The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-06-23
TRYING TO MAKE A SCANDAL

The washington correspondent OF the
New York Evening Post recalls tine
warning given by Speaker Reed to his
Republican associates in Congress some
months ago that If the country shoulu
become involved in war it would be the
signal for a move upon the treasury by
claimants all along the line lie says
that Nhe warning is already proving true
and adds that "the scapdalous methods
If what is known as the Methodist Book
concern claim were exposed by Mr.
Lodge the other day in the Senate etc.
etc.
This statement IS grossly misleading
and is Of a kind with other statements
that have been made at the North de-
signed IL seems TO MS. 20 make the i'm
pression that the Southern Methodist
Church has lobbed through Congress an
unjust claim. Such is very far from
the fact. Throughout the entire dis
cussion Of this matter in Congress before
the claim was allowed and since 1t was
allowed. there has been no intimauon
that the claim was not proper and just
The Federal government seized the print
ing house OF the Methodist Book concern
during the war IN city which was I'M
der the protection of the United States
Government. and damaged IT, according
10 those who have passed upon the case.
TO the amount Of $4,000 and more. But
FIN order TO be on the safe side the claim
was reduced 10 s2sSoOo and for more
than thirty years the Methodist Chnrch
begged Congress TO allow it. But IN
spite of the opportunities OF the Church
the claim was not allowed. and finally
the Book Committee believing that they
would never OF their own efforts be able
TO get the money made contract with
a Nashville lawyer by which he under
took TO collect the claim for
percentage. 80 pay all the costs
and TO receive nothing n he should
fail. It was further agreed that
he would not employ any improper means
I'm accomplishing his purpose. This law
yer. II is said. spent three years OF ms
time and $1,000 of his own money In
prosecuting the claim and finally sue
ceeded. But after the claim was allow
ed certain members of The Senate declared
that they had been deceived, that they
had understood from the agents OF the
Book concern that no commission was
TO be allowed and that they had voted
for the claim under misapprehension
And so an investigation was ordered.
The Senate. It seems to us, occupies
an anomalous position. II the object oil
the investigation is 10 show that the
claim was unjust, or that improper means
we're employed 20 get IL passed, that
members OF Congress were bribed or I'M
properly Influenced. well. But it can be
no possible concern of the Senate what
agreement was made between the Book
concern and the lobbyist who undertook
10 collect the claim. II the Book con-
Germ has transacted its authority in max
!ns an agreement with the lobbyist and
II deception was practicod by its agents.
shat is a matter between the Book con-
Germ and the Methodist Church and we
do not see that the United States Senate
has anything whatever to do with Il.
N the money belongs to the Methodist
Church. II clearly had the right to pay
a part OF 1t. or the whole of IT to its
attorney. or TO give IT away. or TO burn
IL up. All fhat the Senate had to do
was TO decide as TO whether or not the
claim was just and on this point there
Is no question.
Members OF the Senate who have taken
such an active part in this matter do not