Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-06-14
A HEATED COLLOQUY
Senators Pasco and Chandler
at Cross Questions.
THAT METHODIST CLAIM
Mr sioar Denounces the Award ~ nm
Utter Hlunder, Folly aud Delusion',
Hawaiian Annexation DISCUSS
,he lionse.

WASHINGTON, June 13.-For nearly
Two hours tocay the Senate had under
discussion the resolution OF Mr. Iody.
q massachusetts, directing the claims
soiihllttee 20 make an inquiry as to the
disposition of the money appropriated
py congress To pay the claim of the
BOOK Concern OF the Methodist Episcu-
pal church South. \ heated collouuy
between Mr Chandler OF New Hamp-
shife, ana Mr.. Pasco, of Florida, was
the feature of the discussion. Mr.. Ba-
con. of Georgia, opened the debate.
ne sai1 he had not the remotest suspi-
cion that anybody who was working
for the claim here had any pecuniarv
interest III its passage.
tie hau Il conversation on the sub
Ject with Major T.. b. Stahiman, who
mad received 81 per cent. of the claim
PAID, and the impression left upon
nm was that not 4 dollar of the
money was to be paid to lobbyists
Mr. Stahiman, said Mr.. Bacon, stated
tllere was no arrangement or contract
whereby anybody was to be paid ii
single dollar except possibly a small
amount for expenses. Mr.. Bacon
thought the idea that the claim was
l"bbicd through Congress was absolute
~ abhorrent to Senators. particularly
I" those who actively supported it,
He would not have voted for the
claim had he known that any such
an'o''iit as >iu"'ooo was 10 De paid to
an agent. Il depore this matter
and l regret il extremely" said Mr..
Bacon. 'on account 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 details of conversation which he
had with Major Stahlnan, who had
told him that no fees We're to be paid
out of the appropriation except posi-
bly, $1,000 or $1,000. as necessary expen-
Mr.. Hoar, OF Massachusetts. believed
this was opportune time to say TO tha
country that in the presentation of Just
claims to Congress there was never
a necessity for the employment of
agents or lobbyists. When it was
ted by agents or lobbyists. it was ac-
tually endangered. Concerning the
present matter Mr. Hear said he
would not declare it a pure swindle.
but lit was an utter blunder. folly and
delusion. The representatives OF the
church ought at once to pay back to
the government money received under
the appropriation. and the man who
received tho 100000 IL he ever expects
to have shred of character to his
back. ought to give up the money"
Mr.. Chandler desired it to be under
H''"''t itldl tHt present matter coulu
not be settled by the disclaimer Of
false intent by those who pushed the
claim through the Senate.
He maintained that the money ough,
t" be returned to Congress. If Stahl-
man should refuse to relinpuish his
gains. the church ought to proceed
against him to recover the money. 1t
was perfectly 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 Mr..
Chandler declared that the Senate had
been grossly and outrageously deceived
and that the Senator from Florida (AIr
Pasco), had been the agent unwittinsly
of the deception.
Mr.. Pasco--"The Senator knows I
am incapable OF decetving tn. Sen
ate
Mr.. charlottesville Senate was de-