The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-17
GIVE BACK EVERY CENT OF 1T.
SAVANNAH METHODIsTs WANT THE
APPROPRIATION RETURNED.

| Smtrched by Charges OF Dupltctty.
| Rev. DIR. Branch Tells How the
Present Unpleasant Conditions
Arose.
There is said to be but one opinion
among the Methodists of Savannah as re-
lgards the proper course the Southern Meth.
odst Church should pursue in the matter
of the appropriation made by Congress
to reimburse the Southern Methodist Pub
lishiing Company for losses sustained dur
ing the war;
II believe the money should be returned
to the United States treasury IN full as
speedily as it can be properly done.''. said
Rev. J. o. Branch, pastor of Wesley
Church, yesterday, who was a delegate
to the recent general conference On Bal
timore, and believe that to be the opin-
ion of all the brethren who have given
the question thorough consideration. The
money, though it were ten times the
amount should be returned rather than
that a suspicion OF dishonesty of action
should be allowed to besmirch the unsul-
lied reputation of the church.
Il have talked with but few-with S. B.
Adams, Esq, J. R. Saussy, Esq, Col
Walker and Others but found them of
one mind, and 1 believe the church would
be practically unit in undoing what has
been done by Congress. rather than permit
it to be said, even though unjustly, that
the Southern Methodist Church was will
Ag to receive money obtained by state
ments alleged to have been misleading"
"How can the money be returned?" DR..
Branch was asked.
Il cannot presume to say what the
| course is that should be pursued. The book
committee may consider that Ii has am
pie authority in itself 10 take such a
step although il 1 were member of
that committee l should have grave doubts
as to my legal right to do So
Gould the bishops direct the return of
the money!"
No l think they have no such au-
thority. The general conference could di-
! rect that such action be taken, but 1t is
going to be a nooted question as to wheth-
er any such authority exists outside of
that body One thing stands out clear
| ly to my mind after reading the fun re-
ports of the proceedings of Congress, and
that IS that the money should go back
TO the very cent and Congress should
then be left to act as 1t sees fit in the
premises. The sense of the church as a
whole, l have no doubt will be that way.
Early action will be required. I believe
| that, If necessary, the gravity Of the case
Justifes even the extraordinary procedure
of an extra session of the general con-
| ference. 1t would entail great expense
and Inconvenience, but no true member of
the church, smarting under these charges,
ana realizing that the church has been
] unfortunately a
| but feel that even that course is prefera-
/ bic 10 letting the matter drag on. The
world must be. made to know distinctly
| that the Southern Methodist Church will,
/ under no circumstances, receive one penny,
no matter how just it's claims may be,
If there was any improperly charged as to
the manner in which the church obtained
| It,"
Although there has been much matter
4 printed in reference to the payment of
| the claim of the Southern Methodist Pub
fishing Company, and the grave charge
that the United States Senate was delib-
erately deceived by Messrs. Barbee and
Smith, the agents of the company, few
people. probably, have a correct idea of the
origin of the claim and the sTeps to collect
| it, which brought on the present unpleas-
| antness.
'"Fhe claim of the society,"" said Dr.
| Branch, dates back to the war The Fed
eral government seized the property of
| our publishing company at Nashville. con-
! tiscated Its entire plant. destroyed part of
! it accidentally, and used the remainder
All the stock on hand was used by the
| government, and the company sustained
a damage of probably 100000 For twenty
| five years efforts have been made to secure
an appropriation from Congress reimburs-
ing the publication society. The justice Of
| the claim has been acknowledged by con
| GreSSiOnaI oft
Favorable reports have been obtained, but
no action secured upon them. Senator
Lodge of Massachusetts, and others, OPP
posed the claim, not denying the facts as
set forth by the publication society, not
questioning the correctness of the amount
! it claimed, but taking the sectional ground
/ that the Southern Methodist Church was
a rebel church, the publishing society
rebel concern, and, therefore, the claim
should not be allowed.
1T was necessary to have some one in
Washington to look after the claim TO
push it, to see that II was not sidetracked.
Ex-senator Foote of NIssisslppd was 6ret
engaged, believe, with a comparatively
small amount promised him IL his efforts
were successful. He abandoned it after
some years and man from California I
think was entrusted with looking after
| the claim. He was to receive $4,000 for
his services, IL l am not mistaken. The
NieiihAf tAiluu yOu, was i1ucu greater than
the amount finally obtained. He, too. gave
up the task finally The book committee
then engaged Maj. Stahlman to represent
the claim He has given several years
TO the work, has expended large sums of
money in travelling and other expenses.
and has been an extremely jealous and
intelligent worker.
ut was not known to the church at
large though. that any such large per-
centage had ben promised him. AT the
meeting of the general conference last
month there were some rumors ahoat
that there had been misrepresentation at
Washington which led to the passage Of
the appropriation by the Senate The
book committees regular report had been
| referred 20 the committee on publishing
| interests, without being read, as Is always
! the case with such routine reports. There
was some talk of an investigation of the
| rumors but nothing came of II in the press
of other business. If the general confer
ence had known the facts, as they are
now before the public, 1t would without
J question have ordered the return to the
United States treasury of the $2SS,0O0 ap-
| propriated by Congress.
There was nothing wrong in engaging
some one 10 look after the claim. Congress
| had unjustly refused for years to recognize
/ a lust claim The Morning News wa