Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 March 1893 — THOMPSON TESTIFIES. [ARTICLE]

THOMPSON TESTIFIES.

The Investigation Transferred to Terre Haute. The sub-committee investigating the Pana ma scandal which has been in session at Washington for some weeks, owing to Col. Thompson’s feeble health, went to Terre Haute for the purpose of hearing the testimony in the case. They arrived in Terre Haute, Monday. Col. Thompson was still quite weak but testified from his sick chair that he resigned as Secretary of the Navy, December 9, 1880, to take the chairmanship of the American Panama Canal Committee at a salary of 125,000 francs a year. There was no sccresy about the transaction at the time. He said it was a surprise to him to learn since this investigation began that the other members of the Committee had received twice the compensation that he had received as chairman. This was his first intimation of it. He thought it was all regular, as the other members wore bankers and had received their compensation as a commission on sums disbursed. He denied that any bribery had ever taken place, bnt stated that himself and other members of the Committee had used their influence to prevent this Government from taking any responsibility in the Nicaragua Canal which was then pleading for Congressional aid. Witness was asked to explain several letters to Do Lesseps speaking of handling the matter with with “extreme caution.” Col. Thompson said that was TOTceep the Panama company Tfom'being antagonized by the Nicaragua enterprise, and had to be fought under cover. He denied knowledge of the $12,000,000 said to have been sent to this country, and said that the, evidence before the Committee at Washington had startled him.