The Washington times., 1906-05-09
Alabama Senator Exam.
ines a Panama
Witness.
BOTH BECOME IRRITATED
Senate Interoceanic Cani
Committee Hears Director
of Panama Railroad.

I will not rerI.- TO hypothetical ques- |
lions. II you will be kind enough 70 /
ask pertinent questions ! will be glad !
10 give you my conclusions upon them |
This was one Of the first answers Sen /
ator Morgan received from William /
Nelson Cromwell when the examination j
, OF the ''contumacious" witness was re-
sumed before the Senate Interoceanic /
Canals Committee today. Mr.. Morgan 1
opened the examination OF Mr.. Crom- /
well by asking to what he was referring 4
in the letter ne had written to Secre-
tary of Stat, Fay in S9S. Mr.. Cromwell /
answered that the le er spoke for it
self
Senator Morgan inter )gated him fur
ther. Finally Mr.. Cromwell said the let !
ter in question related to the concessions |
extended 70 the old Panama Canal Com
pany of 1S7S.
You have knowledge Of the trans |
action. the9. have you?" queried the 1
Alabamian.
4 have" answered the witness
"Wil you kindly state such knowl- I
edge TO this committee?" asked Mr. 1
Morgan.
Il decline" said Cromwell. 1T is con-
fidentiaI."
sci for the canal company" asked the !
Senator.
Il do and also because such q ion
is not german To the exami uon,"
answered ,ne Witness.
He followed his answer by sa ing that 1
he did not appeal 10 answer hypotheti-
cal questions He said that he would
anGwer direct questions as far az pos
sihle. questions that were pertinent
20 the examination being conducted.
Bought Shares of Stock.
Senator Morgan then turned his line
Of questions toward Mr.. CromweIs be- |
coming identified with the present
board Of directors OF the Panama rail-
road. To his queries Mr.. Cromwell said
thai he was invited TO become director
and purchased fourteen shares OF stock
in tho company in order 70 become quail
ihed as a director in its affairs: that
he did not at that time cherish the idea
of becoming counsel fer the company.
He referred Mr.. Morgan to the records
for accurate information regarding the
issue of bonds from the time he became
connected with the company.
DO you know how many issues Of
bonds were made by the company"
asked Mr. Morgan
L do not said the witness. The
first issue WAS made in 1850. They
were redeemed. Further than that 1
have not accurate information The
books Of the company viii disclose
such information"
Objects to Answers of Witness.
Senator Morgan took exception to
the witness method Of answering,
and his criticisms of the Senators
method of Interrogation. Mr.. Crom-
well then referred to a batch Of papers
he had with him and informed the SEN
ator Of a S3,OOO,OO0 bond issue made
in 1880.
Senator Morgan then took up the
question Of contracts made by the rail-
road company with the various steam
that such contracts were in vogue at
the time he became connected with the
railroad. He said that he did not
think that there was more than one
contract in eXistence-that with the
Pacific Mail Steamship Company. His
connection with that particular con-
termination, which he finally accom-
plished.
Says He Cannot Be Removed.
Mr.. Cromwell said that it was be-
yond the power Of the President or
Congress TO remove him from his
present position with the railroad COM
pany. The same conditions were not
Can the President and Secretary of
War relieve you from your position on
the executive cOmmittee?" asked Mr..
Morgan.
The officers of the railroad company
can do that" replied Mr. Cromwell
The vote Of your clerk. Mr. Far !
mum. IN case OF a tie OF the committee on |
that question. would decide the action |
OF the committee In relieving you from
the executive force. would Il not?'' /
asked Senator Morgan.
Let us not mingle in frivOlities." said
Mr.. Cromwell.
such a remark apparently frritated Mr.. /
Morgan He informed the witness that
he was conducting an examination and
desired TO be answered in the proper
way.
i ct the examination be conducted be-
tween US as between gentlemen said
Mr.. Cromwell ironically.
I'VE will let the gentlemen question
out" retorted Mr.. Morgan. I'VE Will
conduct IL as between men. They may
be several people connected =stth canal
or railroad affairs who are not ali of
that cloth
You may be able to enlarge your
versions OF that question IL you choose. -
declared the witness Mr.. Morgan put
quietus to further exchange of cour-
tesies on the subject by advising the
witness that he had rights and proposed
10 enfroce them.
The witness then submitted some cor
respondence he had with Attorney Cen
eral Knox dealing upon the arbitration
OF the controversy between the canal
company and the old company in which
the attorney general advanced the opin-
ion that the President should be the
tinsl arbitrator Mr.. Morgan wanted to
know why the signing OF such an agree
ment had been deferred Mr.. Cromwell
said IL was deferred because the exact
amount OF excavation made by old com
pany was not known
At this juncture the committee ad-
Journed to meet at 1850 tomorrow.