The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-04-02
DANISH ISLES
INVESTIGATION.
House Committee Heard Evidence.
Yesterday.
MATTER UP IN SENATE ALSO
Senator Bacon offered Resolution Ask
ing Presiden, to Defer Proclamation
of Trea.y-He Withdrew it on
Account of Opposition.
MATTER UP IN SENATE ALSO
Senator Bacon offered Resolution Ask
ms Associated prn.. 4

{By Associated Prcss.)
WASHINGTON, A,...i A. ne anVes1i-#
CATION Of charges made in connecuon
with the Danish West Indies purchase
was begun to-day before the special COM
nlitsee appointed by Speaker Henderson.
Besides the members of the committee
there was present Niels Gron, who
brought the charges to the attention OF
Representative Richardson. and. quite
number of interested spectators.
FIRST WITNESS.
AIR Gron was the first witness sworn
BY Chairman Dalzeii. He said that III
February last parties in Copenhagen,
who opposed the transfer Of the DANISH
IVES, Indies to the United States, t''n
fe,r.cd with him and brought to his at
tention the Christmas report. Chairman
Daizeil asked who these parties We're Inc
S'itness said they were members OF lhe
Danish Upper, House but he did not
mink it proper to give their names. he
was at present the representative IN ms
country of these parties.
ALEXANDER INNOCENT
Mr. Gron gave way temporarily to Rep
resentative Alexander, of Buffalo, VINO de-
sired TO make a complete disclaimer OF
any knowledge OF Christmas or the Dan
lsh trausa ction.
Continuing his statement, Mr.. Gron ex-
n sale of he islands had persuaded nm
to come to Washington and place the
Christmas report before Congress ana the
public so that the facts would be known.
lie told of having secured a note Oh IN
PRODUCTION to General Grosvenor.
APPEALED TO GROSVENOR.
Mr. Gron told in great detail OIL priiis-
ing the papers before Genera Iros'e, ~,
who al first seemed quito indignant Inc
witness said that later General GrosTenor
concluded that il would be proper to lay
Tho matter before the Secretary OF State.
This was done and Mr.. Gron SAID ne
learned that the State Department. neio
Anal it could take no action and that
1hc authorities here had in no way COM
,nitted themselves to Christmas.
REFUSED BY ASSOCIATED PREso.
lie (liron) had PREPARED! ! statement
1nr the Associated Iress, and had asked
Mr.. Crane a newspaper man, 10 seho
some one from the Associated Press TO
him for the statement, and also TO Cen
cral Grosrenor for. assurances as 10
Gron's standing. He said he was m
formed the day after he submitted the
statement that the Associated Press
could not use it. Afterward, he said, he
submitted his statement to several news
papers and more or less Of it was printed
The witness then detailed how he had
placed the matter before Representa-
lives Richardson and Underwood. who
had gone over the papers.
HIS PURPOSE.
What was your purpose in bringing
1t before members2" asked Mr.. Dalzell.
ITO get il into the House and before
The American people," answered the wit
l,ess.
in response TO inquiries the witness
1ook up various branches of the case
lie said he represented those constituting
The Mosaic" party in Denmark.
He denied absolutely the statement that
he tGron) had signed a, contract wi.t
Christmas by which he Gronl and Rog-
rrs were to have two-thirds of the coIn-
mission. lie had never made any con-
tract of any character with Christmas.
but the latter had made over i power
of attorney to him, which later he tGron)
repudiated. Mr.. Rogers saw Christmas.
he testified, but once After that Rogers
refused to see Christmas or answer ms
letters or kilograms
Mr. Hit asked him specifically if N
knew what press associations We're re
fcrred to in the Christmas reports.
GRoSvI1NoR'S STATEMENT.
Representative Grosvenor made state
ment at the end of the session. HE Spok
of receiving the note introducing M
Gron. and of going over the papers Wit
i'm At that time Mr.. Grosvenor felt
that the matter should be looked int
with a view of ascertaining If there was
any Irregularities. He conferred with
Chairman Cannon, of the Appropriations
Committee. and asked that il an appro'
nriation bill for the Danish purchase CAM
In that action on it r. deferred until Nj
Crosyenor returned from a Western TRIP
and had an opportunity to go over tn
papers. Mr.. Grosvenor later saw Secre.
tary Hay, who held that there was moth
ing i'll the charges Of which cognizanc,
should be taken.
Resumng his testimony. Mr.. Gron r.
lated his connection with the Scand,
navian Department of the National Re
publican Committee in 1896. to which plac
he said Senator Hanna had appointe.
b';n. Later he said Senator Hanna gay
linn a letter of recommendation to the tW
lfassa chusetts Senator's, MessrS. Hoa
and Lodge and the latter in turn re
commended Gron to the President for ar
pointmert as Minister TO Siam.
is A REPUBLICAN,.
Mr.. Gron said he was Republican
had canvassed for that party in 1892 an
1886. and in 1897 had been a candidate 70
tie Danish mission. He produced le'
Ter in favor of his candidacy signed b,
Senator Cullom, of Illinois. and eIdors;
bv the late Senator Davis. of Minnesota
IN reply to specific questions he SAL
he knew of no Senator or Representa-
tive who had been bribed or whom ar
one had attempted to bride Al the Stat
Department he had only personally see
Mr.. Kasson.
Mr.. Gron was then excused.
Chairman Dalzell announced that
lad summoned Abner Mckinley. Colono
Brown and Fischer Hansen. and thu
they would appear on Thursday.