The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-29
THOSE CHARGES
A GROSS INSULT.
So Says Mr.. Hope About Certain
Published Reports.
THE METHODIST CHURCH CLAIM
Tbirty.Fiyc Per Cent. Of the Appro.
priation Of S2Ss 900 Paid AS Com.
mission TO Get the Bill Through
MIR. John T.. Branch Talks.

"a
IN mis- civ over the reports published In
many If the newspapers relative TO GER
tain charges made about the S2ss.VW APP
nronrlation granted by Congress as
var claim TO the Methodist Episcopal
church South. Il was published broad
coet that OF the amount named more
tban 100000 went 20 persons supposed 10
have aided I'm the passage Of the claims
and that during the sessions OF the re-
cent Methodist Conference In Baltimore
some of the Methodist ministers were so
much wrought up over the matter that
tbev suggested that the entire fund ought
to be refunded by the church.
THIRTY FIVE PER CENT.
According TO one publication fe"
,rs-o.o n is said. the Book Committee
~ the General Conference. Of when
Mossrs Barbee and Smith are the agents,
contracted with Mr.. f. b. Stahlman' OF
Tennessee. to take up the work oil the
claim The commission promised 10 MI
Stahlman Is said to have been 30 per cent
The agreement made between the COM
mittee and Mr.. Stahlman was that no
questionable means were TO be used III
securing the passage OF the claim pil'
that no wine suppers were TO be gwen
nor anything done that would meet the
disfayor of the religious public MI
Stahlman is said 10 have worked very
hard TO secure the allowance Of the claim
and is alleged to have spent NZoVO lor
the purpose
gresham FELTON,. and one of the leaders
~ the State w. c. r. L.. claims that TINS
amount was paid out TO lobbyists, and
that thereby the fund was secured In
manner not I'm accord with the Church
principles. as Barbee and Smith had sent
telegram to Senator Bate, Of Tennes-
see stating that no claim agent was TO
receive anything from the amount ana
y, This representation the sum was
awarded.
MIR. BRANCH TALKS.
Mr.. John p Branch. who was preseh'
at the Baltimore Conference, ana Is IA
miliar with the history OF the whole al
fair. was seen yesterday and said that
the matter was brought up In the Con-
ference. and a committee appointed 10
investigate certain rumors and reports.
They reported to the Conference eXoner-
ating Messrs Barbee and Smith from any
blame whatever and endorsing their con
duct Of the transaction throughout. There
were no charges made In the conference
against either Messrs. Smith and Baroee'
or MI Stdnlmdn. anu iht 5tH9"ti'ii"i ~
ports were groundless.
Mr.. Branch stated that the Conference
agreed through its agents TO give ten per
cent commission 10 a man TO get the
claim through the Senate This effort
failed. A commission Of twenty-five per
cent. Of the S2SS. 900 was then offered. This
too failed Finally a commission Of 30 per
cent was offered, and Mr.. Stahlman I'M
dertook the work under the direction OF
Messrs. Barbee and Smith, agents Of the
Conference. He spent much money and
several years Of hard work on the under
taking. which finally succeeded. His COM
mission amounted to about 100000. The
Conference made no secret that a com
mission was offered Mr. Stahlman. In
deed, the body openly agreed to this ac-
ton, and the claim was gotten through
Congress only after many years Of hard
work.
Rev. Herbert VI. Hope, associate editor
Of the Richmond Christian Advocate, who
was present at the Baltimore Conference,
was asked about the reports published
and said in reply
SLANDEROUS INSULT.
The sensational statements concerning
the money recently allowed and paid by
the government Of the nlted States 10
Allt -htlIDhl0N iSpA1ibildl NAAAAAtA Ns7'AAiAJ
for the use and damage of its publishing
house are almost too absurd TO notice.
This Is no church fund dispute that /
have heard Of. II Southern Meth0distS
are aroused" / have not been told Of II.
| So far as / know they are very calmly
enjoying the possession of the fund that
at last has come into their treasury and
have only disputed as 10 the best means
| of investing it.
The suggestion that questionable meth
DDS were employed in securing it-that
anything was done that would meet the
| disfavor of the Christian public'-is too
gross an insult to good men and great
| church to be noticed.
The slenderous limitations Of the news
| aper clipping before me were whispered
| before the meeting Of the General Con-
ference and had reached the ears Of the
| members Of that body
They were inquired into | know by
persons who were on the Committee on
Publishing Interests. But so satisfied
was this committeeman the General Con-
| ference itself-.that the whole transaction
was clean and business-like that no ques-
ton was raised. and the book agents
Messrs Barbeei & Smith. and the Book
| Committee were endorsed by being re-
| turned 10 their responsible trusts. To
| revive the scandalous insinuations now
| Is 10 reflect upon the moral character OF
the great Christian council that returned
| to office the men under whose admins
tration the claim. which has been stand
| ing so long. was adjusted.
OUGHT TO BE PAID.
That the gentleman who represented
the Book Committee in prosecuting the
| claim was paid for his services / have
| no question. and he should have been.
| ard probably was, handsomely paid. But
| the intimat on that unworthy and I'M
| Christian means were employed is abso-
| lutely without excuse.
The great speeches of the champions
OF the bill IN the Senate ard House-whose
judgments were convinced as to its JUS
| tice and whose arguments there con-
! WINGED enough Of their colleagues 10 car
| ~ the measure through trlumphantly-
| did the work and these men are Of such
| high character and standing as TO be
| above suspicion.
So altogether this whole business to get
up A sensation about the payment OF this
claim is absurd and as 1t has been sub
stantlauy passed upon by the great coun-
l Ia a