The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-02-28
SkiIfu| Questions Are Paried
 by the Witness
INTEREST IS INCREASING
Cromwell Says the Total Payments to Him for Services Will Not Ex- ceed $2oo, ,ooo-Paid In
 Small Amounts.

Washington, February 27.--William Nell son Cromwell and Senator Morgan meas ured legal minds all day before the Sen- ate committee on interoceanic canals and in a drawn battle adjourned until tomor- row.
 Mir Morgan pursued the witness relent- lessly concerning his relations with the Panama Canal company, asking many skilful questions which were as skillfully evaded MT. Cromwell drew a line be- tween his actions since the transfer of the canal property to the United States and before the transfer and declined positively to answer any questions concerning the earlier period. At the close of the day MT. Morgan had brought out a scheme for the Americanization of the Panama Canal company which promised to furnish the subject for an interesting examina- tion.
 Puts Letter In Evidence.
 Senator Morgan put into the record q letter written by MT. Cromwell to MT. Wallace arranging for the interview which took place at the Hotel Manhattan in New York, when MT. Wallace informed Secretary Taft of his desire to resign his position as chief engineer. MT. Morgan took charge of the examination and de- manded to know of Mir Cromwell what payments had been made to him from the Panama Canal company. MT. Cromwell asserted that the information demanded was of confidential character and in- volved the relations of counsel and client. Senator Morgan insisted and many sharp passages ensued.
 Finally Mir. Cromwell said that while he did not think it any business of the senator's making the inquiry he would state that the total payments made to him would not exceed $20O,0 600. That was all he had received. Out of the $4Ovov, OOo paid this government he had received nothing but he added that he had not rendered his account for services He said he had plenty of money of his own and had no time to go to Paris to see the company He declared that this (meaning the hearing) was the first vaca- tion he had had in ten months. He de- cIared there had been no understanding to the amount he was to receive. Continuing MT. Cromwell said he did not think the country could be interested in his private relations as counsel 10 the new Panama Canal company.
 q think 1t is,' said Mir. Morgan.
 'You may monopoize the opinion of the country but I don't think you do," re- piled Mir. Cromwell, and then on having repeated the question concerning funds he had received from the French Canal company he declined emphatically on the ground that he would not divulge profess sional secrets.
 Reads Him the Statute.
 Thereupon MT. Morgan called for the revised statutes and read the provision lR relation to protection of witnesses called before congressional committees. He ask ed the witness if he persisted in his re- fusal. Mr. Cromwell replied:
 'It is beyond the purview of the com mittee to make this inquiry and I decline to answer"
 Mr Morgan said he reserved the right to determine the materiality of the ques- ton and proceeded with the examination. Reading questions which had been sub mitted to him to be propounded, MT, Mor- gan called on the witness to state what had been the gross sums received from the old or new Panama company since the payment to J. P. Morgan & Co. and New York bankers of the money in- volved in the transfer of the property to the United States from syndicates of the United States, the republic of Panama or from any source whatsoever.
 q thank you for that question:" said Mir Cromwell. "It involves a period since the transfer of the property to the United States"
 q would be obliged to you if you would forbear from complimenting me in pub lc," said Mir Morgan.
 Senator I think better of you than you do of me-" said MT. Cromwell, and this provoked another outburst from the Alabamian against the witness indulging in compliments.
 Did Not Receive Dollar.
 MT. Cromwell then said he had not received one dollar of the s4O.O0OOOO paid to the new Panama Canal company, but would render his final bill in due course. and that it will be substantial and will be paid" He said he had not received from the republic of Panama a single cent and had received no benefit directly Or indirectly from the sale of the prop erty that he had not been interested in the securities of either the old or new companies and that his whole relation to the new canal company was that of coun- sel. and that his sole compensation had beeen as such. He stated that the answer was meant to include the relations of Roger T. Farnum, a clerk in his office.
 After this reply had been made, Mir Morgan asked the witness why he object ed to making a similar statement of his relations with the canal prior to the transfer of the property. The witness said he did not think 1t pertinent.
 Suppose the committee decides that it is pertinent?' asked Mir. Morgan.
 Paid In Small Amounts.
 "I adhere to the answer I have made" replied MT. Cromwell.
 Questioned concerning the manner in which the s2o0O00 had been paid, MT. Cromwell said the payments were a "small matter of s10000 Or s15,000 year, and that the payments extended over several years. Asked what services he had rendered to earn the s200O00( MT. Cromwell said that professional secrets were involved in the inquiry and he should be compelled to decline to reply
 Read that question:, said MT. Morgan to the stenographer. 'I will get an an- swer If I can."
 T am unable to specify the services '' said MT. Cromwell.
 "As I said 1t approximated s10OO0 or
 tcontinued on Tenth Paae.)