The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-06-16
STAHLMAN'S DECEPTION FITTlNGLY De.
NOUNCED IN THE SENATE.

We refer again to the position of Major
Stahlman, who is said to have received
100000 of the $2SS,000 appropriated
for the property of the M. f. Church,
South. destroyed by the Federal sol
diers, because the question is live one
not only with Southern Methodists, but
also with all other honest Southerners.
For years violent Republican Sen
ators have denounced all Southern claims
as frauds. 1t has taken thirty years to
persuade Congress that the claim of the
Methodist church was just one, and
few weeks ago $2SS,O00 was appropri-
ated to pay it. While that bill was pend
ing, Senator Pasco telegraphed to Smith
& Barbee agents of the Methodist Pub
fishing House, asking if the report that
certain claim agent or attorney was 10
receive forty per cent of the
amount appropriated was true.
They promptly telegraphed back
that it was false. 1t is now assert
ed that Major Stahlman was to get 30
per cent and not 40 per cent, and while
the answer was technically true it WIS
really intended to deceive the Senate
and did deceive About the same time,
Senator Bate telegraphed to Smith q
Barbee and asked if it were true that
claim agents were to get a large part of
the $28S, 900, naming no special per cent.
They telegraphed Senator Bate that the
statement was false and requested him
to correct. More than that, Senator
Bacon, Of Georgia, in "a speech on the
18th of June, said: =
Il had not the remotest suspicion
that there was any one representing
that bill before the Senate who had
any pecuniary interest in it's passage.
/ thought that those who were work
ing for it were doing so because of
their interest in the great and in
fiuential religious denomination
which was specially interested in the
passage of the bill. If there was
anyone around Washington City as
professional attorney connected with
> the matter, / was not informed of
the fact. As is known by all, the
principal advocate outside of the
Senate was Mr.. Stahlman.
knew him to be a man of large
wealth. / knew him to be the hus-
band of a very ardent and jealous
member of the Methodist church, and
my impression and belief was that
his interest in the matter was owing
to that relationship"
Mr.. Bacon went on to say that Sena-
tor Fairbanks suggested to him while
the bill was pending that he had heard
that "A very large fee was to be paid TO
some one and for that reason he hest
tated to vote for it. Hear Senator Bacon
on the floor of the Senate:
81 Immediately sought Mr.. Stahlman
who was the only man | knew connected
with the matter. / stated to him the re-
port that was being circulated, and asked
him whether or not it was true. He
stated to me personally and emphatically
that there was no contract of any kind
for the payment of Il fee to anybody
to himself or anyone else-out of the
money which was sought to be recovered
ON account of this claim. adding that OF
course there were some necessary eX
penses that would have to be paid; and
while the amount of those expenses was
not indicated by him in any way the
impression left upon my mind was that
they were comparatively insignificant
Senator Lindsey, of Kentucky, said
that Mr.. Stahlman furnished him some