The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-02-08
Explain Ii once More.

Uncle DICK THOMPSON has emitted an
other lengthy interview on the Panama
question, in which be very unfortunately
neglects to tell who got the s., 100000.
Among other things he says:
The evidence of Mr.. CHARLES DE LES
sEPs. as had read il, said that the sum
OF II .O00.OOO francs had been placed to the
credit of the American committee, and
that it had spent this money so we'll that
the French committee considered il
could have safely intrusted much larger
sum 20 the American com mittee. | do
not see that any unfavorable construction
can be placed upon that; in fact, IL looks
TO me as being complimentary in its
nature. Now, L have to cay this that
solemnly asseverate, with all the vigor and
strength that | possess, that no trust was
ever more faithfully AMI honestly
executed by any set OF men than the trust
reposed in the men who composed this
American committee do not know OF 4
sing cent that was Incorporated or
used corrupty, and ! suppose the books
OF the committee. the expenditures paid
out by bank. in New York, will show how
every cent was paid.
Persons with better memories will rec
ollect that NJ. DE LEssEps did not say
anything about the American committee
"expending' any money. lie said that
the services OF the committee we're
worth a great deal more than the amount
that was paid to it. but he did not say
what the services were. There is nothing
in any Of the statements from France in
regard to this. matter that indicates that
the american committee" money was
used in the purchase oil supplies for the
company's work on tho isthmus. On the
contrary everything indicates the opposite.
A large part OF the -, 10000 was paid in
cash and tho remainder was paid in an
nual installments. II the money had
been intended for the purchase Of goods
no sane business man would have made
any such arrangement as that. la fact,
Mr.. THoMrsoN himself shows that no such
plan was used as to purchases, and
demonstrates that there was no identity
between the services" fund and the
purchase fund by the following explicit
statement:
Col THOMPSON stated that tho American
committee was composed of four persons.
| lie was chairman and the others were rep
resentatives OF the banking houses Of
! DREXEf, MORGAN u Co, SELIoMAN * Co and
/ WINsLow. LANIER q Co MIR. CHARLES CoLNE
| OF Brooklyn was secretary There was no
treasurer There was not a cent OF money
| that actually passed through the hands OF
the American committee. system OF
| checks was used For instance, as an II.
lustralion: Col. THoNpscN did not pay
/ himself his salary OF sd, 900 a wear mot
a "A.
funds in his own hands, a. has been init
mated in some OF the general charges made.
When he drew HE salary no drew
check against SEiIGMAN X Co. OF
New York. tho same as II he
had personal deposit there, and the
money was paid upon II. This check
| SElIGMAN * Co woul d send across TO their
/ Paris bank, and II was caahed there out OF
the French funds. That was the system
used. Tho American committee did not
Itself have a dollar. IL drew upon the
Paris funds in this manner for all the ex-
| penditures that il incurred for the
/ dredges. locomotives, cars, etc. that were
built aud shipped or towed to the isthmus.
| IL didn't know how much money was
on hand In France. Sufficient To say,
its orders were honored. All these OK.
! penditures will show up on tho books OF
the bank. There could be no concealmcnl
about IL.
This may all be worry true. but II has
nothing to do with tho case No one
cares how much money was paid in France
for cars and dredges. WHAT became OF the
money that was sent from France ID
America for the American COMMITTEES"
in pursuance OF the original contract
| That IN the ousstion