The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-03-28

Warner Miusr's Testimony Before the
euse Committed.


warner Miusr's Testimony Before the
z suse Committee
WASHING ON, March 27.-The investiga-
tion Of the Nicaragua canal problem by the
House committee on was begun
to-day o. he appearance Of Hon. Warner
Miller. of New York. the president Of the
canal company. There was a full attendance
Of the members OF the committee and other
interested ,ersons. Mr.. Miller declared that
ne had moi come for the purpose Of recon-
mending the Mahon bill. which had been
adopted by the subcommittee, nor had he
even read the bill. He described at some
length the history OF the work on the canal.
treating of the physical conditions in Mica
ragua and many other details. Mr.. Miller's
idea was thar the government should guar
antee bonds TO the amount Of 800. 100000 at 3
per cent. which would necessItate an annual
expenditure OF 1900. 600 for interest. About
s. 100000 a year would be needed for main
tenance and improvements. about the cost OF
maintaining the Suez canal. and the re-
mainder OF the receipts would be put into a
sinking fund for paying OF the bonded debt.
The government. declared Mr.. Miller, would
pay nothing for the canal under this ar
raneement. and would have seme $o.ooo.ooo OF
stock left The canal company never had
taken any part in legislation, never had adj
vocated any plan for government control.
AID never had appeared before congressional
committees except when called on. The COM
pany had felt that II had a grievance against
the government because, after the introduce
ton OF the senate bill, Ii had been impossi-
bic to raise any money. American capital
take charge OF the enterprise. and foreign
houses had feared that after a few years the
government you'd take possession and re-
turn them only the cash they had invested.
with no profits
In reply to a question. Mr.. Miller said that
he had no doubt OF the ability OF the com
pany TO raise the necessary funds, notwith-
standing the financial condition OF the world
since las: but for the interposition OF the
Eovernment- Mr.. Miller dealt with the re-
port OF the commission sent TO the isthmus
last summer az length. 1t had been well un-
oerstood- he declared, that the commission
had been a plan devised by the opponents OF
neerins attsinmenfs OF the commission. and
said with the money at their Command they
had been unable to inspect the country sufn-
sionfs report was unfavorable to the project,
ne asserted, was incorrect
Speaking CT the Pacific coast, Mr.. Miller
said that TX had been expected that a great
population would settle there. Mr.. Miller as
sured the committee that vouchers for ali
expenditures made by the company would be
placed at the disposal Of any committee OF
commission, and eaid they included no ex-
penses for influencing legislation. The COM
pany felt that the time had come when the
government either should take the work OF
give notice to the world that 1t intended to
do nothing, 50 that the promoters would
have q clear field to work with other gov.
ernments or capitalists IL Congress decided
90 drop the project, Mr.. Miller said he
would turn to the American people 70 lnvesl
In the company, and. TX that appeal failed
ne would turn the work over to some one
else and retire defeated
Report ON Military Park Exercises.
WASHINGTON. March N.-Representa-
tive Grosvenor, Of Ohio, has submitted to
the House the report of the joint committee
representing Congress, that participated In
the three days dedicatory exercises of the
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National
Park. In September last. The report says
the event proved to be without precedent in
the history of wars. and one which would
not be possible in any other nation than our
own, for there were found gathered in en-
thusiastic comradeship the most distin-
guished surviving leaders of both sides. and
many thousands of the rank and file OF the
once contending forces. The park itself was
also found to be without precedent. being
IN Impartial reconstruction of great battle
felds by the victorious side, in which, In
every respect, both great and small. the
utmost impartiality has been observed In
marking lines OF battle and in preserving or
monuments and tablets the accurate history
Of every organization engaged on the ex-
tended fields which the immense park EN-.
braces