Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-17
rnr moor HOUSES CLAIM.

The United states Senate feels that it
YVES taken in" by the attorney who rep
resented the Southern Methodist Publish
ing House in the matter of the company's
claim against the government 1t seems
there were suspicious abroad that that
gentleman's concern about the passage
Of The measure was stimulated by the
promise Of an immense fee; but to a Sen
aror who approached him upon the sub
feet the attorney, Major Stahiman, is said
60 have declared that he was only to re-
ceive his expenses at Washington; that
ne was working in the interests Of the
Church not for his own gain. A provso
was 10 have been put into the bill that
no more than 5000 should so to attor-
news. but the friends of the claim sue
ceeded In having that omitted in view Of
the assurances that had been given them
That is about the state Of the case, judy
ing from the d SECESSION in the Senate
Major Stahlman, however, is ye. to be
heard in his own defence.
Upon the occupation Of Nashville by
The Federal army, the authorities of that
Esmy took possession of the lands, build
,ngs. machinery, material, etc, OF the
publishing company and used them until
the war was over. They made such
phanges and arrangements of the build
mgs as they pleased, and, altogether. act
I'd as If the property were theirs-with
This exception, that they allowed much
OF it to be wantonly destroyed or gross
~ misused!
after the war was over the publishing
company made an effort TO recover from
The government the value of the property
That had been taken or injured. But they
were not successful. Time and again
were their efforts renewed but 10 no
avsn. The chief objection urged against
the house was that it had been used in
aid of the rebellion" etc. Among other
things, it was alleged that an edition OF
Hardee's Military Tactics had been print
ed there for the use of the Confederate
Government.
OF course, that was a flimsy preteXt,
but it availed. for political feeling at the
North sun continued high, and the rela-
lions OF the Northern Methodists to their
southern brethren were not over kindly.
Ia other words. the money was due.
but there was so much opposition or in
difference to its payment it could not be
recovered. Congress would not act
AT last Barbee & Smith. the agents
of the publishing company, entered into
n contract with Major stahlman TO get
MIN TO work for tho recovery of the
money due. agreeing 10 pay him IS per
cent. OF the sum recovered from the gov
ernment. stahlman thereupon proceeded
10 organize his forces 90 secure the pas
sage Of the bill. The company's bill was
Whitfield down 20 S2SSOO0, and was then
passed. And OF this sum Stahlman is pre-
srnmed 70 have gotten 30 per cent. for
himself and associates. That the claim
was a just one, and that S2Ss 600 was real
ly much less than the amount Of the loss
the concern had suffered we think there
can be no doubt.
1t is reported that Senator Bate, of
the publishing company in Nashville 10
know II they had made a contract with
Major stshlman 10 pay him 20 per cent. of
the claim. and the agents answered cate
gor'cally that they had made no such
contract Another member Of Congress
wired to know II the firm had made a
contract 20 give 40 per cent. or any other
large amount 10 attorneys, and the
agents wired back that they had already
answered those questions. thus plainly
oyadins II in letter and spirit"
This We learn from a statement made
b. q Methodist minister OF Atlanta.
Whatever may have been the faults
OF the agents OF the book concern. there
r. evidence enough that the Southern
Methodist Church Will not consent 70
proiit by amy ones wrong-doing In a
namber OF cities meetings OF Methodist
uinlsiers have been held and have passed
fsHolnt'oos demanding that IN case the