New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-02
SENATE IGNORES CHARGES.
DECLINES TO ASK THAT THE DANISH
TREATY BE HELD Up.
SENATOR RACoN,s RESOLUTION PRECIPI
TATEs a LIVELY DEBATE-No AZ
TON TAKEN on IT

TON TAKEN ON IL
Washington April lin the executive session
Of the Senate to-day Mr.. Bacon OF georgia
offered a resolution requesting the FresloeH' -
defer issuing his proclamation announcllis ule
acquisition Of the Danish West lnoles uiuef 'iie
terms OF the treaty recently neeot'a'e" WIN
Denmark until the pending investigation OF the
charges Of bribery made in connection WIN liia'
treaty should be finished by the House OF REPRE-
sentatlves
The resolution provoked lively debate IN
which Senators Bacon and Money, both Demo-
cratic members Of the Committee on Foreign
Relations on the one side, and Senators tuloh'
Lodge Hanna Allison. Nelson and other hePuo-
licans on the other, took part In preSeii'iilS
the resolution Senator Bacon said that ne
brouebt II 10 the attention OF the Senate out of
q sense Of duty and Of high regard for the posi-
ZION Of that body before the country He out
lined the charges made by Niels Gron, to the
effect that Captain Christmas. another subject
Of Denmark had made report to the effect
that he was TO receive 10 per cent Of the Sa,ob-
600 TO f.e paid 10y the United States to Denmark
for the islands. and that Christmas in his report
had mentioned the names of several persons 10
whom he had paid money. Mr.. Bacon said that
he did not for q moment accept this report as
true hut fel- that the House had ordered an
investigation the Senate should take some step.
treaty. looking to the suspension or final action
nv this country He did believe that the
Senate could reconsider its action in ratffying
the treaty. but there would be no Improperly.
he thought. in asking the President 10 hold the
matter w temporarily. or finally in case IL
should be proved that the charges were not
without foundation. He said that his only
motive was to put the Senate right before the
country. and ne commented en- the readiness OF
The public TO assume the correctness OF All
charges involving pubic men.
REPUBLICANS ANSWER MR.. BACON.
Senator F2acon WAS frequently interrupted by
Republican Senators. and when he took his seat
several or them were on the floor ready TO re
ply TO him. They agreed TO a man that the
Senate was not called on to take any action
under the circumstances, saying that the
charges had not been made public, and were
not known when the treaty was ratified; that
the President could be depended upon to per
form his duties without any hint from the Sen
ate and that the House investigation prooaoly
,,rould soon show that the charges were based
on nothing. They expressed regret that any
charges had been made. but said they saw no
reason why the sale Of the islands should NOT
proceed. .,o c,,;+
tee on Foreign Relations, said that the treaty
had received careful consideration, ana there
3-as a general agreement that the United States.
from both strategic ana an eConolLiC pot4At Va
view had done well in acquiring the islahus-
Senator Lodge, also member OF the COMMIT
tee on Foreign Relations, and other Republlcah
members took the same position. Senator Mel
son spoke with more feeling than most other
Senator'S saying that he did not consider the
charge originating as II had with persons VINO
were unknown to the Senate, worthy OF lhal
bod1ss serious consideration. In his opinion, 10
take anV such step contemplated py the
resolution under the circumstances would ne an
insult TO the government OF Denmark he ola
not for q moment believe that the DANISH al
ministration had made any contract TO pay any
commission for the sale Of the ISLANDS. nor that
any money had been paid to officials or the
press as had been charged in the negotiations
with the United States.
Senator Hanna denied all knowledge OF MI
Christmas or his mission, and expressed his
opinion that the transaction, so far as the
United States Government was concerned, had
been perfectly clean.
Senator Money spoke in the same vein as had
Senator Bacon, saying that he saw no obJecuon
TO the passage OF the resolution, as II would
only serve 10 delay the matter for brlef time
in case the charges should prove 10 be ~1thout
foundation while If they We're well founded
much good might be accomplished by delay.
Senator Bacon closed the incident by saying
that he would not press the resolution, In view
Of the expressions of so many senators, ana IN
consequence Of this announcement the senate
adjourned without taking action