The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-06-10
"OUTRAGE AND SWINDLE"
MIR. TILLMAN ON METHODS or
METHODIST BOOK CONCERN.
CHARGE AGAINST PACIFIC SHIP OWNERS
Bill Providing American Registry for Six
Steamers Of the Northern Pacific Steam
ship Company Was Passed. Lively
Debate in the Senate.
Debate in the Senate.

Washington, June 9-.At to-day's ses-
sion of the Senate Mr.. Carter (Mont.), in
connection with the rejection by the gov
ernment of the steamship Centennial as
transport, made some ugly charges
against the ship-owners on the Pacific
coast. He said that they had been en-
deavoring to hold up the government and
compel it to pay inordinate and CXtor-
tionate charges for ships to be used to
transport the troops to the Philippines
Mr. Perkins (Cal.) denied the statements
of Mr.. Carter, declaring that the vessel
owners of San Francisco had placed
their ships at the disposal Of the gov
ernment at a rate fully 30 per cent less
than they usually received for them.
The cause of this debate, bill re-
ported from the Committee on Commerce
providing American registry for the
steamers Olympia, Victoria, Tacoma, Co
lumbia, Arizona and Argyle of the
Northern Pacific Steamship Company
was passed.
Mr.. Lodge (Mass), precipitated live
~ discussion by Offering the resolution.
THAT the committee on claims be di-
rcctCd TO inquire and report to whom
the money was paid under the claim Of
| the Methodist book concern.
Mr.. Lodge explained that when the
bill appropriating $2SS,000 to pay the
claim of the Methodist book concern,
was before the Senate ne had offered
an amendment providing that not more
! than $4,000 should be paid to any agent
| or lobbyist for working for the bill His
| amendment had been received with in
/ a n I,s.
honor of men who were rendering to the
Methodist Church South a service of
love.
1--WE were assured" said Mr. Lodge,
that no part of the sum appropriated,
was to be paid to agents; but it now de-
velops that contract existed for the
payment of 80 per cent of the proceeds
OF the claim to lobbyists and that one
man has received the immense sum Of
100000"
Mr.. Lodge then presented several
newspapers clippings in which the whole
scheme was exposed In response to n
suggestion he said he made no charge
against the Methodist Church South. but
in the clippings which he presented there
were serious charges against the accred-
tied agents of the church.
Mr.. Bate, (Tennessee). who had
strongly advocated the payment of the
church claim, was much exercised over
the disclosures. He denounced the ac-
tion of the agents as an outrage upon
individual Senators and upon Congress.
lie favored Il thorough investigation of
the transaction, to the end that RESPONSE
bic persons might be exposed. Mr.
Bate read Il telegram from Barbee and
Smith. agents of the Methodist book
concern, stating that nobody was to re-
ceive Il commission for working for the
bill.
Mr.. Pasco made statement similar
to that of Mr.. Bate.
Mr.. Tillman. (South Carolina), inquir-
ed of Mr.. Pasco if he did not think
such "thieving practices" would operate
against the payment of other Southern
claims, pending before Congress- He de-
clared the transaction was an Outrage
and Il swindle.
Mr. Wilson said the proceeding was an
outrage and it was evident that the
government had been buncoed. Mr.
Pasco said the government had not been
cheated out of anything, as no more had
been paid than should have been. 1t
was the Southern Methodist church that
had been beaten. He thought the church
should make the investigation
Without disposing OF the Lodge rcsolu-
ton the Senate passed the Omnibus
claim" carrying something over $4,000
600, forty pension bills and several mca-
sures from the general calendar, one of
them granting the use of certain lands
in St Augustine, Fla, for public
park.
The Omnibus bill was Senate sub
Stitute. NIessrs. Teller. Pasco and
Stewart, were appointed conferees. At
4:35 o'clock p. M. the Senate went
into executive session, and soon after
ward adjourned