The age-herald., 1902-04-02
N|ELS CRON |S
 FIRST WITNESS Says He Wanted the Christi
 mas Report Before People DESIRES DEFEAT OF TREATY
Explains In Detail How the Matter Was Brought Before Congress- man Grosvenor and State De-
 partment Without Result.

Washington, April 1.-The investigation of charges made in connection with the Danish West Indies purchase was begun today before the special committee ap- pointed by Speaker Henderson.
 MT. Gron was the first witness sworn by Chairman Dazell. He said in Feb ruary last parties in Copenhagen who opposed the transfer of the Danish West Indies to the United States conferred with him and brought to his attention the Christmas report. MT. Gron said he was at present the representative in this country of these parties who were parties of the Danish upper house.
 MT. Gron gave way temporarily to Rep resentative Alexander of Buffalo, who desired to make a complete disclaimer of any knowledge of Christmas or the Danish transaction.
 Continuing his statement MT. Gron ex- plained how the Danish parties opposing the sale of the islands had persuaded him to come to Washington and place the Christmas report before Congress and the public so that the facts would be known. He told of having scured a note of in- troduction to Gen. Grosvenor of Ohio, of arranging to meet the latter in Washing ton, his purpose being he said to carry out assurances given at Copenhagen that he would place the matter before inf1u- ential men, and thus bring 1t to the at- tention of Congress and public. MT. Gron told in great detail of bringing the pa- pers before General Grosvenor, who at first seemed quite indignant The witness said that later General Grosvenor con- cluded 1t would be proper to lay the mat ter before the Secretary of State. This was done and MT. Gron said he learned that the State department held that it could take no action and that many au- thorities here had in no way committed themselves to Christmas.
 Prepared a Statement.
 Gron said that after Grosyenor had de- cided not to proceed with the matter he (Gron) had prepared a statement for the Associated Press, and had asked Mir. Crane, newspaper man, to send some- one from the Associated Press to him for the statement, and also to General Gros- venor for assurances as to Grons stand ing He learned later through MT. Crane that General Grosvenor said he knew nothing about it.
 He said he was informed the day after he submitted the statement that the As sociated Press could not use it. After ward he said he submit ed his statement to several newspapers and more or less of 1t was printed
 The witness then detailed how he had placed the matter before Representatives Richardson and Underwood. who had gone over the papers.
 What was your purpose in bringing 1t before members?" asked MT. Dalzell.
 "ro get 1t into the House and before the American people, answered the wit ness.
 In response to inquiries the witness took up various branches of the case. He said he represented those constituting NO sale'' party in Denmark.
 He denied the reports that he (Gron) had himself had been trying to obtain a commission for the sale of the island and that the whole matter was quarrel be- tween Christmas and himself over the commission, and read a letter stating that an old alliance between certain Dan ish men and Americans in the fall of 1897 was declared off IS months ago. He men tioned the names of H. H. Rogers, Chas. R. Flint and himself as the Americans interested at that time in negotiating the sale of the island.
 No 10 Per Cent Agreement.
 Asked specifically regarding a state ment in the Christmas report to the effect that Rogers had agreed to accomplish the sale of the islands for 10 per cent of the purchase money, MT. Gron declar- ed that there was no such agreem ent. He described how the negotiations con ducted by the committees in Denmark and in America had progressed almost to as successful conclusion just before the Spanish war when they were declar- ed off in Denmark.
 MT. Gron said he undertook to reopen the negotiations after the war. The com mittees in Copenhagen and America had not been dissolved when Christmas came to the United States in December, 1899. MT. Gron was closely questioned as to whether a proposition was made for Christmas and Rogers and himself to di vide the commission He replied that there were various propositions.
 Asked as to the threat attributed to Rogers in the Christmas proposition in which Rogers was made to say that he had 26 votes in the Senate and could de- feat the negotiations, MT. Gron said he was never present at an interview be- tween Rogers and Christmas. He had never heard MT. Rogers make such a threat. He denied absolutely the state ment that he (Gron) had signed con- tract with Christmas by which he (Gron) ana hOBerS were tO nave tWO-tn1rQS or the commission He had never made any contract of any character with Christmas but the latter had made over a power of attorney to him which later he (Gron) requdiated. MT. Rogers saw Christmas he testified, but once. After that Rogers refused to see Christmas or answer his letters or telegrams.
 Knew Nothing of Interview.
 As to the Christmas interviews, in which Christmas was made to say that he had negotiations with Abner McKin- ley, which Christmas in his report, had declared was investigated by Gron, the witness said he had no connection with them. MT. Hill asked him specifically if he knew what rress associations were re- ferred to in the Christmas reports.
 T don't know" rerlted MT. Gron.
 At this point the committee took a re- cess until 2 o'clock.
 When the investigation was resumed after recess Representative Grosvenor appeared and made a statement. He spoke of receiving the note introducing MT. Gcon and of going over the papers with him. At that time MT. Grosvenor felt that the matter should be looked into with view Of ascertaining if there was any irregplarity. With that end in view