The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-14

| not want to comment harshly upon any
man. but hold in my hand letter from
the vice president of the bank. Mr.. Hep
| burn, addressed to Mr.. Gage the gentle
man who made this contract with the Ma
ttonai City Bank. | VIII put the entire
| letter In my printed speech but will call
attention to the concluding sentence He
says that as an inducement to this Ma
! tional City Bank making this splendid
contract with the Secretary of the Treas
ury-and If you want to know the motive
you ought to look to what they said hefcte
this trade was consummated. Here is
what Mr.. Hepburn. the Vice President OF
the bank. said to Mr.. Gage, the Secretary
OF the Treasury, as an inducement to him
to make the trade. The concluding sen
tence of his letter. which Is found on page
SO of the letter transmitted by the Sec
retary of the Treasury to the Senate OF
the United States on January 10. 1890.
reads as follows: of course. the bank
is very strong. says Mr.. Hepburn. and If
you will take the pains to look at our list
OF directors. you Will see that We also
have very great political claims in view
OF what was done during the canvass last
year This was written in 1897
1T may be that the letter which read
was written very early after this trans
action was consummated but il reflects
upon the transaction. It shows the cir
cumstances and conditions under which
1t was negotiated and 1t shows the par
ties to it were endeavoring to keep the
public and the people of the United States,
In my Judgment. from knowledge of this
transaction. Now. let us see If l am
right In that. Here is the letter signed
by Mr.. Stillman, President of that bank.
addressed to the Secretary of the Treas
ury. dated September II, 1899. I will read
the concluding portion of it, and I invite
the attention of the House the commit
tee. and the country to the fact that they
were endeayoring to prevent the people
OF this country. from knowing the facts in
this case Mr.. Stnlman says to the Sec
retary of the Treasury: I am writing to
you personally
He was writing about this transaction.
I am writing to you personally. and de-
sire to avoid publicity OF the contents Of
this letter. as the reporters seem to have
access to everything that goes upon the
flss In connection with this matter. The
delay in earlier communicating with you
has been due to my absence from the
city
He was very anxious that the news
paper reporters should not know what he
was writing him in respect to this trans
action
Mr.. Richardson then asked that Mr..
Moody join with him in striking out the
provision. Not being able to secure
pledge. he said:
IF the Secretary of the Treasury has
made this imprevident contract and
sought to bind the people of the United
States by 1t, l for one am unwilling to
vote the peoples money to carry it out"
Mr.. McRae, who controls the time
against the Sundry Civil bill for the mi
nority. stated that he knew of number
Of members who wished to speak upon the
subject. Unfortunately. they did not think
the item would be reached under the FIVE
minute reading and had left the House.
He asked that 1t be allowed to go over
until today without action. This was
agreed to, and other speeches will be
made today.