Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-01-30
SEES mORE CRAFT
IN PANAMA
Congressman Ralney Says Tdft'S
Brother Is In Deal.
WANTS A GENERAL PROBIhG

Declares w. N. Cromwell, Charles p.
Taft and Others Are Being Permit
ted to Rob tbs Republic Of Panama
and the United States Treasury.
Says They Have the Assistance CT
the Administrator.
Washington. Jan 27.-That William
Nelson Cromwell. Roger L Farnnam.
Charles p. Taft and others are parties
% the most infamous railroad propo-
sition ever submitted to any govern
ment" and that they are being per
mitted not only 20 rob the Republic OF
Panama. but indirectly the treasury OF
the United States" were charges made
by Representative Rainey DEM. OF
Illinois. ia startling speech in sup
port Of his resolution providing for an
investigation by congress OF the. Pan
anna canal purchase.
I'm their Efforts IN this direction"
be continued, they have had SO far
the complete cooperation and active
assistance o. the present administra-
ton and Of the next president OF the
United States"
Mr.. Rainey traced the history of
the proposed canal and declared that
We have already started in the direc-
ton Of the rocks upon which the
French companies were wrecked
Referring To the governments libel
suit against the New York World and
the grand jury Investigations now in
progress iu this city aud ia New york,
Mr. Rainey said:
''If we are 20 carry this project 70 a
successful conclusion we must avoid
graft. Il Is not the part of wise states
manship TO dispose OF resolutions ask
ing for an Investigation OF any phase
OF the canal question with the sweep
ing and absolutely unsupported Official
declaration that there is nothing q :si-
Vestigate.
1T is not the part Of sound states
manship and true patriotism TO at
tempt 10 revive the obsolete common
law remedies OF 200 years ago. and TO
employ all the tremendous agencies OF
the government in attempting 20
crush newspapers which have had she
courage 20 call attention to a Qucs-
uonable transaction in connection with
the canal"
Bitterly Denounced Cromwell.
Mr.. Rainey was particularly bitter
IN his denunclation OF Mr.. Cromwell
general counsel for the new French
Panama Canal company and counsel
and a director OF the Panama railroad.
which Is owned by the United States
government He charged that through
the manipulations Of Mr.. Cromwell the
French Canal company was permitted
% steal from the United States gov
eminent three or four million dollars. %
and that after he had become an on
Ger in fact OF the United States. he be-
came a party 10 an attempt Go collect
from the United States a fraudulent
claim on the part OF the canal com
pany OF $2.20O.000."
He also was unsparing in his at
tack upon Don Jose Domingo de Obal-
dia. president OF Panama who. he said.
represented as no other Spanish
American statesman In his generation.
ell that is corrupt IN Spanish-American
politics"
'Since the election Of last Novem-
Der" he continued, under the shadow
OF the dome of the capitol 8 breadline
appears daily, constantly increasing IN
length. II we permit the scheme OF
William Nelson Cromwell. Roger /.
Farnham. Charles p. Taft and others
TO go through on the Isthmus Of Pan
ANA, this government will have there
a breadline containing 400 900 people"
II we permit the men who are at
tempting TO steal and TO appropriate
ia their own use the revenues OF this
republic. We place upon the United
States the burden OF caring for those
people" he said.
He then charged that the United
States has expended $176.422. 4G5 on
the canal without lowering It an inch
from where the French left IT,