The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-05-30
UPHELD BY COMMITTEE Morgan Scores in Bout
 With Cromwell.
WITNESS AND TAFT ARRAYED
Lawyer Compelled to Answer
 Questions of Senator.
MT. Hopkins of Illinois Attempts to Rescue the Panama Lobbyist from His Dilemma, But is
 Turned Down.

Washington, May 2s.--wiiliam Nell son Cromwell was before the Senate Committee on Interoceanic Canals to- day and was examined by Senator Nor gan under his motion to compel the witness to answer certain questions relative to the sale of the canal prop erty to the United States,
 The examination was begun by MT Morgan calling attention to a letter written by Secretary Taft to Mir. Crom- well, in which the former referred to the witress as having negotiated the sale. T believe you admitted that you negotiated the sale" said MT. Morgan.
 That Is not correct" replied Mir. Cromwell. whereupon he was told to state the situation himself A declina- ton to make any statement was met by demand from Mir. Morgan ground ed on the fact that his statement had been characterized as not accurate.
 Mir Cromwell explained that profes- siona1ly he assisted in negotiations for the sale. but he was interrupted by Mir. Morgan who said:
 Secretary Taft says you negotiated the sale to the Government. Is that correct?'
 Protest from Hopkins.
 At this point Senator Hopkins pro- tested that one witness could not be compelled to pass on the accuracy of q statement made by another witness and that if the witness declared the statement of Secretary Taft to be in. correct 1t would have the effect of i'm. peaching the Secretary.
 Entering an emphatic disclaimer oi any such intention. Mir. Morgan said that thought would not have entered the mind of any but a suspicious na. ture
 Senators Morgan and Hopkins dis. puted for some time the relevancy oi the question. during which the former remarked rather sharply that he wa; not moulding his words to suit secre tary Taft or the Senator from Illinois
 Very we'll, then. I insist upon m, objection" said MT. Hopkins
 T will put the question in any man ner to suit the delicate senslbilities e the Senator from illinois,. said Mir Morgans but he was not compelled [, do so. for the reason that the commit tee upheld the relevancy of the ques tion-
 Mir. CromweIFs Theories.
 Mir. Cromwell said he thought Sec. retary Taft had used the word 'nego. tiatedr in a broad liberal sense ana that while professionally he assisted in the completion of the offer of sale he had done so as counsel for the New Fanama- CAnAl company ana at' no Llms as the representative of the United States. He declined to enter further into the subject.
 Senator Morgan put into the record a letter he had received from Secretary Root enclosing several documents or file at the State Department relative to the sale. including one of October 31, 19e3 entitled, "the basis for the sale of the new Panama property" An ex. tended examinati of the witness wal conducted. concerning these documents during which MT. Cromwell explained his refusals to answer certain ques. tions.
 He said he did not refuse out of dis respect to the committee, but that tht examination wSs devoted solely to his relations to his client and he wat therefore entitled not to rep1y.
 Senator Morgan ordered the expla- nation stricken out on the ground that 1t was not in reply to a question, but Senators Hopkins and Dryden would not permit 1t. They insisted that tht witness should be permitted to make explanations of his attitude when ths remarks were addressed to the com mittee.
 The committee adjourned until to. morrow.