Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-17
MR.. MoRGAN's CHARGES.
Delivers Sensational Speech on the
Santo Domingo Treaty.

Senator Morgan occupied practically the
entire time in the discussion of the Santo
Domingo treaty in executive session of the
Senate yesterday afternoon. He made a
sensational speech, in which he charged
that William Nelson Cromwell OF New
| York, who was prominently connected with
| the sale of the Panama canal property tc
| the United States. was the prime mover IN
a scheme to influence the United States in
the financial affairs of the Dominican gov
eminent. He asserted that Mr.. Cromwell
was actuated by a desire to Illustrate a
| plan of a Mr.. and Mrs. Reeder, natives OF
Alabama. who are operating under the
name of the Reeder syndicate, to get GER
| tain concessions from the Dominican gov
eminent, and to promote the interests of a
syndicate he represented. which, 1t Is al
legged, holds a mass of claims against
Latin-American republics including a large
part of the debts against the Dominican
The alleged disclosures were debated all
day. and the Senate was divided as to
whether Senator Morgan made a case. The
democrats insisted that he did, while the
leaders among the republicans declared
that the charges were made up of mass
of latter which contained no conclusive
undue influence.
The speeches were made behind closed
doors.
Senator Morgan took the floor soon after
the Senate went into executive session. and
at first gained slight attention until his
charges were developed The senator said
that he knew the Readers well; and that
there were other senators who knew them;
they were the original concessionaries In
Santo Domingo, and a treaty had been
drawn up between them and the Dominican
government which the Reeders were to pre-
sent to this government for consideration.
This treaty, he said, was interfered with
by Mr.. Cromwell, who, the Reeders charge,
induced the Morales government to nullify
them under promise that the United States
would deal directly with Santo Domingo.
Papers were read charging that Mr.. Crom-
wells interest began prior to the Dflling-
am-SancheZ agreement, and 1t was alleged
that he sent an agent to President Morales
and used the argument that the United
States was ready to finance the Dominican
government and get 1t out of all of its diff
ficulties. 1t was charged that Mr.. Crom-
well represented number OF claimants.
whose securities would be advanced in
value if the United States took charge, and
that his agent represented to President Mo-
rales that Mr.. Cromwell was responsible
for the formation OF the government Of
Panama, and the United States would do
for Santo Domingo as much, or more, than
had been done for Panama. When this ar
gument was made, according to the Reed
ers, The Morales government threw over
the alleged agreement with them, and
started the negotiations with the alleged
agent of M. Cromwell. 1t was then that
Mr.. Cromwell, it was alleged, induced Santo
domingo 10 ASK the United states TO al
minister the customs affairs of the island.
During the discussion Senator Morgan re-
peatedly referred to a treaty negotiated by
the Reeders, which, he said, had never
seen the light of day because of the inter-
ference of Mr.. CromwelPs representative
Senator Platts of Connecticut said that he
did not want the discussion to go any
further until that treaty had been pro-
duced.
Thereupon 1t was sent to the secretary's
desk by Senator Morgan and read 1t is de-
clared by republican senators that the
treaty gave everything to Santo Domingo
concessions to the Reeders and practically
nothing to the United States. These sena-
tors subsequently declared that charges
based upon such document were not en-
titled to consideration.
Senator Foraker defended Mr.. Cromwell
saying that he knew him professionally
and believed him incapable of the acts
charged. AT the same time he said that
the documents presented by Senator Nor
gan should be printed. in order that all SEN
ators might have chance to examine
them.