Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-28
BRIBERY CHARGED
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"On NV honor as member of this
House." said he, Il have now on my
desk what purports TO be and what L
believe is that secret confidential re-
port. Assuming the full responsibility
of my words, l believe l have unmis-
taxable evidence that this report was
made to the Danish government by a
quasi if not a real agent of that gov
eminent"
when did the gentleman obtain ac-
cess to the secret archives of the DAN
ish government" interposed Payne,
sarcasticaIly.
Il have never been to Denmark" re-
torted Richardson, but the gentleman
knows there are other ways of obtain
ing authentic government documents. /
have the evidence here. This is grave
charge. | 90 not bring it here for the
purpose of making political capital.
Here is a charge that 100000 was paid
for the express purpose of bribing the
American Congress, yet the gentleman
from New York seeks to interpose
technical objection
Speaker Henderson at this point
called attention to the fact that the
language of the resolution charged that
newspapers and members of Congress
had been bribed. Members of Con-
gress,' he said, did not necessarily in
clude members of the House. If MEM
bers of the Senate. that body must be
the custodian of its own morals" He
thought if the resolution was to be pro-
vded it should specifically include
members of the House.
Il am prepared to say" replied Rich
ardson. that these charges do include
Iar pf 40 win nd
the resolution to that extent"
Speaker Henderson thereupon ruled
that the matter presented was privi-
legged.
This is a matter of high privilege"
said the Speaker, delivering his ruling.
Exactly what status a report to for
eign government would have might be
questioned, but the gentleman from
Tennessee having stated upon his
honor as a member of the House that
these charges are true"
"Oh, no, Mr.. Speaker" interrupted
Richardson, II did not say the report
was true. ] vouched for the fact that
Mr.. Christmas had made them"
The gentleman having vouched for
the authenticity of the charges" con-
tnucd the Speaker, the Chair holds
that the matter is one of privilege and
recognizes the gentleman from Ten
neSSee.'
BY this time the interest in the
House was intense. Almost every seat
was occupied and the members listened
eagerly rs Richardson proceeded to
present his case. First he read eX-
tracts from the press of Copenhagen.
These We're followed by an affidavit
from Neils Gron concerning his deal
ings with certain people here, but they
We're not particularly sensational. The
read sensation came when he started
to read from what purported to be the
report of Walter Christmas concerning
the negotiations. He prefaced the
readings by the statement that it would
show a corrupt bargain" worthy of
the consideration of the House. 1.-The
report was too long to read in full" he
said Il will only read the luscious ex-
tracts which if true should bring the
blush of shame to the cheek of every
American" said he, for the statute
will disgrace this country in the eyes
of every foreign country in the world.
This is what this corrupt bargainer
says:
He then proceeded to read Mr..
Christmas account of his interview
~
in which he was said to have told the
minister of the necessity of the use of
money to bring the negotiations for the
sale of the islands to a successful ter
mination. He told of his acquaintance
with Abner Mckinley. President Nc
Kinley's brother. and his law partner,
Col. Brown. two gentlemen whom Mr..
Christmas described as having the en-
try to the White House and being
familiar with the ways of American
politics and what members of Congress
would have to be paid to accomplish
the results desired"
The report then described how Mr.
Christmas had enlisted not only Persi-
dent McKinley's brother and his part
ner, but two press associations. one
in New York and one in Washington
and a prominent banking house in New
York. in the sale of the islands.
The Danish foreign minister was re-
ported as disguised with the methods
which had to be pursued, but as final
ly giving his aCquiescence.
Richardson said that Christmas was
speaking of inviting members of Con-
gress to dine with him at the Hotel
Raleigh in this city. He then quoted
from the report as follows:
1t WIS llOt dlOHe tue members OF
Congress L had to invite. l had as my
special assistants, two men, C. W.
Knox, who is an intimate friend of
Senator and Richard p. Evans, law
yer in Washington, who represented
Mr. Gardner and his friends in the
House. These took an active part in
the personal agitation, since they talked
with a large number of members of
Congress and agitated for the purchase
of the islands. l had contracts with
them both, according to which they
and through them certain members of
Congress should have q share of the
commission If the sale took place; but
the two gentlemen's agitation expenses.
etc. bills in restaurants and hotels. I
had to pay. The two press associa-
tons. Abner Mckinley and Brown.
Evans. Knox and others, had promis-
ed that their contracts should be guar
anteed by the house of Seligman. To
this the banking house had agreed. as
1t should in one way or another have
10 be recognized by the Danish gov
eminent"
Richardson then proceeded: Now.
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