Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-14
SENATE CONSIDERS RESOLUTION
roucH,yG BOOK CONCERN CLAIM.
SHARP PASSAGE At ARMS
Chandler Charges Pasco with Being
nm Unwitting Agent of the senate
u..,,,on. which Charge Is He
.euted-Hawaii Annexation.

| disposition Of the money appropriated oS
| Congress to pay the claim OF the BOOB
| Concern OF the Methodist Episcopai
| Church, South. A heated cohoquy De
| tween Mr.. Chandler, of New Hampshire
and Mr. Pasco, of Florida, was the iea-
| ture Of the discussion.
| Mr.. Bacon, of Georgia, opened the de-
bate. He said he had not the remotest
J suspicion that anybody who was working
| for the claim here had any pecuniary IN
| terest in its passage. He had had con-
versation on the subject with Major H.
| B. Stahlman, who had received 90 per
cent OF the claim paid, and the lmptes-
sion left upon him was that not dollar
I OF the money was to be paid TO lobbyists.
/ Mr.. Stahlman, said Mr.. Bacon, stated
there was no arrangement or contract
| whereby anybody was TO be paid single
dollar. except possibly a small amount
! for expenses.
| Mr.. Bacon thought the idea that the
| claim was lobbied through Congress was
absolutely abhorrent TO senators, particu-
| larly TO those who had actively supported
| IT. He would not have voted for the
claim had he known that any such
amount as was 10 NC pau w O.
| agent. 81 deplore this matter and / re-
greet il extremely" said Mr.. Bacon, ION
account Of the modification which must
come TO a great religious society. which
obtained money under any arrangement
that savored in the slightest way OF false
/ pretences."
Mr.. Lindsay, OF Kentucky, related the
details Of a conversation which he mad
had with Major Stahlman, who mad toid
him that no fees were to be paid out or
the appropriation, except possibly 2o0
, or s., 800 as necessary expenses.
LOBBYING A MISTAKE.
Mr. Hoar, OF Massachusetts. believed
this was an opportune time 10 say TO the
country that in the presentation of just
claims 10 Congress there was never
necessity for the employment of agents
or lobbyists When it was known that
a claim was being promoted by agents
or lobbyists, it was actually endangered.
Concerning the present matter, Mr.. Hoar
said he would not declare il a pure
swindle, but 1T was an utter bunder,
folly. and delusion." The representa-
tives of the Church ought at once 10 pay
back to the government the money re-
ceived under the appropriation, and the
man who received the 10000, II he ever
expects TO have a shred of character 20
his back, ought to give up the money
Mr. Chandler desired it 10 be under
stood that the present matter could not
he sett.- by the disclaimer of false in
tent by those who pushed the claim
through the Senate. He maintained that
the money ought TO be returned 10 Con-
gress If Stahlman should refuse TO re-
linquish his gains, the Church ought to
proceed against him 10 recover the
money. 1t was perfectly clear said he
that the Book Concern was a corporation,
and the men who made the contract with
Stahlman had no authority to pay the
amount agreed upon. Mr.. Chandler de-
clared that the Senate had been grossly
and outrageously deceived and that the
Senator from Florida (Mr. Pasco) had
been the agent. unwittingly, OF the de-
ception.
rAsCO-CHANDLER TILT.
Mr. Pasco: The Senator know 1 am
incapable of deceiving the Senate
Mr. Chandler: The Senate was de-
ceived. and the Senator from Florida
was the agent of the deception, unwit-
tingly and unwillingly, have no doubt.
Mr.. Bacon felt that Mr.. Chandler was
doing an injustice to Mr.. Pasco, who had
been deceived himself. He protested that
it was unjust 10 place Mr. Pasco in that
he himself had been imposed upon.
Mr. Chandler replied that he had dis
ella med any unkind or unjust imputation
upon Mr.. Pasco.
I'VE all were deceived" said he, land
Barbee & Smith did it."
Il ask the Senator from New Hamp-
shire 10 retract absolutely those words
which indicated that l was an agent of
the deception practiced upon the Senate.
l cannot remain patiently under such an
imputation," said Mr.. Pasco.
Il do not know what the Senator can
do" retorted Mr. Chandler IF he can
say or do anything about it I wish he
would do so, in order that / may pro-
coed with my speech. l have stated that
he did not willingly or Willingly deceive
the Senate, and that ought to be enough
II want the Senator's words to embOdy
the absolute facts said Mr.. Pasco, hotly.
"WeH, decline" replied Mr.. Chandler
Ito permit the Senator TO put words into
my mouth"
Il desire TO say, then" said Mr.. Pasco,
that any statement that l was an
agent in the deception of the Senate in
this matter is without foundation. and
the Senator from New Hampshire knows
it,"
"WeH. Mr.. President" declared Mr..
Chandler. "the truth is the exact oppo-
site OF that statement"
TILLMAN HAS A WORD.
Mr.. Tillman, Of South Carolina did not
believe that the money ought to be re-
turned to the government, as the claim
was primarily a just one, but Il want
TO say, Mr.. President" he declared, that
the Methodist Church ought 10 make
Stahlman disgorge."
1ne resolution was further discussed
by Mr. Teller, of Colorado; Mr. Morgan,
Of Alabama; Mr.. Berry, OF Arkansas,
and Mr. Wilson, of Washington. 1t
finally went over until tomorrow.
An act, authorizing the appointment Of
a nonpartisan commission 10 collate in
formation, and 10 consider and recon-
mend legislation, 10 meet the problems
presented by labor, agriculture, and cap
ital was passed.
At 2 o'clock, the consideration of the
bill providing for the Incorporation OF the
International American Bank was begun.
The project was recommended by the
Pan-American Congress. as a means OF
facilitating trade among the countries
of the Western Hemisphere. The mea-
sure was not completed
At 4:40 o'clock p. NJ. the Senate went
into executive session, afterwards adj
journing.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
The debate upon Hawaiian annexation
was continued to-day in the House. ten
speeches being made. Very little in
terest was manifested. either upon the
floor or in the galleries. few occupants OF
the latter being present. and the attend
ance upon the floor hardly exceeding at
any time forty members. night ses-
sion will be held tomorrow evening 10
afford opportunity for many members 10
snnak 10 whom ntherXise III would be I'm