Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1902-05-22
NJ. {. CONFERENCE.
THE WAR CLAIM MATTER
CONTINUES AN INTENSE
LY INTERESTING FEA-
TURE.
Report OF I olnmittee

DCAA1o AOAeo9 10y RiO
sentation of the majority and minor
ity reports of the committee on pub
fishing house interests with regard
! to the war claim was the intensely
interesting feature of today's session
of the Methodist Episcopal confer
. ence.
The majority report was confined
to a brief summary of the contentious
urged by that faction. The resolution
condemns any departure of the at
torney of book committee from the
explicit instructions given to him by
the book commsttee in regard to the
collection of the claim against the
government, from which instructions
it is claimed he did depart according
to his own statements made to the
Senate committee appointed to in
vestigate these matters.
Continuing, the report disapproves
any language used by the book
agents in their kilograms to Senators
Basco and Bate which may have
misled them as to the amount of the
fee the attorney was to receive for
his services in collecting the claim.
The proposition of the bishops to
'stake proper steps to have the entire
amount returned to the government
if the Senate by affirmative action
declares that the passage of the bill
was due to misleading Statements
is approved. In view of the fact that
the Senate after receiving this propo-
sition discouraged the return of the
money, and furthermore since the
Senate had declared that the Church
is absolutely blameless in the whole
transaction, it is recommended that
this be considered a final settlement
of the question. The report is signed
by James R. Robertsonas chairman.
MINORITY REPORT.
The minority report took an hour
in reading and condemns the actions
of Colonel Stahlman, the attorney,
in most vigorous language. Directly
and by inference the book agentsand
their attorneys are severely dealt
with.
The resolutions appended are as
follows:
eve believe that the retention Of
this money is a disturbing factor in
the peace andharmony of the church
at present and may disquiet the
membership in the future.
Therefore, that there may be
peace and harmony in the borders of
! our beloved church,; and that it may
do no act that calls in question it's
good name, we recommend the adop
ton of the following resolution:
"That the entire sum collected,
viz: S288, 900, be returned to the
United States government. That a
committee of nine members of the
general conference be named who
shall report to hisconference as soon
as possible a plan carrying into exc
cution the above resolution.
"That we heartily endorse the
letter written by our bishops to the
Senate of the United States. Tt show
ed their jealous care of the good
name of the church and indicated a
wise solution of the NATTER
The resolutions are signed by
James Cannon, Jr., Of Virginia, as
chairman.
Both reports were ordered printed,
after much discussion. The wal
claim matter will come before the
!, conference next Tuesday at 1Oo'clock
!, and be continued until the matter is
settled.
Il The discussion over the printing
: of the minority report on the wal
claim caused g stormy scene in the
conference. The report is said to con
fict with the libel laws Of Texasan6
the editor of the official organ of thu
Church, while not declining, hest
tated to publish it. This caused grea.
excitement among the minority fac
ton and the debate over the subjec
was heated.
A NEW FEATURE.
Nashville, Tenn, May IA new
feature was added here today to thu
Methodist war claim controvers,