Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-01-27
SAYS THEY ARE PERMITTED TO ROB
Mentions a. Taft's Associates William
Nelson Cromwell, r. /. Farnham
and Various Panama Statesmsn-
Advocates investigation Of Affairs.
(By Associated PresS)


and others by Mr.. Rainey. of Illinois
was made in the House of Rep-esen
| tatives today.
The postOffice appropriation bill was
! under consideration but Mr.. Raines
spoke under license Of general de
bate and he was unscaring in his
charges of. corruption and fraud
against the persons named.
A, the conclusion of his speech
which consumed over an hour and
half, Messrs. Stevens. of Minnesota
and Kustermann. of Wisconsin. ex
pressed their disapproval of his re-
marks and entered a defense OF the
accused.
During the morning hour the House
passed point resolution making Feb
ruary IL 1909, which marks the one
hundredth anniversary o: the birth
CT Abraham Lincoln legal holiday
in the territories and the District OF
Columbia.
When the House. at D. m. ad-
journed. the post Office appropriation
bill was still pending.
Rainey's Bitter Attack,
Charging that William Nelson Crom
well. Roger l.. Farnham. Charles p
Taft and others are parties TO the
"mcst infamous railroad proposition
ever submitted to am government
and that they ARE being permitted
not only to rob the republic Of Pana-
ma. but indirectly fhe treasury Of
the United States" Representative
Rainey of Illinois today directed the
scarchlight of publicity upon affairs
in the canal zcne in startling speech
in support of his resolution providing
for an investigation by congress OF
the Panama canal purchase. In
their Efforts in this direction he
continued. they, have had so far the
complete cooperation and active assis-
lance of the present administration
and of the next President OF the
United States"
Mr. Rainey traced the history Of
the proposed canal four hundred
years back and warned that we have
already started in the direction of the
rocks upon which the French Gem
panies were wrecked"
Referring to the governments libel
suit against the New York World and
the grand jury investig alton now in
progress in this city and in New
York. Mr.. Rainev said:
Must Avoid Graft.
III we are to carry this project
through to successful, conclusion
We must avoid graft. 1t is not the
part OF wise craftsmanship to dis
pose OF resolution asking for an in
vestigation Of any phase OF the
Canal questien with the sweeping and
absolutely unsupported ofiicial decla-
ration that there is nothing to inves-
tigste II is not the part of sound
craftsmanship and true patriotism TO
attempt to revive the obsolete Com
mon law remedies of two hundred
wears ago. and to employ all the ire
mentsuous sgerc:es Of the Govern
ment in attempting to crush news
papers which nave had the courage
to call attention 10 questionable
transaction in connection with the
Canal.
He submitted for record various
papers I'D documents IN support OF
many allegations contained IN the
speech
Mr. Rainey was particularly bit
ter m his ienvnciation Ct Mr. Crcm-
we'll. general counsel for the New
French Panama Canal Company and
counsel and a director Of the Panama
Railroad. which is owned by the
tinted States Government. He charg-
I'd that through the manipulations
Of Mr.. Cromwell. the Frerch Canal
Company was permitted to steal from
the United states government three
or four million dollrs'' and that after
he had l.>ccmc An officer in fact OF
the United States. he became a party
~ an attempt TO collect from the
United States fraudulent claim on
the part Of the Canal Company Of
g. 900. 900.
Represents Corrupt PoI%ies.
He also was unsparing in his at
tack upon Don lose Domingo DE-
Obaidis. president e Panama. whom.
he said represented as no other
Spanish American statesman in Nthe
generation ali that IS corrupt IN Span
ish-kmerican politics.
without Obaidia.- he stated.
-CTsmcwIrs career would have been
impossible WTthou, Cromwell. Obaf
dia wcuid have b"cn impossible.
Against President elect Tat, now
on route 10 thr canal zone. Mr.. kaih'
~ directed rh" accusation that en-
Tho ocsSiGn Of his last trip 20 Pans-
ma in May he did nothing en- IN"
Tsthmus exccp' 20 openly push the
candidacy OF Obaldia for the Pres'-
dency." He asserted that very
;hinIy vciIsd throat TO seize the No
public " OhaIJis VAS not cfcctcd vas
contained In hotter written by MT.
Taft TO the then President Amado'
ard hal To prevent this Ar'as'
ObSlGia's opponent. withdrew
Hossts Senator looee.
Reference 20 President RoHseSehs
recent attack on Senator Tfiman vas