Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1893-01-28
THE PANAMA SCANDAL.
Was the Money Furnished Usefully
Employed.

vestigation by congress Of the Ameri-
can end of the Panama canal scan
dal, a morning paper prints the fol-
lowing from its Washington, CORE
spondent:
mo American has been more
prominent in urging the construc-
ton Of canal across Central Ameri-
ca than Rear-Admiral Daniel Am
men. Admiral Ammen was men,
toned In the interview of ex.Secre.
tsry of the Navy r. w. Thompson
some days ago, as one of those who
appeared before the house commit
tee on foreign relations January IL,
when the committee refused to in
woke the Monroe doctrine against
the French encroachments In Pana-
ma. The admiral is now retired.
"When asked If he would not like
to throw some light on the sus-
pected corruption in America in
connection with the Panama canal,
Admiral Ammen answered.: All |
know Is merely a matter of suspi-
cion. l care to saw nothing con-
cerning that. But / would like to
say few words concerning Colonel
rhompson's views of this subject.
The interview of Colonel Thompson,
published January %, is gratifying
In the statement that 500 cars were
built in Indiana, and dredges, loco
motives aud other machinery were
paid for out of $l2, 100000 sent to
this country, which Charles de Les
sesps was reported as saying had
been turned to very good account
The money was in fact usefully
spent. Let us hope in justice to
Colonel Thompson AS head of the
American Panama canal syndicate
and his associates, that Charles de
Lesseps will correct his statement.
TO REPRESs MONROE DOCTRINE.
Colonel Tompson errs in sup
posing that | appeared before the
foreign affair committee of the house
to argue the validity of the Monroe
doctrine, as against the Panama
canal. Looking over the question |
OF bribery, Ia which Colonel Tomp.
son sees no possible motive other
than to repress the Monroe doctrine
resolutions, | would suggest another
possibility which has escaped his
acumen. At that time the Mari.
tue Canal Company, of Nicaragua, |
holding very liberal CONCESSIONS
FAR more so than that held by De
Lesseps at Panama was endeavor.
my to obtain simply an act Of incor.
poration from congress without
guarantees, aud was unable to do so
n all the period of the excitement
,f the concession, which had an ex-
enslon Of time and finally expired
BY Limitation. Now It occurs to me-
hat Diauzats, chief engineer at Pan
ANA at that time, when asked by a
In relation to the Nicaragua
'anal as a possible obstruction, re-
piled that De Lesseps would know
how to repress that He had too
many friends In the United States
70 allow that to proceed.
A STRANGE FACT.
at is u curious fact, as stated be-
lore, that the Maritime Canal com.
pany, Of Nicaragua, then holding
very admirable concessions ON the
'on.e pronounced uron by the gov
'rnmsnt commissioners to he COM
nereially practicable aud superior
o any other route known, could
'ser oo'sin a single act Of incorpor.
'.ion, even when shorn of any
guarantee recall this fact to the
memory Of Colonel Thompson, who
doubtless has forgotten all about Il,
fser such lapse II time. recall
he fact, too, In the minority report .
diverse to granting an act Of ineor. ,
ora,ion, that very laudatory men, 1
lon was made " the sass canal. I,
nd. - Dc Lsssers vas at work a ,
'anAma' We @ixhs count upsa shsl .
ma. 2 4 l.