Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-02-21
THE AMERICAN END
Of the Panama Canal Affair Under
Investigation.
THOMPSON'S TESTIMONY TAKEN
No Money Was Placed to His
Credit Except $4,000 a Year
for Office and Other Expenses.
He Knew Nothing Of the Enor-
nous Sums Alleged to Have
Been Spent in America.

TERRE HAUTE, IND, February 2O.-Ihe
Congressional subcommittee sent oy tue
Panama Investigation Committee TO take
the evidence of ex-Secretary X. w. Thomp-
son, arrived here this morning. The mem
bers are Storer, of Ohio, and Patterson, OF
Tennessee. They were driven immediate
" with their stenographer 10 the residence
OF ex-Secretary Thompson, who Is IN lul-
proved health, being better than for week
or more.
The examination of Col. Thompson was
begun Immediately upon the arrival OF the
Sub- Committee The eX-Secretary nrst
detailed the circumstances Of his reslgna-
tion, saying il was publicly done, ana
further he met no opposition from Presl-
dent Hayes when he approached MN re-
garding the matter. The ilrst offer OF the
American Craftsmanship was made 10
him by Jesse w. Seligman 10
1SSOand was not accepted until after full
con tsrence with friends and the President
and determination on his part that there
was nothing in il inimical 10 the interests
OF the United States He denied that the
HAYES administration was opposed TO the
Canal, but IL did want II under American
control. He had the idea, when he ac-
cepted the Craftsmanship. OF American
izing the affair, and tried 10 get an Amerl'
can construction company 10 build II. The
entire administration so far as he knew oil
the affairs OF the American committee was
on the strictest business principles.
Col. Thompson denied that the
Panama Canal Company had lobby at
Washington either 20 procure favorable
legislation for the Panama Canal, or TO
fight the Nicaragua people, and he said
he kept clear OF the lobbyists, and that
there was nuimproper expenditure OF
money so far as he was aware OF. lie
did not know that General Grant had
declined the chaIrmanship before his
acceptance.
"Was any money at all placed to your
credit as chairman by Seligman & Co.."
"Only $50, 900 year for Office rent
and expenses, which was not all spent"
Col. Thompson added: "When saw
It stated recently that Sl2, 100000 or
some such sum was sent over here ana
placed to my credit that startled men.
now see the explanation of IT, That
must have been the sums paid the bank
ers, OF which l knew nothing"
Col. Thompson said that when the
Nicaragua treaty was before the Senate
all he did was TO write pamphlet
against it, which no had placed In the
hands of all Senators. Senator Vpor-
hee only knew that be wrote 1t. He did
not sign his name to it, because he did
not want the Panama Canal TO appear
TO antagonlZe 10.
The committee brought with II let
ter press copy OF all the correspondence
between Thompson and DeLesseps,
and witness was asked TO explain q
number Of the letters.
One from Thompson to DeLesseps,
dated December, 1884, stated that he
must handle the fight they were max
Ing on the Nicaragua Canal with sex
treme caution"
Col. Thompson said the treaty was
being discussed in secret session OF the
Senate and had TO be handled with eau
tion.
Another letter dated February 5,
1885, addressed TO De Lesseps, said the
Nicaragua Canal must be fought under
cover from behind battery, so as 70
make It more effective"
Col. Thompson said be did that In
order that the Panama Canal might not
be antagonized to keep II out OF the
fight as much as possible.