The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-10
ship Owners on the Pacific Coast Ac-
cused of Trying to Make Uncle Sam
Pay Too Much for Transports.
CHURCH WAR CLAIM SCANDAL
METHODIST BOOK CONCERN SOUTH
"BLED" BY LOBBYISTS.
American Register Granted Six
mships-President Mckinley and
Hawaii-Army Nominations.

WASHINGTON, June 9.-At to-day's ses-
sion of the Senate Mr.. Carter, of Montana,
in connection with the rejection by the gov
eminent of the steamship Centennial a
transport, made some ugly charges against
the ship owners on the Pacific coast. He
said they had been endeavoring to hold up
the government and compel it to pay inor-
dinate and extortionate charges for ships
to be used to transport troops to the Phil
ippines. Mr.. Perkins, of California, denied
the statement Of Mr.. Carter, declaring that
the vessel owners of San Francisco had
placed their ships at the disposal Of the gov
eminent at a rate fully so per cent less
than they usually received for them. Mr..
Lodge made some sensational disclosures
concerning the disposition of the money APP
propriated by Congress a short time ago in
payment of a claim of the Book Concern of
the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He
introduced a resolution directing the claims
committee to make an investigation of the
matter and report to the Senate what, if
any, action could be taken. The Omnibus
claim BILL carrying something over $780,
00o, forty-four private pension bills and sew
eral bills from the general calendar were
passed
AT the opening of the session Mr.. Gal
linger reported from the committee on COM
merce a bill providing American registry
for the steamers Olympia, Victoria, Tacoma,
Columbia, Arizona and Argyll, of the North
ern Pacific Steamship Company. He ex-
pressed the hope that the bill would be
passed at once, the ships were needed
by the government to transport troops to
Manila. The vessels are all flying at pres
ent the British flag. Mr.. Gallinger said the
NO. Tny1 wv I.0I = ict11f To
obtain transport ships on the Pacific coast.
One of the vessels secured, the Centennial,
had been found unseaworthy, and it was the
purpose of the committee on commerce to
take steps to secure the repeal of the act
providing American registry for the Cen
tennial.
This statement gave rise to the statement
made by Senator Carter noted above, and
Mr.. Perkinss denial The measure offered
by Mr.. Gallinger, which had started the
debate, was then passed without division.
Mr.. Lodge precipitated a lively discussion
by offering the following resolution: THAT
the committee on claims be directed to in
quire and report to whom the money was
paid under the claim of the Methodist Book
Concern South, and also to all circum-
stances connected with the passage of the
bill providing for the payment of said
claim and with the subsequent payment of
the money under said act of Congress-:
Mr.. Lodge explained that when the bill
appropriating $28S,O00 to pay the claim of
the Methodist Book Concern was before the
Senate he had offered an amendment, pro
viding that not more than $1,000 should be
paid to any agent or lobbyist for working
for the bill. His amendment had been re-
ceived with indignation and as a reflection
on the honor of men who were rendering to
the Methodist Church South a service of
love. I'VE were assured" said Mr.. Lodge.
that no part of the sum appropriated was
to be paid to agents; but it develops
that a contract existed for the payment of
IS per cent. of the proceeds of the claim to
lobbyists, and that one man has received
the immense sum of $1C0SC0.' Mr.. Lodge
then presented several newspaper clippings
tending to prove his claims. In response to
a 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 accredited
Mr.. Bate. who had strongly advocated the
payment OF the church claim, was much eN-
ercised over the disclosures. He denounced
the action of the agents as an outrage on
individual senators and upon Congress: He
favored a thorough investigation of the
transaction to the end that the responsible
persons might be exposed. Mr.. Bate read
a telegram from Barbee e. Smith, agents of
the Methodist Book Concern. stating that
nobody was to receive a commission for
working for the bill. Mr.. Pasco made q
statement similar in tone to that of Mr.
Bate.
Mr.. Tillman inquired of Mr.. Fasco if he
did not think such "thieving practices"
you'd operate against the payment t., OF other
Southern claims pending before Congress.
He declared that the transaction was an
outrage and a Swindle.
Mr.. Wilson said the proceeding was an
outrageous one, anu II was CNluSHl tIltiI
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
has been beaten. He thought the church
sould make the investigation.
Witout disposng of the Lodge resolution,
the Senate took up private pension bills and
passed forty-four of them; also the ''omni-
bus claim bill and other measures. bill
for the incorporation of the international
American Bank was made the unfinished
business The Senate, at 4:35 p. m, went
into executive session, and soon afterwards
adjourned