The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-02-15
SOLIDLY
BY ROCKEFELLER
House Republicans Vote a
Favor for His Bank.
DEMOCRATS FIGHT
THE PROPOSED JOB
Hannaites Seek to Muddy Water
by Counter Charges.

Washington, Feb. 14.-The events in
connection with the sale of the old
New York custom house to the Ma
tional City bank, which is controlled
by John D. Rockefeller, occupied the
center of the stage during the debate
on the sundry civil appropriation bill
attended the debate. Mr.. McRae (Ark.)
raised the issue with a motion to
strike out the appropriation for rent of
the custom house, and with this mo-
ton as a basis, Mr.. Jones of Virginia
launched a fierce attack upon the
manner and circumstances of the sale
and the vast profits which he claimed
the bank made out of the transaction.
Secretary Gage was sharply criticised
and several references were made to
the letters written by Mr.. Hepburn to
Secretary Gage apropOS of the political
claims of the bank.
Mr.. Hopkins of Illinois produced
some letters alleged to have been
written by prominent Democrats in
Guiding Senator Jones (Ark), to the
secretary of the treasury under the
Cleveland administration, asking the
deposit Of government funds in certain
banks.
Mr.. McRae's amendment was lost on
strict party vote and another
amendment, offered by Mr.. Richardson.
to provide that the rent should not be
paid until the title to the old custom
house passed from the government TO
the bank, failed on tie vote.
McRae Exposes the Job.
Mr.. McRae, in moving to strike out
the appropriation of 1871 047 for the
rent of the old custom house, New
York City, reviewed the transaction
relating to the sale to the National
City bank, saying that $4,000 was
withheld so that the title would not
pass to the bank, and it thereby
escaped taxation.
Mr.. Cannon, Mr.. Hill of Connecticut
and others defended Secretary Cages
seton, contending that as to taxes I'M
difference whether the title IS in the
bank or the government. Several New
York Democratic members denied this
statement.
Mr.. Jones read a message from the
treasury department in answer to an
inquiry made yesterday by Mr.. McRae
to the effect that $4,000 remained I'M
paid under the terms of the act which
authorized the New York custom
house sale; that it drew interest at the
rate of 4 per cent, payable at the
pleasure of the purchaser, not how
CNEls ldICl IAtclA LllE udlC VI bllC NOli-
pletion of the new custom. house.
Mr.. Jones said the new custom house
would not be completed for ten years.
During those years, he said. the bank
would obtain S136,000 annually for the
rent Of the old custom house; would
save $50, 600 taxes; would have the use
of S3. 21O 600, which, at 4 per cent, would
be equal to S12S 000- He figured that
the bank would obtain $307 600 in ten
years-almost enough to pay for the
site-beside having the use of mil
lions of United States funds deposited
with this bank In conclusion, Mr..
Jones declared that the transaction
was a fraud upon the government. and
if the secretary of the treasury al
lowed it TO continue ne would be par
ticeps criminis to the fraud. Demo
cratic applause.)
Mr.. Cannon explained in great detail
the entire scope of the transaction. He
declared that the whole subject was
an exceedingly plain business PROPOSE
ton when it was Invested of the parti-
sanship and defamation which might
have its place on the stump in the
a