The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-06-19
THAT BIG FEE 10 STAHLAM.|
Il Has Created : Crest Sensation
10 Washington.
SENATOR CLAY DENOuNCES AGENTS.
Every reason 20 Believe that There
Will BE Church and Congress
sionnl Inquiry.

18ntd constitution. )--Tnat hundred tnouS-
and or more which Major Stahlman has
safely slowed away In his inside pocket Is
furnishing very interesting diversion these
days when the censors have taken the life
out OF the war. For two days last week
this fat and juicy fee and the circum-
stances surrounding 1t combined to form
an overshadowIng issue in the senate and
q great deal more is going to be heard from
1t.
II Is expressing 1t mildly to say that the
Southern senators and representatives who
gave their hearty support TO the Methodist
book concern bill are highly indignant at
what they term their unjust and unwar-
ranted treatment at the hands vi the PEG
pie who were engineering the matter.
These senators ana representatives feel
that they have been put in false ana
compromising position before The country.
and II they can have their way there will
be not only an Investigation by congress.
but by the Methodist Episcopal church.
South as well, and they believe the church
authorities should purge themselves OF
suspicion In the matter by returning to the
National treasury the money secured
through the bill.
II 1t is true that Major Stahlman or any
body else was paid big fee for carrying
the bill through congress the church au-
thorities are out Just that much money,
Lobbying may have been resorted to, but
II is certain that no lobbying was necessary
to carry this bill through either house.
The fact that the beneficiary was--ostensi-
bly, at least--a great religious organization
WAS what passed the bill. The claim Is
doubtless a just one. and this, taken in
connection with the fact that the church
interested Is strong and influential. passed
the bill. Its passage was not due to the
work Of any lobbyists. no matter how faith
ful their labor or how large their rakaotf
SENATOR CLAY TALKS OUT.
Senator Clay expressed the views Of him
self and his fellow senators on the subject
Friday evening when he secured the t.oor
and made n statement about the passage
of the bill and the subsequent disclosures.
Senator Clay said:
MIR. Fredericksburg the present sos
sion OF congress there was appropriated
$3.50. 900 to pay claim for damages sus-
tained by the Southern Methodist Publish
Ing House company. owned and controlled
by the Methodist Episcopal church. South.
This bill came from the committee on
claims, OF which | am n member, and |
gave & my support. both In the COMMITTEES
room and on the floor of the senate. That
this was Just claim thought then. and
nave HOt tuduBeu my opinion. ! gave the
claim n most careful and searching lnves-
tgatlon, and the evidence satisfied me be-
yond a doubt that the claimants had been
damaged by the government more thaa we
gave them, and that the government both
In equity and law. was liable for tho in
jury and destruction OF claimants prop
erty. Under the evidence the ciaim re-
celyed every vote present except one sn-
ator.
WHAT THE rIiAIM Jc
"The claim arose on account OF the Into
civil war between the Statcs. The Mctho-
dist Episcopal church, South. had invested
1900. 1000 In publishing house In the city
OF Nashville, Tenn, used to print and dis
tribute religious books and literature
among the people. This magnificent plant
was seized by the Federal government af-
ter Nashville had surrendered to the Fed
eral authorities and was used by the Fed
eral army for nearly two years to do gov
ernment printing when the people OF Nash
willie had been assured that all citizens
would he protected in the use and en-
1oyment OF their property so soon "a they
submitted and acknowledged the SUI
premacy Of the Federal laws They had
surrendered, and Nashville, including these
claimants, was under the protection of the
Federal government when their property
was seized for government purposes.
with this assurance of the government
that the citizens of Nashville would be pro
tected In the enjoyment and use of their
property. the claimants had a right to ex :
pect that 80 long as they were loyal and
obedicnt to tho laws there would be no in
reference In any way with their right to
possess, keep and control this publishing
house. Notwithstanding this fact the Fed
eral government forcibly seized the entire
plant. operated II for nearly two years
without paying any rent FOR IT, ana IN
rAA D ..~,.t.. ~. -
An abundance Of evidence OF the highest
character was furnished. conclusively
demonstrating the above statement.
A MATTER OF GENERALIZATION
1T was gratifying to me to see both
sides Of the senate rally to the support OF
this Just measure, and the PATRIOTS sen
timents expressed on the floor OF The SEN
ate by Senators lioar and Hale and other
republican senators We're highly apprecl-
atod by the people of my State, and we're
an evidence that the antagonism growing
out OF the late civil war had been forgotten
and that we were again happy unite
country. 1t was especially gratifying 10
me that republican senators had largey
contributed to the passage of an act pto-
viding for the payment OF just claim
going to Southern institution, which
claim arose by reason OF the conflict be-
tween the States In an unfortunate war.
BARBER d SMITHS DENIALs.
II do not desire to discuss further the
merits OF this claim. II will doubtless BIO
conceded by this senate aud tho entire
country that the government justly owed
This money to the claimants. The question
10 which ! wish to direct the remainder OF
my remarks has reference TO the recent
disclosures Of the large fees paid counsel
Tor service claimed to have been rendered.
on the passage of this bill. in view OF the
statements made on the floor OF the sonata
when the measure was under consideration
Ine senior senator from Tennessee. always
scrupulously honest and zealously guardinr
the interests of the government telegram
"a 10 Nashville to Barbee 4 Smith. agents
OF the book publishing company. askinr
them what amount OF this sum would be
~ follows: was
Washington. March 2, 1sss.--Barhee q
smith. Methodist Publishing House Nash
Vile. Tenn. Telegraph today answer Ia
senator Pasco's letter to you Saturday as
to Stahiman having fee OF 40 per cent or
any other fee In case OF payment Of your
cleim' ! would Hike to hear from YOU also.
IN my Judgment, II true. II will endanger
~" W.. William b. Bate
reply to this telegram Messrs parhsa
smith wired Senator Bate as follows.
Nashvilie Tenn. March Z. lssS.--Hon.