The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-24
STILL DIGGING AT THE CANAL.
C1emenceau on the Stand-Cause OF
Reinach's Death Unknown.


Reinach's Death Unknown.
PARIS, Jan. 23.-Clemenceau. before the par
liamentary committee, sgid today that Mr..
Stephane, despite statements to the contrary,
had told many persons that he had handed
Clemenceau Reinachs list of persons coIupro-
missed By the Panama bribery. Stephane, he
said, was undoubtedly intriguing against him.
The subcommittee appointed 10 examine the
records Of the underwriting syndicate which
helped to float the Panama loans reported that
they found evidences of enormous frauds. The
so-called underwriters were employed as lobby
ISIS and other Intermediates, whose business
WAS to give bribes
The report of the autopsy on Reinach's body
states that no trace of poison was found, but
that the examining physicians were unable to
assert that Reinsch died of natural causes
Reinach's body was not exbumed until decom-
position was far advanced.
LONDON, JAN 23-The illness of Dr.. Cornelius
Herr, the alleged Panama canal corruptionist,
who is under arrest at his hotel at Bournemouth
for extradition TO France, has reached a critical
stage. He spent a restless night, with much
suffering.
TEREE HAUTx, Ind, Jan. 23--Hon Il. w.
Thompson. ex-secretary OF the navy and late
president of the American committee of the
Panama Canal Company, in all interview de-
clared that he had no knowledge Of any corrupt
practices in connection with the canal in this
country. and did not believe there were any,
The only persons whom it would have been of
any advantage TO bride in congress were the
members OF the foreign affairs committee of the
house and the house special interoceanic canal
committee. Arguments were made before the
foreign affairs committee that il was contrary
to the Monroe doctrine to allow a foreign COM
pany to control the canal. Thompson says
Wade made an extended argument to show that
II was not contrary to that doctrine, which only
tOl n
the Isthmus. he showed the section OF
the charter granted by the Colombia govern
ment, which expressly gave the supreme court
OF that state jurisdiction to annul and set aside
the Panama concessions IN case any foreign
country attempted political control. De Lesseps
himself stated that IL there to be any politi-
cal control OF the canal he would prefer that the
United States should be tina: power, and France
filed statement in our state department dis
claiming any such political intention. The nine
gentlemen who composed the foreign affairs
committee and who decided in favor OF the
canal were: 8. s. Cox OF New York. chairman;
Wilson. of West Virginia: Bicknell. of Indiana:
Hill, of Ohio; Rice. of Massachus etts; King of
Louisiana: Herndon. Killinger and Morton.
Thompson continued:
1t is an insult to intelligence to assume that
these men were bribed. The special committee
reached the same conclusion as the foreign al
fairs committee. The insinuation that bribed
Judge Bicknell, my warm and dear frienT here
in Indiana. is preposterous. 1never heard any
thing OF this alleged bribery until lately, and
never had any suspicion of is. and gladly well
come congressional investigation into the af-
fairs OF the American branch of the canal. All
the assistance may be able to give any COM
mittee OF congress- Will cheerfuliy contribute
Every cent OF money expended by us paid
out on acquisitions and vouchers drawn on three
New YORK banking houses: Seligman IL Co,
insiow. LauIer II Co and DTexel. Morgan & Co.
Their books Will show every cent spent, ana
who received il. These firms cashed all reauisi-
lions issued by the American committee. II is
NOT our concern whether the Panama company
had money on deposit at these banks. The fact
Is we did not know. We did not handle the
money. We merely issued acquisitions aui
these banks paid theIu anu charged them to the
canal. Large sums Of money spent by us went
for dredgeS, locomotives and cars. had 500
cars made right here in Terre Haute alone and
shipped TO the isthmu~. Al these transactions
figure on the books Of these banks.