The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-25
sTAHLMAN GOT THE SHEkELS.
HIS FEE FROM THE METHODIsTS
S1OO,sOO.

Revs. Barbee and smith and the
Major Virtually Admit They De-
eeixed the SenatOrs-TrS to Es-
..De the Stigma by Hiding Behind
TeehnicaIities-Mess Barbee and
smith Formerly stood High in the
Church Councils.
washington, June 24.-The result of the
Investigation into the scandal over the
Methodist church's claim, which recently
passed Congress, win be a general exoner-
alton of the church, but a severe denunci-
alton of Mai Stahlman and of Messrs.
Barbee and Smith, the book agents.
The Senate committee on claims devot-
ed the day to an Investigation of the
charge that Barbee and Smith, who are
ministers of the church, and Maj. StahI-
man had deliberately deceived the sena-
tors, and especially this committee.
The sessions of the committee were be-
hind closed doors, and the details of what
occurred are kept from the public. But
ii is known that the report, when made,
will strongly condemn Messrs. Barbee,
Smith and Stahlman.
These three gentlemen were examined
by the committee and each was put
through a rigid cross-examination, in
which all of the members of the commit
tee took part
Rev. DR.. Barbee who it will be recalled,
had, when the bill was before the Senate
and the question whether there was any
lobby fee in it had been raised, telegraphed
Senator Bate and other senator's author
izing them to give denial to the report,
was put through a most searching exam
nation which showed up the whole trans
action.
This man is a minister, and has always
stood high in the councils of the church
He acknowledged to-day that, at the time
he sent that telegram, there was a con-
tract between the book committee ana
Mai. Stahlman, and the only defense he
attempted to make was that the contract
did not call for 40 per cent, as was sug-
gested by the telegram Senator Bate sent,
but was for another amount. He squared
his conscience by this technical evasion
The examination of Mai. Stahlman was
perhaps, the most interesting part of the
committees work. His activity in favor
of this bill for the Methodist church caus-
ed suspicion. but he explained it by saw
ing that his wife was an ardent worker
for the church, and he was interested for
DER sake. All the time he had in his
inside pocket contract by which, in re-
turn for securing the passage of the bin
he was TO receive 800, 800. He admitted
this to-day. He admits having wiIfuIly
deceived senators who questioned him on
the subject
He claimed that he had not told DELHI
crate lie however, as the questions asked
him were whether he had a contract with
these book agents, while as a matter of
fact, his contract was with the book COM
mittee.
He claimed that all this was his own
business, and that IL was a matter with
which the Senate had nothing to do.
The committee has not made its report
as yet, but members of it state that il
will show the facts to be particularly
black, so far as Messrs. Batbee and Smith
are concerned. They were recognized as
ministers acting for their church and vet
Intentionally and wilfully deceiving the
Senate
The same report will be made with re-
gard to Maj. Stahlman, but it does not
look so black for the major, because of
his calling, as it does for the preachers.
Ihe report will show however that he
wilfully deceived senators, and through
them the Senate, by his statements.
Mr.. Barbee admitted the payment of
SlUO,SOO or 30 per cent, to Mr.. Stahlman
as the attorney for the book concern in the
collection of the claim; but he held that
the claim was just and that the employ
ment of an agent was matter which con-
cerned only the book concern itself taking
the position that he was under no obh-
cation to inform the Senate in response
TO the kilograms of Senators Pasco and
Bates as to the amount that was to be
paid the agent.
Mr.. Stahlman admitted the receipt of
the money as pay for his services but
said he had not informed any one of the
existence of his contract for his pay be
heVing that if he should do so 1t would
prejudice the claim and prevent its con-
sideration upon its merits