The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-06-17
Over the Book Concern
appropriation.
A HEATED C0LLOQUY.
enator and Charges Senator
Paseo With Being Unwittfngly the
Senate-The Resolution for Thorough
investigation vigorously Discussed
The Hawaiian ,R~ RESOLUTION Discussed
in the House.
SENATE

TWO hours To-Day the senate Hdu uIlueI
discussion the resolution OF Senate
Lodge, Of Massachusetts,, directing the
claims committee TO make an inquiry
as to the disposition Of the money APP
p%ropriated by congress TO pay the
claim Of the Book Concern Of the
Methodist Episcopal Church South. A
heated colloQuy between Senators
Chandler, OF New HAMPSHIRE, and
Pasco, of Florida, was the feature of
the discussion.
Senator Bacon, of Georgia, opened
the DEBATE. He said he had not the re-
motest suspicion that any body who
was working for the claim here had
any pecuniary interest in its passage.
He had had a conversation on the sub
ject with Major E. 3. Stahlman, who
has received 80 per cent. Of the claim
paid and the impression left upon him
was that not a dollar Of the money
was to be paid to lobbyists Mr..
Stahlman, said Senator Bacon, stated
there vas no arrangement or contract
whereby any body was to be paid a
single dollar. except, possibly, a small
amount for expenses. Senator Bacon
thought the idea that the claim was
Iobbied through congress was abso-
lutely abhorrent to senators, particu-
larry to those who actively supported
1t. He would not ave voted for the
claim had he known that any such
amount at 500, GOO was to be paid to
an agent. i deplore this matter and
/ regret it extremely said he, ION &C
count of the modification which must
come to a great religious society
which obtained money under any ar
rangement hat savored in the slight
est way of false ~pretenses."
Senator Lindsay, of Kentucky, relat-
ed the details of a conversation which
he had had with Major Stahlman. who
had told him that no fees were to be
paid out of the appropriation except
possibly $1,000 or 81, 500 as necessary
| expenses.
Senator HOar, of Massachusetts, be-
!, 1ieved this was opportune time to say
to the country that in the presenta-
ton of just claims to there
was a necessity for the employ
| ment of agents or lobbyists. When it
| was known that a claim was being
| promoted by agents or lobbyists it
was actually SuudLSeIcO. IOICcT1lluS
the present matter, Senator Hoar a i
he would not declare it a pure swindle,
| but lit was an utter blunder, folly and
deluSiOn. h representatives Of the
church ought at once to pay back to
the government the money received
under the appropriation and the man
who received thG 500, 600, if he ever
! expects to have a shred of character
to his back, ought to give up the mon
! ey."
Senator Chandler desired it to be
understood that the present matter
could not be settled 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 Stahlman
should refuse to relinquish 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 a corporation, the men
who had made the contract with
Stahlman had no authority to pay the
| amount agreed upon Senator Chan
dler declared hat the senate a been
grossly and outraGeously deceived and
that the senator from Florida, Mr..
Pasco, had been the agent unwittingly
of the deception.
Senator Pasco: THE senator knows
/ am incapable of %deceiving the sem
| ate"
Senator Chandler: THE senate was
deceived and the senator from Florida
was the agent of the deception unwit-
tingly and unwilIingly, I have no
doubt"
Senator Bacon felt that Senator
Chandler was doing an injustice to
Senator PascO, who a been deceived
himself. He protested that 1t was un-
just to place Senator Pasco in that
kind of a position, while it was evident
he himself had been imposed upon.
Senator Chandler replied that he had
disclaimed any unkind or unjust impu-
tation upon Mr.. Pasco. I'VE all were
deceived" said he, and Barbee and
Smith did it."
II ask the senator from New Hamp-
shire to retract absolutely those words
which indicated that / was an agent
of the deception practiced upon the
senate. l canno remain patiently un-
der such i~mputation," said Senate
Pasco.
Il do not know what the senator
can do" retorted Senator Chandler
IF he can say Oh do anything about
it 1 wish he would do SO, in order that
I may proceed with my speech. / have
stated he did not willingly or whiting
ly deceive the senate and that ough,
to be enough"
Il want the senator's words to EN-.
body the absolute fact" said Senator
Pasco holly .
well, / Decline" replied Senate
Chandler. ito permit the senator to
put words into my mouth
Il desire to say, then" a Senator
Pasco, that any statement that / was
an agent of deception in this matter is
without foundation and the senator
from New Hampshire knows it,"
We'll, Mr.. President" declared Sen
ator Chandler, the truth is the exac,
opposite Of that statement"
Senator Tillman did not believe tina,
b money ought to be returned to the
government as the claim was primari.
ly a just one, but ] want to say, M
President, that the Methodist church
ought to make Stahlmau d~iseorge."