The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-28
HOUSE WILL INVESTIGATE
 CHARGES OF CORRUPTION

attention to the fact that the language of the resolution charged that newspapers and members of Congress had been brib- cd. Members of Congress" he said. did not necessarily include members of the House. If members of the Senate. that body must be the custodian of Its own morals" He thought if the resoiu- ton was to be privileged, 1t should spe- officially include members of the House. "I am prepared to say." replied MT. Richardson. that these charges do not Include members of the House, and will amend the resolutions to that extent" This is a matter of high privilege. said the Speaker. delivering his ruling. Exactly what status that report to . foreign Government would have here might be question, but the gentleman from Tennessee. having stated upon his honor as member of the House that the charges are true"
 "Oh, no, Mir, Speaker. interrupted MT. Richardson. 'I did not say the report was true. vouched for the fact that MT. Christmas had made thcm." Richardson Speaks. ."The gentleman having vouched for the authenticity of the charges" continued the Speaker. "the chair holds that the matter is one of privilege, and recog- nixss the gentleman from Tennessee."
 By this time the interest in the House was intense. Almost every seat was oc- cupied, and the members listened eagerly as Mir. Richardson proceeded to present bis case. First, he read extracts from the press at Copenhagen. These were fol- lowed by an affidavit from Neils Gron concerning his dealings with certain peo- pie here. but they were not particularly sensational.
 Real Sensation.
 The real sensation came when he started to read from what purported to be the report of Walter Christmas concerning the negotiations. He prefaced the read ing by the statement that it would show "corrupt bargain worthy of the con- sideration of the House. The report was too long to real in full. he said. ''I will only read extracts. which, if true. should bring the blush of shame to the cheek of every American" said he. flor the state- ment will disgrace this country in the eyes of every foreign court in the world. This is what this corrupt bargainer says
 Abney Mckinley In.
 He then proceeded to read Mir. Christ mass 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 negotiations for the sale of the isl- ands to a successful termination He told of his acquaintance with Abner Me Kiniey, President McKinley's brother. and his law partner. Colonel Brown, two gen. elemen whom Mir. Christmas described as having the entry to the White House and being familiar with the ways of American politics and what members of Congress would have to be paid to &C., complish the results desired"
 Enlisted Them
 The report then described how Mir. Christmas had enlisted not only President ,McKinley's brother and his partner. hut two press associations, one in New York and one in Washington, and prominent banking house in New York in the sale of the island.
 s The Danish foreign minister was report ed as disgusted with the methods which had to be pursued. but as finally giving his acquiesence.
 Dined at the Raleigh.
 Mir Richardson said that Christmas was speaking of inviting members of Con- gross to dine with him at the Hotel Ra- leigh In this city. He then quoted from the report as follows:
 Tt was not alone the members of Con- gress I had to invite. l had as my spe- cial assistants two men, C. W. Knox, who was an intimate friend of Senator Hanna, and Richard P. Evans. a lawyer in Washington. who represented Mir. Gard ner and his friends In the House. These took an active part in the personal agi- tatiOn, since they talked with large number of members of Congress and agi- tated for. the purchase of the islands. l had contracts with them both. accord ing to which they and, through them, certain members of Congress should have a share of the commission if the sale took place; but the two gentlemen's agitation expenses. bills in restaurants and hotels. I had to pay The two press asocia- tions, Abner Mckinley and Brown, Ev ans, Knox and others. l had promised their contracts should be guaranteed by the house of Seligman. To this the bank ing house had agreed. as it should in one way or another have to be recognized by the Danish Government"
 The Work of Christmas.
 MT. Richardson then proceeded:
 Now, MT Speaker, l could make more of these quota tions. but l will not take the time of the House It is enough to show what report this creature has made to the Danish Government, this man whom our Secretary of State used as agent-I was about tc say tool. but as an agent-to carry d trusted diplomat from our legation in London to the court of Copenhagen and there entertain this trusted agent and procure him admis- sion and introduction to the Prime Min ister of Denmark, which resulted in put ting on foot the negotiations leading to this treaty.
 Now, 1 am not here to charge. and l do not charge. that any American Con gressman or Senator has been bribed in this matter: but here fs the declaration of this agent of the Danish Government and our Government, that he had con tracts for $J00.000 of money which we sup posed We were paying into the treasury of Denmark for these islands. to be used as he said, for the corrupt purpose of brihing American Congressman.
 Investigation Demanded
 Now, does this not demand an inves- and permit this paper to be published in and of the United States-because d port ion of this report making these charges has already been printed in Philadel- phia paper and in some other papers in this country; also fin the London Times. It has been printed. I venture to say, in the leading papers of every capital in Europe. These charges have gone forth to the world that there is a condition of affairs in the United States Congress as described by this minister that is simply horrible and that he has known 1t for d for long time.
 Does such state of affairs exist. MT, Speaker? Every member of Congress can be called and interrogated upon his oath if he met this men Christmas if he dined