The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1898-07-01
STAHLMAN
GOT THE MONEY.
Investigation ofthe Metho-
dist War Claim.
BARBEE ON THE WITNESS STAND
States that Stahlman Did Beceive 35
Per Cent. But, for Fear 1t Would
Endanger the Passage of the Claim,
the Matter was Kept in the Dark.

the Matter was Kept in the Dark.
WASHINGTON, June 24.-When
the special committee of the
Senate met this morning to inves-
tigate the Methodist Publishing
House claim more Tennesseans were
present in the lobby than have been
near the committee room for years.
Maj. Stahlman, accompanied by his
attorneys, S. w. Hawkins and A. S.
Colyar, and his private secretary,
was seated in one corner of the lob
by. Over in the other corner were
Messrs. Barbee and Smith, with
their attorneys, ex-Attorney Gener-
al Garland and Judge Reeves, of
West Tennessee. Others present
were B. F. Haynes, editor of Zion
Outlook; Capt. Jack Baker, Rev.
Collins Denny, Chairman of the
Publishing House Committee, and
j. M. Mason, also member of the
Book Committee.
The Chairman called the com.
mittoe to order and announced the
purpose of the meeting. All news
paper men were excluded and the
dOOr-keeper announced that only
the attorneys in the case would be
admitted. Only one witness at a
time was allowed to go before the
committee, and as soon as his testi
mOny was taken he Immediately
left the room.
Three witnesses were examined,
the first called being DIR. Barbee,
who on being admitted was placed
under oath. He was asked if the re-
ports in circulation that 30 per cent.
of the claim was paid Maj. Stahl-
man were true. TO the amazement
of Senators he answered in the
affirmative.
"Then," said Mr.. Pasco, "how
long has this contract been in exist
ence?"
Nearly three years." was the
prompt reply.
Then it actually existed at the
time you telegraphed in answer to
my letter that there was no contract
for the payment of 40 per cent. OF
the claim to Maj. Stahlman?" asked
Senator Pasco.
"It was; but l presumed from
your letter that you desired me to
answer it in the negative, as the sue
cess of the claim depended upon my
answer" said DR.. Barbee.
He was asked if he had any ex
PLANTATION to make. To the astonish
inent of those present DR.. Barbet
said that his telegram was an In
direct answer to Senator Bates let
ter, but simply referred him to hi
telegram to Senator Pasco.
Upon being further questioned DR.
) Barbee admitted that he had sen
the telegram in question because h'
, feared that if it was known that
contract for 80 per cent. actually hat
existed the claim would be de
feated.
Mr. Smith was next examined, bu
was able to furnish the committe
but little information, as his work |
: confined almost entirely to the book
l keeping department of the Publish
ing House, the executive busines
being transacted by DR.. Barbee.
Mai. Stahlman was the next wit
= ness. He admitted that he receive
F.. 800 800 as fee for his work in cor
nectiOn with the passage of the claim
but announced emphatically that
l., was a question over which the Ser
n ate had no Jurisdiction and it wa
therefore none of their business
. Upon being questioned he said tht
g his reason for the statements mad
e to Senators was that he desired tn
claim to be considered by the Sci
y ate solely upon its merits and thu
he was afraid that if the question
n fee was interiected into the debat
It it might result disastrously to tn
\ claim.
>, Upon being further questioned b
q admitted that he told Senators thu
'e no fee of any consequence was to B
4 paid; the entire amount was to
/, to the church.
'' Mai Stahlman was then requeste
20 to furnish the committee with a d
.e tailed statement showing tt
A. amount of money received by hi
:, and how much had been paid
u" other parties, to whom and wheth'
D. any of it had gone to members
a. House or Senate.
AZ II will furnish the committ'
= with such statements If you so desi
H' before | leave Washington,
l. said; II can state now, howeve
Or that not one dollar of this mon,
le went to any member of the HOu
~ or Senate"
IL He was then asked whether an
N one here knew that uch contra
was in existence.
mot to my knowledge" he r
ID piled. Even the man who sle
: with me and occupied the san
'e room with me did not know an.
n thing of it," referring to Capt. Ja
Baker.
TRAMPS In KANSAS.