The San Francisco call., 1909-02-23
RAINEY REPLIES
IN PANAMA DISPUTE
Nelson Cromwell Denounced
and Financial Arrange
ment Criticised
During Discussion 1t Is Insisted
That Nothing Wrong Is
Proved

WASHINGTON, Feb. pa second
speech by Rainey of Illinois, reiterating
his former statements concerning the
Panama canal and a bitter arraignment
of Rainey by Burton or Ohio. furnished
the principal incidents in the house of
representatives today.
After the Illinois member had spoken
for an hour in further denunciation of
William Nelson Cromwell, Burton took
the floor TO make reply. He vigorously
defended Cromwell. c. 2. Taft, President
elect Taft and others whom Rainey on
a former occasion had made objects OF
his attacks. Rainey, he said, had fur
nished no proofs of wrong doing in con-
nection with the purchase of the Pan
anna canal franchise, but, instead. had
conjured up wrongs and buttressed
them with slander and falsehood, there
by placing himself on level with the
Scurvy politicians" He challenged
Rainey to get from behind the protec
tion afforded him by the constitution of
the United States and rules of the
house and make his charges in the
open. Lowering of Massachusetts Joined
in the discussion and insisted that
Rainey had proved nothing.
The incident was closed by declara-
tion by Cochran of New York that per-
sons whose regulations were attacked
in the house should havegan opportu-
nifty to defend themselves in the same
place.
RAINEY MAKES REPLY
True loyalty to this great enter
prise" Representative Rainey said in
introducing the subject, means that
you must expose and denounce all kinds
of graft in connection with it in order
to avoid the pitfalls in which the French
companies fell, and 1 propose to do this.
whether it meets with the approval of
the president of the United States or
not
Rainey stated that of the evidence he
produced in support of his charge Of
graft in connection with the buying of
the canal nearly all was obtained from
Panama. Continuing, Rainey said:
Cromwell. through Olcott of New
York, has seen fit to discuss his present
efforts to conclude a treaty between Co
lombia and Panama, in which he refers
to the necessity for some contribution
from Panama TO Colombia as her pro-
portion of the public debt of Colombia"
Referring to these as the proposed
Cromwell treaties" Rainey asserted
that Cromwell proposes to so change
the Hay-Bunau Varilla treaty as to i'm
pose upon this country an additional
TRIANGULAR DEAL
''The situation Cromwell is endeavor-
ing to force by the treaties is that the
United States is to be required to in
crease its treasury deficit and to pay TO
Colombia $1.250,000; Panama impover-
ishes herself by giving up the 81 ,250, 900
clearly belongs to her and gives up for
five years after 1913 the revenue we
propose to pay her In return for this
PanamanS are to be admitted to tie
lucrative positions on the canal zone in
our service, and ultimately, in order to
permit Panama to recoup her losses on
account of the Cromwell treaties, she is
to be permitted to levy taxes upon the
army of Americans and other employees
we have sent to the isthmus for the
purpose of building the canal"
BURTON COMPLIMENTS TAFT
Burton spoke of his senatorial contest
with G. P. Taft. and said he never heard
word against Taft that reflected on
ms honesty as a man or connected him
with any schemes of exploitation. Are
we not stepping below the level on
we bring In private citizens here and
openly accuse them of that which brings
contumely and corruption?
Burton provoked laughter by saying
that Rainey felt honored at having been
put in the Ananias club THE Ananias
ticles of Incorporation. 1T does not hold
annual banquets. It's members wear no
buttons It's members don't buy any
busts to put in public halls. A census
of the membership would be excessively
difficult but | am afraid the number OF
eligibles would be extremely large
Rainey, he said, was paramountly
fitted for the presidency of the club