The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-14
STAHLMAN SEVERELY SCORED
SENATOR'S THINK CHURCH OUGHT
TO RETURN MONEY.

dIer NettIes MIR. PaSco by insisting
That He Had Been, UnwittinEly,
the Agent of the Schemers.
Washington, June 1S.-For nearly two
hours to-day the Senate had under discus
sion the resolution of Mr.. Lodge of Mas
sachusetts, directing the claims commit
tee to make an inquiry as to the disposi-
ton of the money appropriated by Con-
gress to pay the claim of the book con-
Germ of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
South.
A heated coloquy between Mr.. Chandler
of New Hampshire and Mr. Pasco of Flor
ida was the feature OF the discussion.
Mr.. Bacon of Georgia opened the debate
He said he had not the remotest suspicion
that anybody who was working for the
claim here had any pecuniary interest in
its passage. He had had a conversation
on the subject with Maj E. B. Stahlman,
who had received IS per cent. of the claim
paid, and the impression left on him was
that not a dollar of the money was to be
paid TO lobbyists.
Mr.. Stahlman, said Mr.. Bacon, stated
there was no arrangement or contract
whereby anybody was to be paid single
dollar, except possibly, small amount
for expenses. Mr.. Bacon thought the idea
that the claim was lobbied through Con-
gress was absolutely abhorrent 10 the SEN
ators, particularly to those who actively
supported it, He would not have voted
for the claim had he known any such
amount as 100000 was to be paid to an
agent.
II deplore this matter and I regret it
extremely, said Mr.. Bacon, ION ac-
count of the modification which must
come to a great religious society which
obtained money under any arrangement
that savored in the slightest way of false
pretenses."
Mr.. Lindsay of Kentucky related the de-
tails of a conversation which he had had
with Maj. Stahlman who had told him
that no fees were to be paid out of the
appropriation, except possibly 5000 or
$3.50 as necessary expenses.
Mr.. Hoar of Massachusetts believed this
was an opportune time to say to the coun-
try that in the presentation of just claims
to Congress there was never a necessity
for the employment of agents or lobby
lists. When it was known that a claim
is being promoted by agents and lobby
lists it was actually endangered.
Concerning the present matter, Mr. Hoar
said he would not declare it a pure swim
die, but it was ian utter blunder folly
and delusion. The representatives of the
church ought at once to pay back to the
government the money received under the
appropriation, and the man who received
the 100000, if he ever expects to have a
shred Of character to his back. ought to
give up the money"
Mr.. Gambler desired it to be understood
that the present matter could not be set
tied by the disclaimer of false intent by
those who pushed the claim through the
Senate. He maintained that the money
ought to be returned to Congress- If Mr..
Stahlman should refuse to relinuuish his
gains, the church ought to proceed against
him to recover the money. 1t was per-
fectly clear, said he, that as the book
concern was corporation, the men who
had made the contract with Mr. Stahl-
man had no authority to pay the amount
agreed upon.
Mr.. Chandler declared that the Senate
had been grossly and outrageously de-
ceived and that the senator from Florida
(Mr. Pasco) had been the agent unwit-
tingly, of the deception
Mr. Pasco-'"The senator knows I am in
capable of deceiving the Senate
Mr. Chandler-"The Senate was deceived
and the senator from Florida was the
agent of the deception, unwittingly, no
doubt
MIR. Bacon felt that Mr.. Chandler was
doing an injustice to Mr.. Pasco, who had
been deceived himself. He protested that
il was unjust to place Mr. Pasco in that
Kind of position when it was evident he
himself had been imposed upon
MIR. Chandler replied that he had dis
claimed any unkind or unjust imputation
on Mr.. Pasco.
We were all deceived" said he, land
Barbee and Smith did it."
Il ask the senator from New Hamp-
shire to retract absolutely those words
which indicate that 1 was an agent of the
deception practiced upon the Senate 1
cannot remain patiently under such an
1mpuiatioD," said MIR. Pasco.
do not know what the senator can
do, retorted Mr.. Chandler. IF he can
say or do anything about it, 1 wish he
would do so, in order that l may proceed
with my speech. l have stated he did
not willingly or Willingly deceive The SEN
ate. and that ought to be enough"
want the senator's words to embody
the absolute facts" said Mr. Pasco. hotlv
We'll, 1 decline replied Mr.. Chandler
to permit the senator to put words in my
mouth"
Il desire to say then said Mr.. Pasco
that any statement that I was an agent
In the deception of the Senate in this mat
ter is without foundation and the senator
from New Hampshire knows it,"
Well, Mr.. President" declared Mr.
Chandler, the truth is the exact opposite
of that statement"
Mr.. Illlman of South Carolina did not be-
heVe that the money ought to be returned
10 the government as the claim was pri-
Inarlly just one but Il want to saw. Mr.
PRESIDENT" he declared, that the Metho-
9ist Church ought to make Mr.. Stahlman
disgOrge."
Inc resolution was further discussed bv
MT Teller of Colorado, Mr.. Morgan of AL
a0ana, Mr.. Berry of Arkansas and Mr.
wilson Of Washington. 1t finally went
over until Tomorrow
An act authorizing the appointment of a
hon-partisan commission to collate infor-
nation and to consider and recommend
legislation to meet the problem presented
by labor, agriculture and capital was
passed. "''
AT o'clock the consideration of tba Pin
providing for the Incorporation of the
american Bank was begun The project
was recommended bxr 49,