The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-04-04
JTASHINGTON, April S.-The inves-
wv tigation of CHARGES in connection

/ HTASHINGTON, April 9.-The inves-
| wv tgation Of charges in connection
with the Danish West Indian ne
gotiations was resumed today by the
house special committee Among
those present when the hearing
began were Abner Mckinley,
Colonel w. c. Brown, Carl Fisher
Hansen and Representative Gardner
/ Of New Jersey.
/ Mr.. Mckinley was the first witness.
/ Asked whether ne knew Captain
/ Christmas, the witness said he had
/ met him Cnce in the most casual way
/ n the lobby Of the Manhattan hotel,
| New York. He never held any confer
| ence with him of any character.
Was there any talk of the Danish
| West Indies2" asked Mr. Dalzell.
None whatever, either remotely or
otherwise answered the witness.
| Mr.. Mckinley went on TO say that
he had never mentioned the matter to
the president.
Representative Richardson asked the
witness if he knew Mr.. Hansen. Wit
ness replied he had known Hansen for
some time and prior to the casual
meeting with Christmas, Hansen had
desired to retain him in this matter.
In reply, the witness said he told Mr.
Hansen he could have nothing 10 do
with it.
Talked With Hansen.
Mr.. Richardson asked if Mr.. McKin-
ley ever had any talks with the Selig-
mans on the subject. Mr.. Mckinley
said he never had any conversation
with them on this transaction or with
anyone except Hansen as he stated,
Representative Gardner followed
with a statement disclaiming ali
knowledge Of Christmas, except of the
most casual character. Mr.. Gardner
said he had taken some interest in the
acquisition of the Danish West Indies
ana had introduced a bill on the sub
ject.
Colonel ". c. Brown testified that he
met Christmas once at the Manhattan
hotel in New York. He had no CONVEX
sa1On at tlat meeting, except he
usual interchange OF cOurtesies.
To Mr. Richardson's questions, Col
onel Brown said he had no contract
with Christmas or Hansen or anyone
in connection with the Danish matter.
Mr.. Hansen, the next witness, gave
his business as an attorney at New
York He said Christmas told in 1889
Of the movement 10 sell the Danish
islands to the United States and Of
Denmark's willingness to pay literally
in case of a sale. Christmas desired
Hansen to act as counsel. Witness
called on Abner Mckinley and asked
him if he would become associate
counsel. Mr.. Mckinley replied that he
(Hansen) ought TO know that he NC
KinIey) would not be retained in any
negotiations in which the government
was concerned. Mr.. Mckinley told him
also Of showing a man out of his Of
fee who has sought to bring up
question Of government appointment in
connection with legal business.
Brown Asked the President.
In connection with LOCALITIES. Mr.
Hansen said he had urged that the ac-
QUESTION of the islands was in line with
this governments policy, but Mr. Nc
Kinley would have nothing to do with
the matter.
Later, Hansen said he talked with
Colonel Brown and requested him TO
ask the president if there was any in
tentiOn Of buying the Danish islands.
Colonel Brown made the inquiry the
witness said, and was referred by the
president TO Secretary Hay. When Colo
mel Brown returned to New York he
told Mr.. Hansen that the United States
did intend to buy the islands. Hansen
then accepted Christmas proposition,
telling him. however, he desired no
compensation, except TO be appointed
attorney for Denmark later, if the
NEGOTIATIONS were successful Mr..
Hansen related what Christmas had
told him of coming to Washington and
r1rs-
Hav and Admiral Bradford, and later
of going to Copenhagen with Mr..
White, the United States secretary of
at London. Mr.. Hansen also
related a street meeting with one OF
the Seligmans. who had said Christ
mas was progressing well with mis-
The witness said Christ
mas had met one of the Seligmans on
an ocean stea I'D. az, and then had said
that if anythi5z came of the negOtia-
lions they would De the OzHkers. Lat
er. Mr.. Hansen sid, ne refused to
stand sponsor for Christmas, and wit
ness learned from Colonel Brown that
the president desired no further deal
ings with Christmas.
Mr.. Hansen yielded temporarily TO
allow Senator Lodge to make a state
ment. The senator said Christmas had
fer. Mr.. Lodge always had taken an
interest in the acquisition Of the ISL
ands. He told Christmas, however, /
that there was no use staying here,
as the Danish minister would attend
to the negotiations. The senator spe-
cifcaIIv denied language said 10 have
been used by him. according to the
Christmas report.
Evans Retaining Fee.
Resuming his testimony. Mr. Han
sen told of learning later that Christ
mas had been clothed with authority
bv Denmark Christmas wanted him
to guarantee q contract of $4,000 TO a
Mr.. Evans this amount TO come out
of Christmas expected compensation.
Hansen endorsed the contract. the ex-
pectation being that Evans would act
as counsel at Washington explaining
anv details thar might arise.
Later. Mr. Hansen said, Christmas
wrote Evans the following letter, re-
pudiating all connection with him:
New York, March g
Richard P Evans:
Dear Sir-Although it is hardly neces-
sarv for me TO add anything to what 7
already have said to you. in my CONVEX
satiou last Saturday, in the presence Of
ma attorney. Fischer Hansen. neverthe-
less i'm view Of the fact that j am deal
ing with a bunch OF scamps and swiud-
Iefs Of which you seem to be the ring