Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-28

$3.50 - ~ - AA-.EA .H-HA8 - ~ 49,
N any way 10 make = public opinion IN
favor % the ratification Of this treaty for
The purchase of the DanBh Islands.
No PersonaI Reflections.
Il have 20 far made no reflections upon
any American %ofaciai. but I DO say that
these facts that I have submitted here. the
extracts from these Danish papers, show
that all this corrupt contract business has
been exposed and publbhed since the z5th
day Of January In the Danish papers. !
take II that the senate Of the United states
ala not know on the i7th day Of February
that 100000 Of that money had been bar
gained away for the corrupt purpose Of
buying them, and you and the balance Of
W. into the support Of this measure; ana
yet on the 18th day Of February the Amer
lean senate almost unanimously. ~ I be-
lieye. and az has been published IN the
newspapers. ratified this treaty.
Did they know. Mr. Speaker, when they
ratified this treaty, that these things were
being published In Copenhagen. Denmark
Did these United States senators, did the
committee on foreign Affairs OF the senate
know this7 I don't know, but this is the
first time the attention Of this house has
been called 10 thu disgracetul state OF at
fairs. It seems 20 me there 10 on thing
objectionable In this whole business. ana
that ia that the department OF state must
have known Of the publication OF these in
famous charges In Denmark and in Copen>
hagen for two weeks or nearly three weeks
before this treaty was ratified"
Mere Charges Of OutsIder.
Mr.. Hit pointed out that a. framed the
resolutions asserted facts on the RESPONSE
bility OF the house OF representatives,
whereas, they were mere charges OF an
outside party.
Mr.. Richardson thereupon changed the
preamble 30 as to read. whereas. It IL
alleged" etc.
Mr.. Cannon OF Illinois made the FIRST re-
jolnder OF any length. 30 far as he could
catch the charges az they were read, he
said, IL appeared that some man named
Christmas, who Acknowledged himself a
'briber and worse" made charges and II
was proposed TO make an Investigation
whether any member Of the house OF rep
resentauves were guilty Of bribery or the
acceptance Of brides.
Mr.. Cannon pressed Mr.. Richardson to
know whether the report gave the name of
a member or member OF the house said to
have been bribed and they engaged in n
very sharp clagh. Mr.. Cannon was plainly
laboring under considerable excitement.
Mr.. Richardson insisted that the report
did charge members Of the house and SEN
ate. Il have mentioned several OF the
names," said he. II will repeat them II
need be-"
Cannon Favors Investigation Later.
at seems to me-" said Mr.. Cannon.
breaking In, that II would be wise 90
make this investigation, II II is worthy Of
investigation, after the members Of the
house have had opportunity to examine the
documents which the gentleman from Ten
nessee has read. They are to be printed in
the record. When they are printed we can
soc what substance there Is In them. There
Ia no man on the floor Of this house who
does not demand a full investigation II the
honor Of any member is authoTitatively
called into question.
But ! do not believe that there is a man
In the house who wants to investigate the
mere statement Of an acknowledged thief.
I would be glad II the whole matter would
60 over until tomorrow, when member can
have had an opportunity TO examine the
documents. I make this suggestion In the
greatest good faith"
And / have offered the resolution in the
greatest good faith" observed Mr.. Rich
ardBon.
The gentleman asks action on a docu-
ment the extracts Of which have been
read" retorted Mr.. Cannon holly.
No Need for Excitement.
The gentleman need not become excited
or agitated. / am especially willing to
have the clerk read the entire document"
responded Mr.. Richardson.
gI $50 b.
the resolution until tomorrow" interposed
Mr.. Cannon.
Thereupon Mr.. Myers OF Indiana pro-
tested that tomorrow was pension day and
asked that Mr.. Cannon modify his motion
10 make II Saturday.
us not the honor OF a member Of the
house more important than the passage OF
a few pension bills,' cried Mr.. Pierce of
Tennessee.
Mr.. Underwood OF Alabama then got the
floor. He declared that the honor OF the
country was at stake In this matter and
that rose far above the honor OF a mere
individual. He insisted that Christmas
after coming here to negotiate the sale OF
tho Islands had gone back as the accredited
agent Of the United States.
of Report.
IL mhttered not. ne SAID, whether he wae
thief or knave, he had made the charges
While he hoped for the honor OF the coun-
try that they were not true, they should
be thoroughly investigated.
In answer TO an interrogatory from Mr.
Hit OF Illinois Mr.. Richardson stated
Christmas report was dated October /
1901.
Mr.. Cannon declared that he had never
heard Of this man Christmas until today;
he had NO knowledge concerning him, bui
according to his own belief. he was a bribei
and worse.
But he was accredited by the secretar,
Of state i~nterposed Mr.. Richardson. "ant
instructed to go to our minister in Lon.
don"
The gentleman artfully says the score,
tary Of state made this man his agent, >
cried Mr.. Cannon, Indignantly. II know
nothing about It. II anything ought TO b,
Investigated. ! I'm for an investigation
But l am not in favor OF proceeding upoI
the extracts the gentleman has read. lie.
the documents be printed in full, then eacl
member OF the house can act intelligently
None will be more swift than I to invest
gate charges Affecting federal omcials anC
members Of the American congress"
But the charges we're printed In Den
mark and we're known here from Januar,
rs to February H." interposed Mr.. Rich
Ardson.
Criticises state Department.