Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-17
SECRETARY CAGES COURSE
Attacked and Defended in the House Yes
terday.
Nr. Hopkins Praises His Action Re-
garding New York Custom
House Property.

| was taken up in the House yesterday after
| noon under an agreement which limited
| the general debate to yesterday. 1t was the
| general expectation that it would open up
| a stormy dc bate upon the question of eN-
| pansion. in view of the large army and
navy items it contains. but the members
early became very much engrossed in a
discussion of item of s15noa for rural
free delivery. in which all personals:
interested. and the subject of expansion
was barely touched upon.
TIE last hour of the debate was cnivened
with an attack by Mr.. Richardson. the
minority leader. upon the Secretary Of the
Treasury for his course in connection with
| the SAL. of tine New York custom house.
| As tho charges regarding deposits i'll ma
tional banks were the subject of a reso!u-
| tor for an investigation he said ne would
| rot go into that phase of the subject.
He rrhearsed the charges that Secretary
Gage had been guilty. technically, of en-
hcZzlrmen; i'll connection with the sale OF
the custom house in dcpositing the proceeds
in a national bank. which was govern
meut depository. instead of the treasury OF
Tho United States. But, he declared, this
charge would not hold. His purpose. he
said. was to show that the City National
Bank had been favored on account of the
contributions of its directors to the republic
can campaign fund of 1896 and to show
that the course of the Secretary in al
loving iii" purchase price to remain in
the hank. while at the same time paying
rent for the property and keeping 1t cE-
empt from taxation. was not dealing fairly
with the trust funds of the government.
Defended by Hopkins.
Mr.. HOPKINS QlID quickly challenged Mr.
Richardson's statement that the bank was
not liable for taxes.
1T is not liable for taxes until the title
passes said Mr.. Richardson.
1t became liable. insisted Mr.. Hopkins,
when it purchased and took possession of
the property How else could it lease it,
III ;he statement YOU make is true. re-
torted Mr.. Richardson holly. then the Sec
relary of the Treasury is liable to i'm
peaChment by this House and the country
because. he says he did agree to pay 4 per
cent of the purchase price from the date
OF tn" sale. If what You say is true he
has done netting which was unlawful
and for which he can be impeaChed.
Mr.. Hopkins reply to Mr.. Richardson was
brief. The report of the Secretary Of the
Treasury. he said. not only met frankly
and honestly every charge. but it showed
business capacity that must receive the in
tclliscHt approval of the people of the
I nIt"d States. democratic jeers) lie de
MED Mr.. Richardson's contention regarding
the exemption of the bank from taxes Any
man vii th!mblefUl Of sense would I'M
d-r~taud it. he said. Th, bank held
for taxes the minnie it purchased and took
possession of the property. The mere pa
per deed was only evidence of ownership,
the real title passed when II took posses
sion. The report of the Secretary of the
Treasury, he continued, GENERATED him
from every iHSinuation. He said tn" Ma
tiouai City Bank had been government
depository long before Gage came into
"tiict.. Il had been selected by a democratic
Secretary of the Treasury because of its
well-kn"wn financial ability. But instead
Of following the course of his democratic
predecessor in making a few f4V0rite banks
repositories Secretary Gage had selected
repositories all over the United States.
IT, record showed that tie proceeds of
the sale were not deposited for the Use Of
the National City Bank, hul were subject
10 check day by day. 50 that the bank had
10 80 conduct its affairs that it could be
Withdrawn without warning at any time.
y, hy this cutlery? Mr.. Hopkins inquired.
The money was as safe as ii would he in
the treasury of the United States.
Il say" he concluded. that the Secre-
tary Of the Treasury is entitled to the APP
probation of every honest man. Secretary
Gage has made Il record that any American
ought 10 praise instead of dcnounCe."
Great republican applauSe)
This closed the incident.
The debate on the deficiency bill was still
in progress when the committee rose.
Scope of the Census.
Nj. Hopkins Gll.p. from the committee on
census, made favorable report on the
Senate bill extending the scope of the CEN
sus. and gave notice that he would take il
up ~ a privileged question after the de-
| fciency- bill was passed.
This brought on a controversy on the
privileged character of a census report, ard
when the Speaker ruled it to be privileged
Mr.. BAILEY of Texas appealed from the rul-
ing of the chair.
Without finally determining the aDl,-al.