The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-03-03
WITNESS WOULD
NOT TELL TRUTH
William Nelson Cromwell Declines to
Answer Questions Asked by
Senator Morgan.
LIVELY COLLOQUY ENSUES
LAW MAY BE EVOKED TO COM
PEI REPLY.

w washington, Mdrch Z.-Ihe letter
from William Nelson Cromwell to the
late Secretary of State Hay. under
date of Dec. 3. 1898. was taken up by
Senator Morgan today in the examina-
ton of Mr.. Cromwell before the COM
mittee on inter-Oceanic canals. The
period covered by the letter was when
the Panama Canal company was seek
ing a prolongation of its concessions
on the isthmus. The letter referred to
an Enclosure and Mr.. Cromwell repeat
eddy declined TO state the nature of the
Enclosure or to discuss the correspond
eEce in any manner. Extraordinary
political conditions in BOgota were
referred to in the letter and Mr.. Nor
gan asked concerning this reference
and. when the witness declined to dis
cuss it. the senator asked whether the
witness felt that he was obliged to
conceal any actions that would be
against the interests of the United
States.
Refused to Answer.
Il refuse to answer such hypotheti-
cal and impertinent questions, said
Mr.. Cromwell.
I am compelled by the attitude of
this committee to accept your unusual
| and indecent replies said Mr.. Nor
gan
'They are no more unusual or indie
| cent than your questions" asserted the
witEess.
Senator Taliaterro interrupted. and
! demanded to know wherein the ques-
ton was indecent, and witness said the
/ inGecency was in the assumption that
| he had been employed to do anything
1 against the interests of the United
| States. Mr.. TaIiaferro then demanded
/ that the witness be instructed not to
make insulting replies to inquiries.
Chairman Willard said he thought
/ the character of the reply by witness
/ redge suggested that the questions be
couched in different language.
This is not the first time I have
noticed an inclination on the part of
the witness to insult his interroga-
| tors" said Mr.. TaIiafeTro.
Entertained No Resentment.
The colloquy between the members
/ of the committee was brought to a
! close by Mr.. Morgan, who said he en-
/ tertained no resentment to insults from
/ the witness; that he had too much re-
/ spect for that. He counselled his col
I his behalf.
] In resuming the examination Mr..
/ Morgan had read the testimony of the
/ secretary of the Panama canal COM
pany before the canal committee four
/ years ago discussing the desire Of the
company TO surrender the canal project
/ to the United States. Mr.. Cromwell re-
/ fused to testify on this subject, taking
! shelter behind his professional rela-
/ tions to the company.
Pursued the Inquiry.
Mr.. Morgan pursued the inquiry
/ asking the witness if he had not him.
self drawn the plan. Again the sena-
/ to- asked Mr. Cromwell if he had not
/ shown this plan to a number of per-
sons Mr.. Cromwell said he had out
/ lined a different plan to the river and
/ harbor committee of the house, but he
refused to state the difference between
| the Lampre scheme and that submit
ted to the house committee. Mr.. Tall
| aferro appealed to the chairman to
know whether the witness could refer
to the plan offered to the house COM
mittee and then refuse to explain its
provisions on the ground that pro-
fessionaI secrets were involved. Mr.
/ Cromwell said the document would
/ sneak for itself Mr.. TaliaferTo said
that the witness should not dictate the
| manner in which the committee gets
! it's information. After considerable
! discussion the witness outlined the
house committee plan briefly
May Be Compelled.
It was determined that the question
/ of compelling the witness to answer
/ should be considered by the committee
/ at an executive session.
/ Throughout the examination of Mr.
/ Cromwell. Mr.. Morgan kept close tC
/ the civil war in Columbia, which was
/ the forerunner of the organization OF
/ the Panama republic. He appeared to
be trying to connect Mr.. Cromwell with
\ the internal disturbances Of this
/ South American republic
Mr.. Kittredges's objections disturbed
/ this examination. At 10 O'Clock a re-
cess was taken until p. m. to hear
J. Z. Markell of Omaha.
At the afternoon session J. L. Mar
+ KEEL of Omaha was examined concern
ing the concealed contract he had with
/ the canal commission to establish a
/ ~o,,.v,,Ecca,-xr on brnuC