Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-03-03
MARKEL BEFORE COMMITTEE
Omaha Man Testi6es Regarding Contract
for Feeding Canal Men.
SAYS HE HAD NO POLITICAL PULL
MIR. TnIiaferro Questious Him Closely
ReRRrding His Relations TO sem
ator NilIsrd and the
senator's Son.
Fom a STAFF Correspondent }

WASHINGTON. March Especial Tele-
gram ~. +. Markell OF Omaha was the
principal witness before the interoceanic
canals committee today. Under the ex-
animation of Senator Taliafcrro 1t was de-
veloped Mr.. Markei anticipated making
about $4,000 in Ave years. the length Of
time which the contract was to run, as
against $5.O0OO.OD or S5O.0DOO, as variously
re ported by sensational newspapers. II
was also developed at the hearing that the
government is now paying 42 cents per
meal for so-callcd gold roll men, as against
80 cents which Mr.. Market agreed to pro-
vide meals for these employees. Mr.. Mar
kels contract stipulated that he would
board and lodge canal employees for SIS per
month this to include laundry and other
incidentals. BY statement received today
from the isthmian government il is paying
$3.50 per month for board and lodging Of
these same employees, a difference against
the government Of $3.50 per month per In
dividual. One statement made by Mr.. Mar
kel during the course Of his testimony at
tracted undivided attention of the commit
tee and that was that his readiness to agree
to the cancellation Of the contract which
he had with the canal commission was due
to his failure to secure hearty cooperation
on the canal zone.
No Politics in Contract.
Mr. Markell declared that no political in
fluence had aided him In getting the con-
tract. Mr.. Taliaferro examined the witness
at length concerning the protest of Hud-
gins & Dumas Of New York. who claimed
TO have been the lowest bidders for the
concession.
Mr. Markell said that there had been no
promise Of damages made to him at the
time he consented to the cancellation of the
contract. The witness was questioned con-
cerning his expense bill allowed by the
canal commission. with particular refer
ence to an item of $3.50 paid to W. r. Mil
lard. He said w. B. Millard was the son
Of Senator Milard and that his employ
ment began September IS, 1903. eleven days
after the contract had been made. He de-
clared that the relationship of young Mil
lard to the senator had nothing to do with
the employment
Mr.. Markell said he knew Paul Morton,
but had not discussed isthmian affairs with
him.
At the outset of the examination Chair
man Millard asked the witness a num-
ber OF questions. saying he had personal
interest in them. They related particu-
larly to the subject as to whether political
influence had been brought TO bear to get
him the contract Mr. Markell answered
from a typewriter sheet and on cross
examination Mr. Taliaferro demanded that
the witness be compelled to file his state
cont The witness protested against H.
but he was made to file the statement
He said he had no understanding with the
chairman. Mr. Taliaferro said he would
examine the papers at his leisure to de-
termine the truth of that statement. The
examination ~ Mr.. Markell was not con-
cluded and the committee adjourned until
1880 o'clock tomorrow.
Morgan and Cromwell Clash.
The letter from William Nelson Crom-
well TO the late Secretary of State Hay
under date of December a. 1895, was taken
up by Senator Morgan in the examination
of Mr. Cromwell before the senate COM
mittee on interoceanic canals when the
committee met in the morning.
The period covered by the letter was
when the Panama Canal company was
seeking a prolongation of its concessions
on the isthmus The letter referred to
an inclosure. and Mr. Cromwell repeatedly
declined 10 state the nature of the in
closure or to discuss the correspondence
in any manner Extraordinary political
conditions in Bogota were referred to in
ing this reference, and when the witness
declined to discuss il the senator asked
whether the witness felt that he was
obliged to conceal any actions that were
/ against the interests of the United States.
| Il refuse to answer such hypothetical
and hmpertinent questions" said Mr.
/ Cromwell.
! Il am compelled by the attitude of this
| committee TO accept your unusual and in
decent replies, said Mr.. Morgan.
They are no more unusual or indecent
than your questions" asserted the wit
ness.
/ Senator Taliaferro interrupted and de
/ manded 10 know wherein the question was
indecent. and the witness said the inda-
4 cency was in the assumption that he had
been employed 10 do anything against the
/ interests of the United States. Mr. TaIia-
/ ferro then demanded that the witness be
I instructed not to make insulting replies TO
! inquiries
MiIIard Takes a Hand.
Chairman Millard said he thought the
/ character OF the reply by the witness was
uncalled for. and Senator Kittridge sug-
! gested that the questions could be couched
! in different language.
"This is not the first time | have no.
\ llGcu all llNiliidAlDn ol Allt ldAA u the VIII
ness to insult his interrogators" said Nj.
Taliaferro.
! The colloquy between the members was
brought 10 a close by Mr. Morgan, who
/ said he entertained no resentment of in
/ suits from the witness; that he had too
much self-respect for that. He counseled
his colleagues not to concern themselves In
! his behalf
In resuming the examination, Mr.. Nor
/ gan had read the testimony of tho secre-
tary of the Panama Canal company be-
fore the canal committee four years ago,
discussing the desire of the company TO
surrender the canal project 10 the United
states Mr.. Cromwell refused 10 testify on
This subject taking shelter behind his pro-
fessional relations 10 the company.
AS Mr.. Morgan construed the testimony
Of the secretary, Mr.. Llmpre, he said. the
! company planned TO take the canal project