The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-12-19
4 tyobpalss d f,arIsI as 4 prOpef d

It LyonnaisS Of Paris as q proper EDS.
todian Of the same appointed upon
such liquidation.
Recently n request was made by a
private Individual to inspect the rec.
ords of these payments, but answer
was made by the custodlans that they
saw no proper reason for granting
such request by a stranger, and. mas
much as there Is not the slightest
ground for suspicion Of any bad faith
In the transaction, Il hardly seems
worth while 10 make the request, but
II the Congress desires | have no doubt
that on the request OF our ambassador
In Paris the lists Of individuals VIII be
shown him.
AS matter OF fact there is nothing
whatever In which this government Is
interested TO investigate about this
transaction. SO far as this govern
ment Is concerned every step OF the
slightest Importance has been made
public by It's executive, and every step
taken In France has there been made
public by the proper otiicIaIs,
Directions Of Congress Followed
The congress took the action It did
take after the most minute and ex-
haustive examination and discussion,
and the executive carried out the dl'
rection Of the congress to the letter,
Every act Of this government every
act for which this government had the
slightest responsibility, was In pursu-
ance OF the act of the congress here
aud following out the decree Of the
civil tribunal OF the Seine In France.
Furthermore, through the entirely
voluntary act Of Mr.. Cromwell ! am
now able TO present TO you full III
formation as TO these actions I'm
France with which this government
did not have any concern and which
are set forth in the accompanying pa.
pers,
II may be wen TO recall that the
New Panama Canal Company OF
France did not itself propose or FIX
the figure $40,OOOOO0 as the valuation
OF the canal and railroad properties
That sum was first fixed by opc 18th
milan canal commission IN It's reports
10 the congress after two years Of in
yestigation and personal inspection oi
all the properties ana work already
done, whereby the properties and the
work done were In detail appraised at
that sum rs their value to the United
States The French company steadily
refused for over two years to make
any offer whatever In answer to the
many written requests o. TIE islhmlnn
canal commission, ana when It's pres
ldent did approach the question ~
price 1t was on the basis ~ S+'' - ei'55i'
-Utsf Later. under conditions not nee
essary now TO rehearse. the company.
by cable. accepted the appraiscmcnt
u Si0,OOO.OO0 made by our commits.
sion. This government, therefore, ac-
quired all the properties and conces-
sions. both Of canal and railroad, az
It's own valuation aud price, the COX
gress approving the price and author
IzIng the expenditure Of the money
after the most exhaustive examination
and discussion,
I transmit herewith lists Of the doc
uments In the possession OF the depart
ment Of state. the department Of Jus
tlce and the department OF war. s."
that II congress sees TT 1t may direct
that they be printed. They are and
always have been open to the exam'
nation Of any member Of the congress
There is no object In printing them.
but there Is also no objection to print
Inc them save that Il is a useless ey
pense
| also transmit a list OF the docu-
ments furnished by Mr. Cromwell
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
The white House, Dec -. 1908