Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-03-27

extracts, with the newspapers from which
they were taken, to said Richardson
(Signed) NEIL s. GRON.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this
March 81. 1902
AARON RUSSELL, Notary Public.
Republican Leaders Confer.
The republican leaders hurriedly confer
red during the reading Of the resolution,
and when the reading had been concluded
Mr.. Payne, the majority leader, immediate
ly made the. point of order that the matter
presented was not privileged. The basis of
the resolution, Mr.. Payne said contemptu-
ously, was based upon an alleged secret re-
port to the Danish government.
Instantly Mr.. Richardson met this with
the statement that he had copy of the
secret report to the Danish government.
'On my honor as a member OF this House."
said he, II have now on my desk what
purports to be, and what believe is, that
secret confidential report Assuming the
full responsibility of my words. believe
have unmistakable evidence that this report
was made to the Danish government by
quasi If not real agent Of that govern
ment."
when did the gentleman obtain access
to the secret archives of the Danish govern
ment?" interposed Mr.. Payne sarcastically.
Il have never been to Denmark" retort-
ed Mr.. Richardson but the gentleman
knows there are other ways of obtaining
authentic government documents. / have
the evidence here. This Is a grave charge
i do not bring it here for the purpose of
making political capital. Here Is a charge
that 100000 was paid for the express pur-
pose of bribing the American Congress, yet
the gentleman from New York seeks to
interpose technical objection"
Speaker Henderson at this point called
attention to the fact that the language of
the resolution charged that newspapers and
members of Congress had been bribed
Members of Congress, he said, did not nee
essarily include members of the House. If
members of the Senate, that body must be
the custodian of it's own morals. He thought
II the resolution was to be privileged 1t
should specifically include members of the
House.
II am prepared to say" replied Mr.. Rich
ardson, that these charges do include
members of the House, and will amend the
resolution to that extent
Declared to Be Privileged.
Speaker Henderson thereupon ruled that
the matter presented was privileged.
This Is matter of high privilege" said
the Speaker, delivering his ruling. Exact
ly what status a report to a foreign gov
eminent would have here might be ques-
toned, but the gentleman from Tennessee
having stated upon his honor a member
Of the House that these charges are
true
''Oh, no. Mr.. Speaker interrupted Mr..
Richardson, II did not say the report was
true. l vouched for the fact that Mr.. Dirk
feldt had made them
THE gentleman having vouched for the
authenticity of the charges continued the
Speaker, the chair holds that the matter
is one of privilege and recognizes the gen.
tleman from Tennessee
Intense Interest Manifested.
By this time the interest in the House
was intense. Almost every seat was occu-
pied, and the members listened eagerly as
MIR. Richardson proceeded to present his
case. First he read extracts from the press
at Copenhagen.
These were followed by an affidavit from
Neils Gron concerning his dealings with
certain people here, but they were not par
ticularly sensational.
Charges Of Walter Christmas.
The real sensation came when he started
to read from what purported to be the re-
port of Walter Christmas concerning the
negotiations He prefaced the reading by
the statement that it would show cor
rupt bargain worthy of the consideration
read in full. he said. II will only read the
luscious extracts which, If true, should
bring the blush of shame to the cheek of
every American" said he ''for the statute
VIII uiSBfdce tHiS country III the eyes Oh
every foreign court in the world. This Is
what this corrupt bargainer says" He
then proceeded to read Mr.. Christmas
account of his interview with the prime
minister Of Denmark, in which he was said
to have told the minister of the necessity
for the use of money to bring the negotia-
lions for the sale of the islands to a sue
cessful termination. He told of his ac-
quaintance with Abner Mckinley, Presi-
dent Mckinleys brother. and his law part
ner, Col Brown, two gentlemen whom Mr..
Christmas described as having the entry
to the White House and being familiar with
members Of Congress would have to be
paid to accomplish the results desired"
The report then described how Mr.. Christ
mas had enlisted not only President Nc
kinleys brother and his. partner, but two
press associations, one in New York and
one In Washington, and q prominent bank
ing house in New York in the sale of the
islands.
In the report Mr., Christmas said, among
other things. that he had as his special
assistants &C. w. Knox, an intimate friend
of Senator Hanna, and a Washington law
yer named Richard P. Evans who repre-
scented Mr.. Gardner and his friends in the
House"
The Danish foreign minister was reported
as Disguised with the methods which had
to be pursued, but as finally giving his ac-
Quiescence.
Mr.. Richardson's Comment.
Mr.. Richardson said he did not charge that
any senator or representative in Congress
had been bribed. He had simply present ed
the allegations of this agent that money
had to be used for bribing congressman.
The charges had been published in this
country and abroad, he said, with the allie
cation that conditions In the United States
were simply horrible He therefore pro-
posed this inquiry. so that each member
could disclaim the charges so far as 1t
affects him. Mr.. Richardson said there was
one objectionable feature to the affair, in
that the State Department must have
known of these charges and had not
brought them to the attention of the Sem
ate prior to the ratification of the Danish
treaty.
Mr. Hit pointed out that as framed the
resolutions asserted facts on the RESPONSE
bility of the House of Representatives,
whereas they were mere charges of an out
side party.
Mr.. Richardson thereupon changed the
preamble. to read: Whereas it is
alleged etc.
Mr.. Cannon's Rejoinder.
Mr. Cannon 0lis.) made. the first re-
joinder of any length So far as he could
catch the charges, they were read, he
said. it appeared that some man named