The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-03-01
Says He Don't Know What to
 Do With t
MORGAN STILL QUESTIONS
lie Says He Wants to See If He Can Get the Witness to Tell the Truth on Any
 Point.

convened today Senator Morgan was not prepared to take up his examination of Nelson Cromwell for nearly an hour He spent the time reading the record When he resumed, the inquiry was in re- lation to the plan of the Amerlcanization of the Panama canal
 Mir Cromwell said his reply would be the same as he had made yesterday that professional secrets were involved. He said he entered the employ of the new Panama Canal company in 1896 and the employment still exists. Question after question was asked by Senator Morgan and the witness replied to each one: q make the same replY" Another line was taken up concerning the subject and to all of these inquiries MT. Cromwell replied invariably: whatsoever knowl- edge I acquired was gained in my profess sio-2I capacity
 Your case of lockjaw seems to be getting worse" Mr. Morgan said. Tt is the most remarkable case I ever en- countered"
 Again declining to answer any ques- tions on the subject the witness was told by MT. Morgan that he was shutting off any information.
 ''Then. why are you asking these ques- tions?" answered Senator Kittridge.
 Wants No Interruptions.
 'T want to see if the witness can tell the truth on any point. said MT. Morgan. Furthermore, if any senator cares to interrupt he should address the chair. don't choose to be interrupted in this way
 Continuing his inquiry. MT. Morgan asked: 'Did you assist Senators Hanna and Kittridge in making the minority re- port from this committee?a tThe' report referred to was against the Nicaragua route and in favor of the Panama route).
 q decline to answer" said the wit ness.
 Senator Taliaferrio took up the exam ination, but the witness said that what ever information he might have fur nished was given as counsel for the Pan anna Canal company. The succeeding ques- tions were based on the assumption that the witness had admitted that he had assisted the committee. but Mir Crom- well promptly interposed that he had made no such admission.
 'I ask you again. did you give them information?" asked MT. Morgan.
 q make the same reply" said the wit ness.
 What Is that reply,' asked MT. Nor gan.
 That my actions were in the course of my professional duties and of a confiden- tial character" replied the witness
 MT. Taliaferrio asked the witness con- corning the monetary agreement entered between the Secretary of War and the republic of Panama, particularly that part he played in the transaction.
 "Is this not covered by your profes- sional reticence?' asked MT. Morgan
 NO sir" said the witness. "and hope l may say this finally
 NO we will return to 1t again if I see ft." said Mir. Morgan.
 Very well. you seem to enjoy it. and 1t is the first vacation I have had in long time" replied the witness with all concealed sarcasm.
 MT. Cromwell then explained in de- tail the coinage system on the isthmus and for the first time since he went on the stand was permitted to proceed with out interruptions. In the meantime Mir Morgan was studying the records
 Invited By Secretary of War.
 MT. Cromwell said his activity in this monetary agreement was by reason of an invitation from the secretary of war, who knew of his familiarity with an agree ment the Panama Canal company had had with the republic of Colombia. During this discussion he referred to the Pan anna Railroad company and questions be- ing asked him by MT. Morgan the wit ness declined to answer any hypothetical questions" concerning his relations with the railroad company in a period prior to the transfer of the road to the United States In May. MT. Morgan demanded that the witness be compelled to state whether he intended to take shelter in the fact that professional secrets were involved, and the witness said he would be willing to consider specific questions when asked, but insisted that he would not answer any hypothetical questions" MT. Morgan insisted on a ruling as to whether the witness should be compelled to answer
 Morgan Is Outvoted. MT. Kittredge demanded roll call the senators voting as their names were call ed. The vote against the witness being compelled to answer any question not specifically stated was Kittredge, Dry den, Ankenny and Willard. The vote to support MT. Morgans position was: Nor gan and Talaferro. There were only six senators present when the vote was had. Mir. Morgan told the witness to resume and treated the subject if he had ex- pected to be overruled MT. Cromwell con- tinued the discussion of the monetary matter and great interest was manifested in the subject after he had said that he had drawn the monetary agreement. The monetary agreement said 4nr, Cromwell, was made for the benefit of the Panama railroad, and the isthmian canal commission and the interest of the repub- lie of Panama was only nominal Senator Simmonds asked MT. Cromwell if 1t be true that he had received no salary from the republic of Panama, what had in- duced him to serve the republic as finan cial agent.
 Has Too Much Money. Because of my broad instinct of good nature which has prompted me to do sy much for this cause, and for the further reason that I have more money than know what to do with" said MT. Crom- well.
 Taking up the scheme for the "Ameri- ranization of the Panama canal" MT. Morgan asked if it was the same broad