The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-02
GETTING TO WORK
The Panama Special COM
mittee Meets.
FELLOWS HAS A SCHEME.
He VIII Try to Waste Time, and So
Far Has a Slight Advantage
Over Geary.
Special to THE MORNING CALL,

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-The special COM
mIttee to investigate the Panama canal
Panama Railroad and Pacific Mail met this
morning In the Foreign Affairs Committee
room. Every member was present Inc
committee was unanimously in favor oil
proceeding with the investigation with as
little delay as possible. 1t was suggested
that Chairman Fellows telegraph to Colonel
Thompson, ex-president of the Panama
Canal Company. now living at Terra Haute,
Ind, requesting that he appear before the
committee at the city postoffce In New
York on Monday morning next
Mr.. Patterson of Tennessee was in favor
of getting to work even sooner than this.
He moved that the committee meet In
Washington on Friday next and examine
such witnesses as were at hand before pro-
ceeding to New York BE thought ex-Secre-
tary Thompson might be able to reach
Washington and appear before the commit
tee on Saturday next.
1t was finally agreed that Chairman Eel
lows should telegraph Colonel Thompson.
requesting him to be here by Saturday. Ii
, it is not possible for him to come at that
time the committee will have another meet
ing at the call of the chairman, TO decide
definitely whether Secretary Thompson
should be asked to meet them at New York
Monday morning. or whether the committee
should put in several days In Washington
before going there
Powers R) Of Vermont said that the
count of the electoral vote and silver bill on
Thursday and Friday next would necessitate
his presence here, and he thought other
mem bers of the committee might also wish
10 be on hand.
Geary suggested that some witnesses
might be subpen eed from New York to APP
pear here during the first week. In fact.
he thought most of all the witnesses might
be brought TO Washington. though the COM
mttee would be obliged to go to New York
to examine the Office books, etc.
The matter will be definitely decided.
however, when Colonel Thompson is heard
from. 1t appears probable that the first
working meeting Of the committee will be
held in the postoffi Of New York City on
Monday morning next.
Ii seemed TO be the opinion of the COM
mittee that the investigation could be COM
petei in the four weeks yet remaining of
this session. Fellows said: II suppose. of
course. il is the understanding that the
meetings are to be in private. | think this
ing. 1t would hardly do TO rake up old
scandals and publish them to the world.
Many of the men who were said to have
been implicated in the alleged scandal are
dead, and it would hardly do to smirch
their memories; besides, a Grand Jury,
when it is after some one, deems it advis-
able to keep its proceedings secret. and l
think we may find 1t advisable to adopt the
same plan.
There was some little discussion this
morning between Fellows and Geary in the
committee as to which part of the combined
resolution OF investigation should have pre-
cedence-the investigation OF the Panama
canal and railroad or the inquiry into the
Pacific Mail methods. Fellows evidently
got the best of Geary, for the latter was in
clined to be uncommunicatve about the
matter. Another evidence that the Panama
canal and Panama railroad investigation Is
TO be had first is that Colonel Thompson
has been sent for. 1t is feared tha Fellows
VIII endeavor TO use up all the time remain
Sing. 90 the Pacific Mail inquiry cannot
be had