The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-05-10
CROMWELL IS DEFIANT Refuses to Answer Mor-
 gan's Questions. THE ALBANIAN IS INQUISITIvE Wants to Know About a Letter to
 Secretary Hay. sparrinE Match Between the senator and the Counsel of the Panama Rail road Company Before
 the Committee.
THE ALBANIAN IS NQUISITIvE

Washington. May 9.---"I will reply to hypothetical questions. If you will be good enough to ask a question that Is pertinent, I will answer it."
 Thus William Nelson Cromwell. counsel for the Panama Railroad and in that capacity an official of the Uni- ted States dcfied Senator Morgan in his quest for information as 10 the meaning of a letter written by Croln- we'll to the late Secretary Hay concern ing the original concession to the Panama Canal Company.
 After replying that the letter spoke for itself and that questions relating to that transaction were not germaine to the present inquiry of the senate committee on Interoceanic canal. Mir. Cromwell met a rapid fire of uestions with prompt refusals to answer.
 The inquiry promised to be q resump- tion of the sparring match between Senator Morgan and Cromwell the re- ports of which attracted national at- tention several weeks ago. The ses- sion today was attended by Senators Willard. Chairman: Dryden. Knox, Nor gan and Taliaferro
 Mir Morgan found 1t lmpracticabie to pursue an examination which com cerned the relations of MT. Cromwell Co the old Panama Canal Company and he turned to inquiries regarding the services of Cromwell to the Panama Railroad Company.
 The witness said he was first in- vfted to become & director of the road by MT. Bayard. formerly. commercial agent of the old canal company in the United States to represent him. but that in order to become bona hde director he had purchased fourteen shares of stock.
 Ills Recollection Limited.
 The examination for some time then continued on the subject of bond is- sues and sales. MT. Cromwell answer ing these questions freely, but his rec ollection on the subject was limited. He said that in the books of the ex- ecutive committee which Mir Morgan had before him, were recorded all the transactions.
 Mir. Cromwell testified that there wree no laws by which the Board of Directors of the railroad could be re- moved by the President, Secretary Taft. the Canal Commission or Con- gress, but that If his services were not desired. he would be glad to resign. The executive committee of the Board is elected by the Board and can not be terminated by any other body. said Mir. Cromwell. He had before tes- tified that MT. Farnham, clerk in his office. was also a director of the rail- road.
 Then" said Senator Morgan. If the hoard of directors were evenly divided on the subject. a clerk in your onice could maintain your position on the executive committee! ,.p
 Let us not mingle business with frivolities," objected MT. Cromwell
 senator Morgan angered by this re- mark. retorted sharply that ne woutu ustI show the witness that he meant ousi- ness. The question was repeated.
 such A contingency is impossiote among gentleman" replied Mir. Crom- well. {.
 "Mavbe we are not all of that cloth. said Senator Morgan. am sure some of inc people connected with the af~ Saira of inc canal or railroad are not" ..
 "r think YOU can enlarge that ds- acription a little responded MT. Crom- well. .o .~un.,.- men and get down to p,A.n I,, me; o Mir. Morgan. po Sou swer my question:
 "Ob no. 1 do not, If you think II im- nortant." said Mir Cromwell
 ISo raneated that the Board Of Di-
 ators of all corporations are elect ad annually by the stockholders ana ,ha elections hold until the next an- nual election. The Boaros. ne oe- n,nred again. have sole control ovsr their committees.
 Mr cromwell made explanation. how .var that the government in the case of the railroad, could disdualify the directors by withdrawing the one .hara of stock held by each director. This would necessitate the return of coo naid by each director for the share held.
 YOU. the government would have to
 @Yes sir. and hope the government Is able to pay It." replied the witness tartly
 At thls point the committee took an until tomorrow