The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-27

Talk of a Transaction in Which NeiIs
Gron, Who Was in Minnesota
in 1896, Figures.

Washington, March Pin the house to-
day Mr.. Richardson (Tenn.), the minority
leader, offered. as matter Of privilege,
resolution for the appointment Of
committee of seven to investigate the
charges said to have been made by Dr.
Walter Christmas. semi official repre-
sentative Of Denmark, in a secret report
to his government In which it was made
to appear that he was to receive $500, 900
of the purchase money for the sale of
the Danish West Indies for bribing news
papers and members of congress.
The resolution created great excitement
on both sides Of the house The repub-
lican leaders hurriedly consulted and
when the reading had been concluded Mr.
Payne, the majority leader, made the
point of order that the matter presented
was not privileged. The resolution, Mr.
Payne said contemptuously was based on
an alleged secret report to the Danish
government. Instantly Mr.. Richardson
met this with the statement that he had
copy of the secret report to the Danish
government. Said he:
Richardson Pledges His Honor.
On my honor as a member Of this house,
!
that secret confidential report. Assuming the
full responsibility of my words, I believe
have unmistaken evidence that this report
was made to the Danish government by a
quasi, if not a real, agent of that govern
ment. s.."r. @ f.--t<az -. -....s
when did the gentleman obtain &C
cess to the secret archives of the Danish
government" interposed Mr.. Payne. Mr..
Richardson ret orted:
have never been to Denmark but there
are other ways of obtaining authentic gov
eminent documents. This is a grave charge.
do not bring it here for tho 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 in
terpose a technical objection.
Speaker Henderson called attention to
the fact that the language Of the resolu-
ton charged that newspapers and men,
bers of congress had been bribed.
members Of congress-" he said, "did
not necessarily include members of the
house. If members of the senate, that
body must be custodian of It's own mem
bers." .-. -.-..- .:'.
He thought If the resolution was to be
privileged it should specifically include
members of the house.
II am prepared to say" replied MT.
Richardson, that these charges do in
clude members of the house and will
amend the resolution to that extent"
Declared Privileged. 80
Speaker Henderson thereupon ruled that
the matter was privileged. '.5'-
Almost every seat was occupied and the
members listened eagerly as Mr.. Rich
| ardson present ed his case. First he read
extracts from the press at Copenhagen.
They were followed by an affidavit from
Neils Gron concerning his dealings with
| certain people, but they were not par
| ticularly sensational. --t...
The real sensation came when he began
| 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 considera-
| tion of the house. The report was too long
| to read in full, he said. 81 will only
| read the luscious extracts, which, If true,
| should bring the blush of shame to the
| cheek of every American said he, -Hfor
the statute will disgrace this country in
the eyes of every foreign country In the