The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-01-19
mittee can tell whether he spoke the


mittee can tell whether he spoke the
+ truth.
1t was denied by Mr. Hopkins and Mr..
I<ittrldge that there is any controversy
: between the secretary of war and the
witness. After a long discussion Mr.. Knox
moved that the witness be compelled to
! give the names of all persons who fur
nished him information concerning affairs
| ON the isthmus or to eonfine his test-
mony to matters to which he was an eye
! witness. The motion was carried and the
witness instructed to proceed. Beginning
a dlscursive form of testimony In which
! generalties abounded Mr.. Bigelow was
{ brought to an abrupt pause by several
members of the committee Mr.. Knox
said:
Il insist, Mr. Bigelow, that you adapt
yourself to the ruling OF the committee
and give the information as demanded"
you can put me on bread and water
or even condemn me to Colon, but you
cannot make me disclose that which has
been given me in confidence" replied the
witness
His response was cut short by motion
by Mr. Knox that the committee go into
executive session. The motion was for
the purpose of giving the committee an
opportunity to consider the situation and
to determine what course should be taken
with the witness. The room was cleared
of spectators and the doors closed.
Doors Are Reopened
AT 1920 this afternoon the doors of the
committee room were opened and Mr..
Bigelow was interrogated by Mr. Morgan.
His attention was called to his statement
that Freeman had declined to accept
position with the government on canal
work. The witness said he had not been
AL ,a11 l,tf NJ ann n
would not take the place. He was asked to
name others. but declined. He said, how
ever, that he had had conversations with
Mr.. Dunlap, editor OF the Mining Journal;
W. Barclay Parsons and Mr.. Freeman, as
well as others.
Have any of these gentlemen said they
would not be willing to go to the isthmus
TO undertake engineering work because Of
physical conditions, or other reasons OF
that character" asked Mr.. Morgan.
ut would be very unfair to these gem
tlemen for me to answer that question"
replied Mr.. Blgelow.
Continuing he declared that he would
not quote any of these gentlemen, and he
declined to disclose any conversations
| with persons who had not given him au-
| thorfty to do SO. He said that Tracy Rob-
| inson and others he had mentioned In his
article had been covered with mud by
administration officials and that he would
not think of embarrassing others. He Of
| fered to quote parts of a letter from Mr..
| Robinson, but would not put In the en-
| tire letter.
Mr.. Morgan Is Severe.
| Mr. Morgans interrogations were severe
| in holding MIR. Bigeluw closely to facts,
and in demanding details concerning the
generalities of his early testimony.
II would like to withdraw the names l
| have already given" said Mr.. Bigelow,
L.. 4nI1 hat I'm mn wi h
draw anything; that he had been called
! to tell the truth, and would be expected to
tell ii on all matters of which he claimed
| to have knowledge
'"rhe law requires that you answer any
questions put to you by this committed"
| explained Mr.. Morgan. ut requires you to
answer even though 1t might violate pri-
| vate conversations or incriminate you.
| Should you refuse, 1t Is our duty to re-
port your conduct to the president of the
| Senate and for him to proceed against
| you In a court of justice. DO you want
any further authority on that point OF
| law"
II accept your word on law questions"
replied the witness, but 1 should like
| to state
| His statement was cut short by Mr..
Morgan, who instructed the stenographer
to read the question which was whether
the witness would name any engineers
on account of physical or other condi-
| tons.
do you refuse to answer without their
CONSENT" asked Mr.. Morgan.
| ~ should like to appeal to the chair
man. | was invited here to make state
ment concerning my experiences"
| Again the witness was cut short. Mr..
Morgan demanded an answer to the ques-
ton.
do you refuse to answer?' he asked
| with great severity of tone.
"Of course I do for the reasons I have
stated, replied the witness.
No Explanation Permitted.
He was not permitted to make any ex-
PLANTATION. Mr.. Hopkins then inquired of
the witness IL he refused to give the names
of the other engineers than the ones he
had mentioned as declining to go to the
isthmus Mr.. Bigelow said that he had not
said that any engineers had told him per-
sonally that they were unwilling to take
"a government position on the isthmus
but that he had given Information he had
gathered in various places.
! II have no names of engineers that have
| told me they would not go to the 18TH
mus" he said, "and neither will I say
that either of the gentlemen mentioned
| have told others that they would not 60"
Upon being questioned further he said
that while he would not say that they
had made statements, neither would he
say that they had not Getting no satisfac-
tion from the witness, Mr.. Morgan moved
that the room be cleared that the COM
mlttee might again consider the case
After discussing the conduct of Mr..
| Bigelow for nearly an hour in the second
| executive session OF the day. the commit
tee adjourned until IL O'Clock tomorrow.
1t was announced that no decision had
been reached.