The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-04-02


yesterday before the special committee
appointed by Speaker Henderson. Besides
the members of the committee. there were
present Niels Gron. who brought the
charges TO the attention OF Representative
Richardson, and a number OF interested
spectators.
Mr.. Gron was the first witness sworn by
Chairman Dalzell. The witness said that
in February last parties in Copenhagen
who opposed the transfer OF the Danish
West Indies TO the United States con-
ferred with him and brought 10 his at
tention the Christmas report.
Chairman Dalzell asked who these
parties were.
The witness said they were members
OF the Danish upper house. but he did
not think IL proper 10 give their names.
Mr.. Gron said he was at present the
representative in this country OF these
parties.
Mr.. Gron gave way temporarily 10 Rep
resentative Alexander OF Buffalo. who de-
sired 20 make a complete disclaimer OF
any knowledge OF Christmas or the Da-
nish transaction.
Continuing his statement. Mr.. Gron ex-
planned how the Danish parties opposing
a sale OF the islands had persuaded him
TO come 10 Washington and place the
Christmas report before congress and the
public. so that the facts would be known.
He told of having secured a note of in
PRODUCTION 10 General Grosvenor OF Ohio,
of arranging TO meet the latter in Wash
ington, his purpose being he said, TO
carry out assurances given at Copenhagen
that he would place the matter before
influential men and thus bring IL to the
attention of congress and the public.
Mr.. Gron told in great detail OF bring
ing the papers before General Grosvenor.
who at first seemed quite indignant, Mr..
cafA nd nlra ~ In ~ftaer he e
ter before the proper parties in order that
suitable action might be taken. The wit
ness said that later General Grosvenor
concluded that IL would be proper 10 lay
the matter before the secretary OF state.
This was done. and Mr.. Gron said he
learned that the state department held
that II could take no action and that the
authorities here had in no way committed
themselves 10 Christmas.
Gron said that after General Grosvenor
had decided not TO proceed with the mat
ter he (Gron) had prepared a statement
for the Associated Press and had asked
Mr.. Crane, a newspaper man. 10 send
some one from the Associated Press 10
him for the statement, and also to Cen
eral Grosvenor for assurances as TO
Gron's standing.
He learned laterthrough Mr.. Crane that |
General Grosvenor said he knew nothing |
about IL. He said he was informed the |
day after he submitted the statement that |
the Associated Press could not use IT. |
Afterward he said. he submitted his 1
statement to several newspapers and |
more or less OF IL was printed. The wit 4
ness then detailed how he had placed the
matter before Representatives Richard
son and Underwood, who had gone over
the papers.
What was your purpose in bringing
IL before the members?" asked Mr. Dali
zeli.
ITO get II 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 the mo |
sale party I'm Denmark. He referred 10 /
the reports that he (Gron) had himself |
been trying TO obtain "A commission for |
the sale OF the islands and that the whole |
matter was quarrel between Christmas |
and himself over the commission.
This Mr.. Gron denied and I'm support |
read a letter stating that an old alliance
between certain Danish men and Ameri-
cans In the fall of 1897 was declared of is
months ago. He mentioned the names OF
II. III. Rogers, Charles II. Flint and him
self as the Americans interested at that
time In negotiating the sale of the islands.
Asked specifically regarding statement
In the Christmas report TO the effect that |
Rogers had agreed to accomplish the sale
OF the islands for 10 per cent OF the pur-
chase money Mr.. Gron declared that |
there was no such agreement.
He described how the negotiations con-
Quoted by the committees I'm Denmark
and In America had progressed almost TO
a successful conclusion just before the
Spanish war. when they were declared of
In Denmark.
Mr.. Gron said he undertook TO reopen
the negotiations after the war. The COM
mittees In Copenhagen and America had
not been dissolved. Christmas came to |
the United States In December. 1899 Mr..
Gron was closely questioned as TO whether
proposition was made for Christmas and
Rogers and himself TO divide the COM
mission. He replied that there were
various propositions.
Asked as TO the threat attributed 10
Rogers In the Christmas report On which
Rogers was made to say that he had 26
votes In the senate and could defeat the
negotiations), Mr.. Gron said he was never
present at an interview between Rogers
and Christmas. He never had heard Mr.
Rogers make such threat He denied
absolutely the statement that he (Gron)
had signed contract with Christmas by |
which he tGron) and Rogers were TO have
two-thirds OF the commission.
He never had made any contract of any
character with Christmas. but the latter
had made over power OF attorney TO
him, which later he (Gron) repudiated
Mr.. Rogers saw Christmas. he testified /
but once. After that Rogers refused 20
see Christmas or answer his letters or
kilograms.
As TO the Christmas interviews in which
christmas was made 10 say that he had |
had negotiations with Abner Mckinley.
which Christmas in his report declared
had been instigated by Gron, the witness
said that he had no connection with them. |
Mr.. Hit asked him specifically II he |
knew what press associations were re-
ferred TO In the Christmas reports
II do not know" said Mr. Gron.
At this point the committee took a
recess.
When the Investigation was resumed |
after recess Representative Grosvenor ap-
peared and made a statement concerning
the subject He spoke OF receiving the
note Introducing Mr.. Gron and OF going
over the papers with him. At that time |
Mr.. Grosvenor felt that the matter should
be looked into with view OF ascertaining
II there was any irregularity.
With that end in view he conferred
with Chairman Cannon OF the approprIa- |