Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-01-14
HEARD N SECRET SESSION
$ t. Committee Receiv Repre-
sentative Of the Panama
Canal Company.
OFFER OF CANAL PROPERTY EXPLAINED.
The S4O,OOO,OOO Includes Everything
Except the Cash In the Treasury
of the Company, Amounting to
i, 10000, 900 Francs-Census bureau
HilI Ordered Recommitted.

IHll Ordered RecOmmttted.
Washington, Jan. 13.--M. Edouard
Lampre, representing the Parma
Canal company, appeared before the
senate committee on interocean1c
canals Saturday, in obedience to the
summons of that committee TO testify
concerning the affairs of his company
and its proffer to sell its property and
franchise to the United States M
Jules Boeufve, of the French embassy,
also was present at the hearing. The
meeting was held behind closed DOORS
representatives of the press being ex-
cluded.
What Offer Includes.
NJ. Lampre was questioned at great
length by the members of the COM
mittee. He said that his mission to
the United States has been to ascertain
to whom to proposition for the sale of
the Panama property should be made.
Having informed himself upon this
point, he had conferred with Admiral
Walker, chairman of the isthmian
canal commission, as to the form of
/.
principals, the result being that the
offer to sell for $40,000,000 had been
made directly from Paris and not by
him. He said, however, that it was his
understanding that the proposal in
Guided both the franchises and the
property of the Panama company. but
not the money in its treasury, of which
there is about 100000 francs.
Question of Title.
M. Lampre was questioned es-
pecially concerning the title, Oft the
present Panama company, several
members of the committee expressing
Houbt as to whether those now claim
ing ownership had secured unques-
tjonable title. He replied that they
had made their purchase through the
iquidator of the old company, and
that the transfer was regular. In
response to other questions he said
that in case the transaction should
be contaminated the money would be
distributed among the members of the
original company and those of the
present organization by arbitration
He said that the proffer of his com.
pany had been made in good faith, and
that the company was able to ode
liver the goods"
Ordered Recommitted.
Washington, Jan. 13.-1n the house
yesterday bills were introduced pro.
riding salary of $25 1000 year for ex-
presidents of the United States, and to
establish pneumatic tube mail serv
ice in the large cities. A bill wa!
pasesd to give the widow of the late
President Mckinley the franking priv
llege during the remainder of her life
After debate the bill providing for ;
permanent census bureau was recon
mitted to the census committee. Thu
pension appropriation bill was re
ported. 1t carries $139,S42,230 Ad
dourned to Monday.
To Expedite Mail Delivery.
Washington, Jan. 13.-In connection
with efforts the post office department
is making to expedite the delivery o
mails in cities new scheme for quick
er dispatch of special delivery letter
Is nnder consideration by Assistan
Postmaster General Shallenberge1
This contemplates attaching supple
mental letter box to the regular let
ter boxes on the streets with view t
depositing therein only the special dc
livery letters This will be of niue
benefit to sections of cities remot
from the post office as special deliN
ery messengers would make a rapi
round of these special delivery boXe
at frequent intervals, transferring tn
ordinary letters enormously deposite
70 the regular boxes and carrying tn
special deliveries to the post office flo
post marking and then delivering in
mediately to the addresses.
To Inspect West Point.
Washington, Jan. 13.-The member
of the congressional committees o
military affairsleft here for West Poin
for the purpose Of making thoroug
inspection of conditions at the militar
academy with view to making pro
vision for charging the establishmen
On modern lines. The academy opene
originally with only ten cadets unde
instruction. The corps increased graz
ually until It numbered 240 cadets
1s43. It numbers 4s2 at the preser
time and will comprise I'll cadets
March, 1908. The buildings have nc
kept pace with this steady increas
and are said to be toally inadequate
the needs of the institution. 1t
stated thatit has become necessary
assign three cadets to room origina
ly intended for only one occupant.
Claims He Is Not Man Wanted.
Pittsburg, Pa, Jan. lS.-Edmo ION
Palmer, the actor under arrest her
charged with being fugitive fro
Justice from Chicago, where he is sa
to be wanted on an indictment char