The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1906-03-01

Cromwell Has Another Lively Tilt
With Senator Morgan.
COUNSEL OF PANAMA CANAL co.

Declined Positively to Answer Ger
tain Questions Concerning Matters
Before Transfer Of Property to the
United States.
Washington. Feb. 2S-Wllliam Mel
son Cromwell and Senator Morgan
measured legal minds before the SEN
ate committee on inter-oceanic canal
Mr. Morgan pursued the witness re-
ientlessly concerning his relations with
the Panama Canal company. asking
many sMlml questions, which we're as
ekilfully cvaded. Mr. Cromwell drew
line between his actions since the
transfer oi the canal property to the
United states ana before the transfer
and declined positively TO answer any
Questions concerning the earlier period.
fIr MORGAN demanded 10 know OF
Mr.. Cromwell what payments had been
made 10 him from the new Panama Ca
nal company
nation demanded was OF a confidential
character and involved the relations OF
counsel and client Senator Morgan
insistcd and many sharp passages en-
sued. Finally Mr.. Cromwell said that
while ne did not think it any business
Of the senator's he would state that
t,,o total pavments made 10 him would
exceed 100000
That was all he had received out OF
the $40 600. GEO paid by this govern
ment. but he added that he had not rem
o.,sl his account for services. lie said
he had plenty Of money OF his own and
had not had time to go to Paris to see
the company lie declared that this
(meaning the hearinel was the hrst
vacation h. had he'd in 10 months.
He declared that there had been no
understanding as 10 The amount he was
90 receive
Mr.. Cromwell said he had not re-
cciycd from tine republic OF Panama
single cent and had received no benefit
directly or indirectly from the sale OF
the properiy: that he had not been in
tercsied in the securities Of either the
old or new companies. and that his
whole relation 10 the new canal COM
pany was that of counsel. and that his
sole compensation had been as such
Mr.. Morgan asked the witness what
money ne had in his control which be-
LONGS TO Panama. Mr. Cromwell made
detailed statement concerning the in
vestment I'm New York securities OF
about s.. 600. 900 which was set aside by
the rcpuh'ic a. a trust fund.
Mr.. Morgan seeming to question the
wisdom OF the investment Senator
Knox asked Mr.. Cromwell II It were
not true that the United states had
advised the investment Of the money.
THAT is absolutely true said Mr.
Cromwell 1T was You and the pre5i-
dent of the United States who advised
me 10 make this investment"
Mr.. Morgan again took up the subject
Of Nr. CromwelTs services 10 the new
Panama Canal company and what he
had done 20 earn the 100000 he said he
said he had received After refusing to
answer questions put 10 him in a va
riety Of forms, -eti bearing on the same
subject. Mr.. Cromwell said that he did
not think the committee has the power
TO 90 into the subject.
Don't Judge for the committee" -
said Senator Morgan. We Will test
elsewhere whether this inquiry is worth
while"
Il am willing to test il any time you
choose" challenged the witness in re-
ply.
This procedure continued for an hour
or more. Mr. Morgan then had read
an agreement between Mr.. Cromwell
and the new Panama Canal company
which embodied plan for the Ameri-
canization of the Panam canal This
was dated November 81. 1899. Mr.
! Cromwell said that il was not a con-
tract. but merely a power Of attorney
that had been given him. and a matter
that had not been matured into any
thing. lie declined TO say whether he
had drawn IT,
Mr.. Kittredee demanded Of Senator
Morgan whether he believed the in
ouirv 10 be material and said that the
resolution of the senate authorizing
the investigation did not provide for
an inquiry into the affairs OF the new
Panama Canal company.
Mr.. Cromwell interrupted to say that
he did not want to be harsh. but that
he should decline to go any further
into q discussion Of the affairs OF the
Parma Canal company
"You need not mind being harsh with
me-" said Senator Morgan; Il want
You to understand that you need not
respect any feelings of mine"
Disregarding Mr.. Cromwell's objec-
lions. Mr.. Morgan pursued the subject
as to whether Mr. Cromwell had incof-
porated the Panama Canal Company Of
America under the laws of New Jersey
He said after Mr.. Cromwell had refused
TO answer. that he would produce the
record to show that had been done,
and that Mr.. Cromwell was one OF the
incorporators.
nAuunT 1--WE LIVE nuRlcT