The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-09
He ConceaIs the Fact That There
Was a Contract.
IS NO CENSURE ON THE CHURCH
The Arrangements Were Made by
Their Book Agents and No Blame
Should Attach to the Methodist
Episcopal Church, South, ~
Body-Stahlman VIII
Assume Responsibility.

WASHINGTON, July s.-The Senate
Committee on Claims to-day made It's
roport upon tho investigation made by
the committee upon tho payment Of the
claim of the Methodist Book Concern
and the payment to Major +. B. stahl-
man OF Sos. 600 as an agent I'm getting the
claim through. The report Of the COM
mittee says;
.The testimony before the committee
clearly shows that no part Of the sum
received by stahlman was paid to Hessrs.
Barbee and smith FOR their personal use
or TO any Senator or member Of Con-
grcss or to any other person for corrupt
purposes"
Tho report also says that "Mr. Stahl-
man in conversation and I'm correspond
once with Senators and Representatives
concealed from them an knowledge OF the
existence OF a contract, Withhela ii'Hi
them an information regarding IT, anu
purposely and wilfully, NY mlsleau'ns,
in not by false statements, inpr.SSeu
them with the belief that Mr.. Stahlmah
was not acting AS the agent or attorney
of tho book agents with the expectation
of pecuniarv remuneration for his ser
vices. but as a personal friend OF the
book agents and a member OF the
church"
THE COMMITTEES REPORT.
referring 10 the assurance received
from Alcssrs. Barbee and Smith, the COM
mittee says: .A,,
NO candid person who examines TINS
correspondence can reach any V.nei '1u
clusion than that the subject OF TINS IN
fh hN -
tracf and not the percentage that an at
torpev was 10 receive. The replies OF the
hook agents TO this letter and telegram
make N manifest that the pohcy OF 81
lgnce with reference % The contracts was
maintained to- tho end, even to the eA-
tent of Withholding the truth and instead
ing and deceiving those VINO H"uo MI
earnest effort 10 obtain II.
with reference TO the ChurCn' N'0'''
the committee says: .a..
.''he committee deems II proper 70 state
that no ceusure rests upon the Memo
dist Episcopal Church. South, Tor tho
nets OF ITS book agents. Inc IhulNl
has been injured by the misconduct ol
its agents and for such misconduct it -
held entirely blameless
Tho testimony taken vas aus" ila,o ,
public. The principal witnesses were
Mr.. Stahlman and Mr. BarDee. ~
Nr Stahlman said he had been giving
,,,,,,o or lees attention 10 the claim since
fSg2 but the cOtract for 80 per cent hau
been made I'm 1895. Mr.. Stahlmah saiu ne
had cautioned the book agents against
making the contract public, peoause'
no continued. IF / went 10 washington
a. tbeir representatives for n Zee of any
omotint / would just be bounded day
i'm and day out and that I would PROB
ably fan into the hands OF the YuitureS
who hang around the capitol Whlch
would involve the passage of the measure
I'm questionable methods. Thcy agreed
90 that -
WITH THE AGENTS.
Mr. Stahlman said he had told Senator
pasco that he had no contract with the
hook agents Technically this was cor
rect as his contract was with the BOOK
Committee.
senator Fairbanks-Did Senator Pasco
ask you whether or not you mad con-
tingent fee in this claim
Mr. Stahlman-IIe did not. Will say
this. though, for Senator Pasco ne had
n right To- assume that no contract eA-
The Chairman-And that no fee was
10 be paid2
Mr.. Stahlman-Nes.
TIo said that he had allowed Senator's
Bacon. Lindsay and clay TO understanu
that no attorneys fee was 90 be received.
He had told Senator Turlay subsequent
lv 20 the passage OF the bill that the
money was all going into the Church
treasury. and they could do what they
pleased with it afterward."
In reply 20 a question from Senator
Teller az 10 whether members Of the
Book Committee or the book agents had
received any share Of the profits, Mr.
stahlman replied IN the negative. also
stating that he had paid no moley TO at
torneys with the intention Of its reach
ing Congress.
NOT BETTER THAN PETER.
Mr.. Stahlman said he was willing to be
hello entirely responsible, adding: Even
il Stahlman be made the martyr. Peter
denied his Lord three times. He told
story. 1 do not claim to be better than
Peter. II Peter was forgiven. and II the
Church was founded upon the rock OF
Peter. Stahlman can be forgiven for the
crime he has committed"
Mr. Barbee IS his explanation OF the
reply OF himself, and Mr. Smith to Sem
ator PascO's telegram said: senator
PascO conveyed to us perspicuously that
YOU ala not want any information. but
that he asked US TO deny a rumOr to tina
effect that we were 10 pay 40 per cent
of the claim IL seemed to US as II the
inouirv was propOunded TO us in such
way TO elicit a categorical answer IN the
form OF a denial and we answered ac-
eordlngly We stated the exact fact that
the report was untrue that we were pay
ing 40 per cent" Replying 70 this Sena-
tor Pasco said that his letter called for
a fun statement Of the case and called
attention 10 the fact that no further eX-
planation had been made in response TO
senator Bates dispatch asking for inf0r-
nation az TO the 40 per cent. contract, or
contracts at any other rates. To this Mr.
Barbee said they had not intended 10 re-
ply to Mr.. Bate at all He had. he said
understood that both Bate and Pasco
were friends of the book agents and the
supporters Of the claim. lie thought, he
said. that the senate had no right TO In
auire what a litgant was paying an at
torney. He did not he said. intend to
convey 10 the Senate the impression that
there was no payment TO be made 10 any
claim agent.
\ SPECIMEN.
Following Is specimen paragraph
from his testimony;
Senator Teller--Dfd you think Senator