The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-04-01

Mr.. Richardson said there was OF.
objectionable feature TO the affair, in
that h state department must have
known Of the publication of thess
charges prior to the ratification OF ehf
Danish treaty
Mr.. Cannon. Of Illinois, made the frs
rejoinder of any length. He pressed
MI. Richardson to know whether the
report ave the name of a member OF
members OF the house said to nave beer
bribed, and they engaged In a very
sharp clash Mr.. Cannon was plainly
laboring under consider able excitement
Mr.. Richardson insisted mat the re-
port did charge members or the house
n senate. Il ave mentioned seyeral
OF the Names" said ne. Il will repeat
them If need be-"
1T seems to me-" said Mr.. Cannon
breaking in that IL would be wise TO
make this investigation, If it is worthy
of investigation, after the members OF
the house have had dn opportunity 10
examine the documents which the gen
tleman from Tennessee. has read. u
do not believe that there l. a man in
the house who wants to investigate the
mere statement of an acknowledged
thief"
Mr.. Cannon moved TO postpone con-
sideration Of the resolution until to-
morrow.
Mr.. Underwood, of Alabama, declared
that the honor Of the country was al
stake in this matter. 1t mattered not,
he said. whether Christmas was a thief
or a knave; he had made the charges
They should be thoroughly investfgat-
ed.
Mr.. Cannon declared hat he had
never heard of this man Christmas un-
til today; he had no knowledge or in
form CONCERNING him h1f accord
ing to his own belief. he was a briber
and worse.
but he was accredited by the secre-
tary of state" interposed Mr.. Richard
son and instructed 10 go to our min
lister in London"
THE gentleman artfully says the sec
rotary of state made this man his
agent cried Mr.. Cannon, Indignantly
81 know nothing about it. II anything
ought to be investigated I am for an
investigation"
But these charges were printed in
Denmark and were known here from
January 2Sth to February 1Ith," inter
posed Mr.. Richardson. Does the gen
tleman not think the secretary Of state
should have called the attention of the
senate to charges that $500, 900 was be-
ing spent to bring about a successful
termination of the negotiations"
81 do not know anything about it.
responded Mr.. Cannon. warmly, "ano
until I do I will say nothing that would
dishonor any one"
II am not seeking 10 dishonor any
one. l am seeking 10 prevent dishon-
or" replied Mr.. Richardson.
The speaker then put the question or
Mr.. Cannon's motion TO postpone. The
| republicans generally voted for the mo.
ton. but such a stentorian chorus OF
noes came from the democratic side
| that the speaker announced: 1.-The noes
seem to have it."
Mr.. Cannon did not ask for a division
| and the speaker declared the motion
lost.
The resolutions were then perfected
by the insertion of 'it is alleged" be-
fore all assertions OF fact.
At the suggestion Of Mr.. Lacey, OF
Iowa, the reference in the resolution
to was changed to read
newspapers or press associations
With these changes the resolutions
were carried without Il dissenting voice
Washington, March 27.-Representa-
tive Dalzell, chairman of the spHcia!
committee appointed today by Speak
er Henderson to investigate tie
charges in the Danish West Indian
transactions, says he will go over the
allegations tomorrow when they ap-
pear in the Congressional Record, and
arrangements will then be made for an
early meeting of the committee, probably
on Saturday. Until then, Mr.. Dalzel
said there would be no plans as to the
conduct of the Investigation.
In a statement by Niels Gron regard
ing the Christmas statement, Gron
says that he came to the United
States at the request of "Denmarks
best and most influential men" 10 LAY
before the representatives of the peo-
pie of the United States the facts
touching certain parts of the negotia-
tons in order that my further steps
taken by the United States toward
causing the taking effect of the
treaty in question might be done with
a full knowledge of The situation.
1t is said that the answer Of
the state department to the Richard
son resolution will disclose the fact
that the United States government has
| refused to have to do with any persons
as a party to the treaty who were not
directly connected with the Danish
government.
AS it has beer assumed in some
quarters that the failure of congress to
appropriate the So 00, 900 which was to
be the price paid for the islands would
in itself cause a failure of the transfer
of the territory, it nay be said that the
construction of the treaty at the state
department is that directly upon the
exchange of Publications, the islands
become the property of the United
States, and the failure of congress to
make the appropriation would simply
leave outstanding a debt of honor
against us.