The Washington times., 1902-06-24
Special House Committee
Holds First Meeting
in Months.
LITTLE PROOF OF BRIBERY
Additional Letters Produced Help to
Refute Charges of Corruption in Ne
gotiations for the Sale of the Danish
Islands.


tion with the charges of bribery and
corruption in the negotiations for the
sale OF the Danish West Indies was
laid yesterday before the special COM
mittee of the House appointed to inves-
tigate the matter. The meeting yester-
day was the first the committee has had
for two months, and there is little or
no likelihood that any further witnesses
will be summoned to testify.
The most important part OF the corre-
spondence submitted yesterday was
sent TO Chairman Dalzell by Secretary
Hay, and comprised a letter from Min
lister Swenson at Copenhagen. a letter
from Secretary Henry White. of the en-
bassy at London, and letter written
by Captain Christmas to Minister Sven
son. and inclosed by the latter to the
Secretary OF State.
There was also a communication from
Mr. H. II. Rodgers, of the Standard Oil
Company, denying any transactions
with Christmas, and one from Mr.. r.
P. Evans. Of this city, who was wit
ness before the committee. making fur
ther denial OF certain statements made
by Christmas in his report to the Danish
government.
no Grounds for Charge.
The committee will probably have
another meeting before preparing its
report, which viii state that there was
no basis for the charges or grounds for
the investigation. The next meeting
will be after the receipt Of further let
ter of explanation which Mr.. Hit sug
gested should be asked for from Mr..
Rodgers in explanation of cablegram.
Should Mr.. Rodgers desire to appear
before the committee and make a
statement he will be given an opportun-
ity Of doing SO.
Christmas in his letter to Minister
Swanson denies that he ever stated to
The Danish prime minister that bribery
was the only method TO employ in nego
tiating the sale OF the islands. and de-
clares that Gron, the man who figured
in bringing about the Con-
gressional investigation, obtained his re-
port through foul means, and that he has
reason to believe that he falsifed It. |
Swanson states that in view
Of the absurd and contradictory state
mcnts of Christmas he attaches but lit
tic Importance to his letter.
Secretary Whites letter is an explain
alton OF his transactions with Christ
mas, and OF his visit to Copenhagen. |
IN it he says that Captain Christmas
,alled upon him on December .. 1899. |
With a letter of Introduction from Se2-
-etary of State John Hay.
Under Assumed Name.
Their conference was at Dover, and
lpon his request he went to Copenhagen.
lrriving there December 10. Captain
Christmas met him there and registered
lin at the Phoenix Hotel under an as
umed name. To this Mr.. White OBJ
ected, giving the clerk his right name.
N the next day Captain Christmas ac-
him to the foreign office,
shere they were received by Minister
sh government would be glad to cede
he Danish West Indies. He left Copea-
agen the same evening.
The letter from Minister Swanson dat
d Copenhagen. April u. 1902, with the
etter from Christmas iDclosed. says:
In view of Mr.. Christmas character,
nd absurd and contrary statements re-
ardng his alleged connection with the
egotiati0ns for the cession OF the
Danish West Indies 10 the United States,
attached no Importance to the repre-
entations set forth in the inclosed let
sr.
1T is quite generally understood here
hat Mr.. Christmas and Mr.. Gron are ,
ngaged in Il purely personal contro-
ersy; and that their attempts to paint
ach other as black as possible are ac-
lated by motives OF revenge. State I
tents emanating from these two per- I
lns are viewed with suspicion. ,
Few persons believe that the nego-
ations were in any way influenced by
Continued on Eighth Psge.) u