The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-03-01
Declines to Answer Nor
 .gan's Questions.
CALL DOWN FOR A SENATOR
Morgan Tells Kittridge Not to
 Interrupt Him Again.
AS to the RecaIcitrant Witness, the Alabamian Says His Case of Lockiaw Seems te be Get
 tins worse.


 ate Committee on Interoceanic Canals convened today, Senator Morgan was not prepared to take up his examina- tion of William Nelson Cromwell for nearly half atl hour. He spent the time reading the record. When he re- suped the. inquiry was in relation to the plan of the Americanization of the Panama Canal.
 Mir. Cromwell said his reply would be the same as he had made on yes terday, that professional secrets were involved He said he entered the em- pioy of the new Panama Canal Conl- pany In 1896 and the employment still exists. Question after question was asked by MT. Morgan and the witness replied to each, one, 'I make the same reply" Another line was taken up concerning the subject and to all of these questions MT. Cromwell replied invariably: ewhatever, knowledge I acquired was gained in my profess siona1 capacity"
 Your case of lockjaw seems to be getting worse" Mir. Morgan said. Tt is the most remarkable case ever en- countered."
 Again declining to answer any quess ticns on the subject, the witness was told by Mir. Morgan that he was shut tiRg off information.
 '"Then why are you asking these questions?" answered Senator Kitt- redge.
 T want to see if the witness can tell the truth on any point. 1" said Mir. Mor- gaan. "Furthermore, if any Senator cares to interrupt he should address the chair. sT don't care to be inter rnpted In this way."s
 Continuing his Inquiry Mr. Morgan asked Did you assist Senators Han na and Kittredge in. making the ni- nprity report from this committee (the report referred to was against the Nic- aragua route and in favcr of the Pan afnas route.l T decline to Answer said the wit ness. A
 Taliaserre Wants to Know. ,nsssS stsT n TsliAts tss & p tef sa,S szS tas y saE EhAteyer in forfnatinn he might. have furnished, was given as counsel for the Pasiafaa Canal Company. The sueceed- ing questions were based on the as~' sumption that the witness had admitted tiat he had assisted the committee. but MT. Cromwell promptly interposed that he had made no such admission.
 T ask you again. did you give them infcrmatiorT' asked MT. Morgan.
 ,'1 make the same reply" said the witness.
 .'what Is that repIyT' asked Mir. Nor gan
 That my actions were in the course of my professional duties. and of a conS fIdentisl character" replied the wit ness MT. TaIiaferro asked the witness con- cerning the monetary agreement enter ed between the Secretary of War and the Republic of Panama, particularly that part he played 1 nthe transaction.
 .Is this not covered by your profess sional reticence2' asked Mr. Morgan.
 NO, sir" said the witness, "and hope may say this finally"
 NO, we will return to it again if I see fit" said Mfr. Morgan.
 Very well you seem to enjoy 1t and 1t Is the first vacation I have had in long time." replied the witness. with III 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 without interruptions. In the mean time Mir. Morgan was studying the records
 Invfted 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 agreement the Panama Canal Company had with the Republic of Colombia. During this discussion he referred to. the Panama Railway Com pany, and questions being asked him by Mir. Morgan the witness declined to answer any Hypothetical questions" concerning his relations with the rail- road company in period prior to the transfer of the road to the United States in May.
 Mir. Morgan demanded that the wit ness 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 will ling to consider specific questions when asked, but insisted that he would not answer any Hypothetical questions"
 Mir. Morgan insisted on a ruling as to whether the witness should be compelI- ed to answer
 MT. Kittredge demanded a roll call, the Senators voting as their names were called Those who voted against the witness being compelled to answer and question not specifically stated were Kittredge, Dryden, Ankeney and Willard. The vote to support MT. Nor Ran's position were: Morgan and Tal- iaferro. There were only six Senators present when the vote was had.
 MT. Morgan told the witness to re- sune and treated the subject as if he had expected to be overruled. MT. Cromwell continued the discussion of the monetary matter and great inter est was manifested in the subject after he had said he had drawn the mone- tary agreement.
 The monetary agreement said MT. Cromwell, was made for the benefit of the Panama Railroad and the IsthmIan Canal Commission and the interest Of the Republic of Panama was only nom inal.
 Senator Simmons asked MT. Cromwell if it be true that he had received no salary from the Republic of Panama, what had induced him to serve the Re- public as financial agent.
 Mir. CrOmweIPs Good Nature.
 Because of my broad instinct of good nature, which has prompted me to do SO much for this cause. and for the further reason that have moro money than I know what to do with, unfort- unately," said MT. Cromwell.
 Taking up the scheme for the Amer teanization of the Panama Canal" Mir. Morgan asked if it was the same broad instinct of good nature" that had prompted him to engage In that.
 Are you still harping on our daugh- ter" asked Mir Cromwell