the scorn
he felt for the methods of the Directors.
The unvarnished corruptness of the con-
| tract system, he said, often rendered him
so indignant that he protested to the
board at a meeting against the scandalous
abuses with which the whole canal work
was honeycombed. Eventually he re-
signed, rather than sign contracts for ma
chinery and supplies with French firms
whose bids, taken together, were 2S,00O,-
600 franks higher than the bids of English
and Dutch firms. Everybody in the
management of the company knew this
sort of work was being done. Also
Baron De Reinach and other financial
agents were getting enormous commits
sions.
NJ. Hyeronimus, Chief Accountant OF
the Panama Canal Company, was ques-
toned at length by President Perivier in
regard to the bons aronymes, but his an
swers were evasive, and he insisted that
he knew nothing of the company's ope-
rations
NJ. Reynier, the Canal Company's cash
ier made statement as to the expenses.
issues and loans. Careful questioning as
to the names on the vouchers that he
signed elected only the reply, II do not
know"
NJ. Boudard, entrusted with part of the
press fund used by the Panama company.
also had lapse of memory.
Charles De Lesseps was called to testify
as to bonds payable TO bearer issued by
the Panama Canal Company. He was
white and haggard. His eyes were blood
shot and he spoke apparently with diff
Guilty. He explained that of some L.
100000 francs Bons au Portur, 375. 600
went to NJ. Baihut, then Minister of Pub
lie Works, and 100000 to Cornelius Harz.
The rest of the money was distributed in
small amounts among many persons,
whose favor was indispensable to the
company.
NJ. Oberndorffer, a banker, testified that
as member of the guarantee syndicate
he took shares to the nominal amount OF
6,l75,000 francs, paying for them two
francs and fifty centimes each. His
profits from this source were eventually
l 200 600 francs. For suggesting the lot
terry scheme he received some 100000
francs. AS this proved to be an excellent
operation he never considered himself
overpaid. He said he received nothing
for his work on the Bourse in the COM
pany's interest.