Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-29

Scrfbed to prevent the bank from being
liable for taxes. IF that was the Secre-
tarys motive" said Mr.. Richardson. en-
phatieally. II am here to condemn it and
TO insist that it Ill becomes the Secretary
of the Treasury to go into partnership with
private corporation.
The National City Bank of New York.
Mr.. Richardson said had been able to earn
interest upon the 50 e15.ooo it had nominal
iy paid the government. interest upon the
bonds it had deposited to retain this money
and to charge the COVE rnment rental equal
to per cent of the purchase price. In
other words. he said this juggling has en-
abled the bank to make $3.50 600 up to date.
Mr.. Richardson said he was surprised that
the Secretary of the Treasury had not al
ready asked to be allowed to make an eX
PLANTATION s.-. -.-.-.
Mr. Suffers Denunciation.
Mr.. Sulzer IN. W, the author of the reso-
luton, followed Mr.. Richardson. He said
the republican party dared neither to
smother nor ignore the resolution. The
people of the country We're deeply interest
81 in ascertaining the truth. He charac-
tcrized the conduct of the Secretary of the
Treasury as infamous. and his connection
with the Rockefeller bank, which had been
used, he said, to manipulate the stock mar
ket against adverse interests. as scandal
Ious.
I'VE demand this investigation" said he.
''to ascertain who the stockholders and
directors OF this bank are. that they are
- NA'' f'''-'N - 1850
administration.
Ever since the present Secretary had
been in office. Mr.. SuZer said he had been
aiding the City National at the expense
IF other national banks. 1t had been max
ing millions coming and going. He de-
clared that the people of the country rec
ognized that the Secretary of the Treasury
was unfit and Incompetent I" hold the
purse strings.
The United States treasury was n ade the
instrument of the Standard Oil Trust. Aye.
more. he said, the people believed the Sec
rotary should be impeached.
Mr.. Hopkins Protests.
Mr.. Hopkins Oil.l. i'll reply, said that Ill
this discussion was premature and out of
place. The whole question had been re-
rnitted to the ways and means committee.
81 simply rise said he, Ito protest
against the unfounded, unwarranted and
untrue charges made by the gentleman
from Tennessee (RichardSon,. What right
has he to impute false and fraudulent mo-
tives to the Secretary of the Treasury? Is
there any evidence upon which to base
them: None whatever. Wien the Secre-
tary of the Treasury was called upon for
the facts he presented full response"
Why did the 10000 remain unpaid?'' in
terrupted Mr. Richardson
iii come to that" replied Mr.. Hopkins
Proceeding. he said Mr.. Richar dson had
charged that the S, crctsry had entered
into a fraudulent contract.
Il affirm. said he. that there is no
support whatever for the charge. The
custom house property was sold to the
National City Bank. Ii took possession
and made lease. 1 claim that the city
and state of New York can proceed to the
collection of taxes just as if the paper
title had passed.
Under the law the Secretary of the
Treasury sold the property to the highest
bidder. The National City bid S1aO.mN more
than any other bidder
What is the next offense? That the Dur
chase price was deposited with the Ma
tional City Bank. Was there anything
wrong in that? That bank is a government
depository selected by a democratic adj
mlnlstratlon because of its financial stand
ing. and because deposit in that bank was
the same as If it had been IN the subtreas-
Gry or in the treasury itself. i ask then
IN the name of decency and justice. where
Is the wrong done by the gentleman who
presides with such dignity and ability over
the Treasury Department.
Mr. Hill Comm declared that the resolu-
ton for an investigation was pure bun
combe, intended for political purposes lust
as a similar resolution directed against the
democratic Secretary OF the Treasury in the
last administration was.
Il ask the gentleman from Illinois CHop-
klns) again interposed Mr.. Richardson
why the SJO.Opp had been held back? He
didn't answer 1t. l now PROFOUND the same
interrogatory 10 you"
Fraudulent Intent Denied.
Mr.. Hill replied that tho law under which
the property was sold coupeRed the pay
ment of only $4,000 cash the remainder
from time to time. The Secretary was COM
PEELED to receive any cash payment in ex-
cess of s75O.ooO. He could not help him
self The gentleman from Tennessee (dr.
richardson made the specific charge that
it was done for the purpose of defrauding
the city of New York OF taxes.
That went into the intent OF the Secre-
tary. ut ill becomes him. said Mr.. Hill.
indignantly, ito charge the Secretary of
the Treasury with fraudulent intent Fur
thermore. if he had gone deeper into the
investigation he would have ascertained
that the city could not lose the taxes upon
the property"
He proceeded to explain the tax laws of
New York relative to national banks
Therefore, said he. in conclusion, 1.-The
disreputable charge that the Secretary of
the Treasury did anything with fraudulent
intent falls to the ground" applause on
the republican side)
NJ. Richardson replied in two-minute
speech Neither Mr.. Hopkins nor Mr. HILL
he said. had made any answer to his ques-
ton as to why the Secretary of the Treas
ury had not taken paper credit for s.. 2G5.-
0UO instead of S3.21J. 900
He insisted that failure to answer had
left open the question as TO taxation He
also questioned the right OF the National
City. with capital of ST.ppoGb0, to buy
real estate 70 the amount OF half its capi-
tai.
In closing the debate. Mr. Dalzeli pa }
said the whole discussion had been beside
the mark. The question of referring the
whole subject to the ways and means com
mittee had been used TO renew charges
that had been answered over and over
again By none better than by prominent
democrats in the House and country
Who are they" cried several democrats
Mr.. DalZen paid no heed to these cries
So far as the right Of the bank to purchase
the property was concerned, Mr.. DaIzell
said its purchase had been authorized bv
the act that authorized the sale.
Resolution Adopted.
The resolution was then adopted without
division.
A bill was passed 70 appropriate S6OOOO
for a military hospital al Fort I.eaven-
worth Kan.
The House then proceeded to the call of
committees.
A bill from the committee on merchant
marine auG fisheries to require officers and
pilots Of steam vessels 10 make oath to
their applications for licenses and provid-
| ing penalties for perjury developed consid-
cradle opposition from members having con-
stituents engaged in small river traffic on
| the Ohio. Tennessee and Mississippi rivers