The Washington times., 1902-04-02
Testifies Before the Special
House Committee
of Enquiry.
KNOWS NO CASE OF BRl'ERY
Represents the "No Sale" Part
nies Completely With Christmas
General Grcsvencr Relates the Arpea
Made by Gron to Him.

| The special committee of the House ap-
| pointed to investigate the charges of al
| legged bribery in connection with the pur
chase OF the Danish West Indies. made
by Captain Christmas in his report to the
Danish Government, began its hearings
yesterday morning.
The committee of seven occupied the
room of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Mr.. Niels Gron. who is responsible fos
the publication in this country OK the
statements made by Christmas. was the
principal witness before the committee.
1t was he who furnished the information
to Representative Richardson upon which
he introduced his resolution asking for
an investigation. .-
Mr.. Gron a Dane.
Mr. Gron is a young man of good ap-
CT Denmark. but a citizen of the United
States since 1895. He was examined at
some length by Mr.. Dalzcll. the chair
man of the committee, and by Mr.. Rich
ardson.
Mr. Gron brought with him and ex-
hibited to the committee mass of news
papers published in Denmark containing
articles relating to the Christmas state
ments, and various other documents. He
told at some length of the methods he
employed in securing publicity in this
country. and in bringing the matter to the
attention of Congress.
He stated that he had approached Cen
cral GrosTenor in this connection, but
that the latter had declined to take up
the case. Gron then laid the matter be-
fore Representatives Richardson and IN
derwood, the former taking the matter
into the House.
do you represent the Danish Govern
ment?" enquired Mr.. DalzelI.
do you represent any party or par
ties?''
NO"
ANY organization?"
NO"
mo one then but private individuals?'
continued Mr.. Dalzell.
II represent the Mosaic party said
the witness, those men who do not wish
the islands sold to the United States
under any circumstances. and those who
do not want the islands sold under the
present circumstances.
The "No-sale" Party.
In substantiation OF his statements
Gron read a cabiegram from Won Dessen
whom he styled the secretary of the NO
sale party. saying that the petition to
the Danish Government against the sale
of the islands had been signed by bank
ers, admirals. merchants, and many other
prominent persons. 1t was this class OF
people, the witness said. he represented
Representative DalzelI attempted to as
certain exactly why Mr. Gron took such
an interest in the matter His efforts met
with no marked success.
Mr.. Gron made a statement in which he
denied the reports which had placed him
in the light OF stirring up the Christmas
matter because he was not to participate
in the commission.
The chairman asked the witness about
claim in Christmas statement that H. H.
Rogers, of New Yerls, had said he CON
trolled twenty-six votes in the Senate,
..and don't you forget" Gron said he was
never with Christmas and Rogers at the
same time.
The witness denied ever having made a
contract with Christmas. and denied he
had ever offered Christmas s25.000 to re-
tire from the field. He had no idea what
press associations were referred TO oy
Christmas in his statement of having ar
ranged to subsidiZe them
A great deal of Mr. Grons testimony
was a repetition of the statements made
bv Mr.. Richardson on the floor OF the
House when introducing the resolution
and of those contained in his tGron 81
affidavit which Mr. Richardson at that
time read.
Mr. Gron showed from the translation
of the reports and the newspaper pubiica-
tions that Captain Christmas in his re-
port and his interviews had stated that
he had used large sum of money in IN
iucing this Government to agree to tine
purchase of the islands.
Mr. Gron was interrupted during ths
course of his examination. and Repre-
sentative Alexander was allowed to take
the stand. Mr.. Alexander desired TO make
a denial of any knowledge of Christmas
or of the Danish transaction.
He said that he had never seen CHRIST
mas. had never spoken to anyone eitner
in or out of Congress as to the Danish
treaty. and never heard it discussed at
any time or place by anyone until the
matter was presented to the House by
Mr.. Richardson.
At the afternoon session of the COM
mittee Gen. Charles H. Grosvenor of
Continued Third Page)