The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-06-10
THE METHODIST
BOOK CONCERN.
A Resolution in Senate to Investigate
Their Recent Claim,
IAN OUTRAGE AND A SWINDlE. "
Is What Mr.. Tilman Call It-Thinks
IL May Operate Against Other
Southern Claims-Ugly Charges
Against Ship-Owners.
AN OUTRAGE AND A SWINDLE. "

WASHINGTON. June AT to-days
session Of the Senate, Mr.. Carter Mon
tana), in connection with the rejection
by the government OF the steamship
Centennial as transport, made some
ugly charges agar 81 the ship owners on
the Pacilc coast lie said that they had
been endeaVOring 10 hold up the govern
ment and compel 10 10 pay inCtdnate
and eNtOrtionatc charges for ships TO be
used TO transport troops 10 the Philip
pines. Mr.. Perkins. California;, dInied
the statements OF Mr.. Carter. declaring
that the vessel owners of san Francisco
had placed their ships az the disposal OF
the government at rate fully 30 per
cent. less than they usually RECEIVED for
them.
The cause for this debate. a bill report
ed from the Committee on Commerce.
providing American register for the
steamers Olympia, Tocoma. Victoria,
Columbia. Arizona and Argyle OF the
Northern Pacilc Steamship Company was
passed.
FOR AN INVESTIGATIONS.
Mr. Lodge. (Mass.). precipitated a lively
discussion by Offering the following:
That the Committee on Claims be re-
quired to investigate to whom the money
concern South, and also all circumstances
connected with the passage Of the bill
for the payment OF said claim and sub
sequent payment OF the money under said
act OF Congress"
Senator Lodge explained that when the
bill appropratng S2sS,O00 TO pay the
claim Of the Methodist Book Concern
was before the Senate. he had offered an
amendment providing that not more than
5000 should be paid to any agent or lob
bylst for working FOR the bill His
amendment had been received with IN
dignation and was a reflection upon the
honor OF men who were rendering to the
Methodist Church South. a service Of
love
we were assured" said Mr. Lodge
that no part OF the sum appropriated
was to be paid to agents; but 1t now de-
velops that contrct existed for the
payment Of 80 per cent Of the proceeds
Of the claim to lobbyists. and that one
man has received the immense sum OF
500. 500"
Mr. Lodge then presented several news
paper clippings, in which the whole
scheme was exposed.
NO CHARGE AGAINST THE CHURCH.
In response 20 a suggestion. he said he
made no charge against the Methodist
he presented there were serious charges
against the accredited agents OF the
church. Mr.. Bate (of TENNESSEE, who
had strongly advocated the payment OF
the church claim. was much exercised
over the disclosures. lie denounced the
action OF the agents as an outrage upon
individual senators and upon Congress.
He favored a thorough investigation OF
the transaction 10 the end. that the re-
sponsible persons might be exposed. Mr..
Bate read a telegram from Barbe &
Smith, agents Of the Methodist book
concern, stating that nobody was 20 re-
ceive a commission for working for the
bill.
THIEVING PRACTICES.
Mr.. Pasco made a statement similar 10
that OF Mr.. Bate. Mr.. Tillman asked Mr..
Bate II ne did not think such "thieving
practices" would operate against the
payment OF other Southern claims pend
ing against the Government. He de-
clared that It was an outrage and
sWindle.
Mr. Wilson said the proceeding was an
outrageous one and It was evident that
the government had been buncoed.
Mr.. Pasco said the government had not
been cheated out OF anything. as no more
was paid than should have been. IL was
the Methodist Church that had been
beaten. He thought the Church should
make an investigation.
OMNIBUS BILL PASSED.
With the dispatching OF the Lodge mo-
ton, the Senate passed the omnibus
claim BILL carrying something over nine
millions OF dollars; forty private pension
bills. and several measures from the gen.
eral calendar one OF them granting the
use OF certain lands in ST. Augustine
Fla, for a public park.
on the omnibus bill, which is a SEN
ate substitute, Messrs. Teller. Pascoe ana
Stewart were appointed conferees.
At AS T.. NJ. the Senate Went into ex-
ecutive session and soon afterward ad-
journed.