The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-04-01

fact that the government Of Denmark
has contracted, agreed and obligated
itself to a and turn over to him, the
said Christmas. 10 per centum, or about
money arising from the sale of said is
lands to the United States when tbs
same shall have been paid by the Unit
ed States to Denmark, for the express
purpose. as has been declared and set
forth by him in his said secret report &c
his government. for the bribing of mem
bers Of the United States congress-. in
Guiding members OF the house OF repre-
sentatives and other prominent citizens
OF his country. and for substituting
American TO the end that
the pending treaty between the United
States and Denmark for the sale of the
said islands by the latter TO the former
government may be contaminated"
The resolutions further recite that
said secret report states that the $780,
900 shall be Immediately paid to Chris
mas. IL the purchase none is paid b.
the United States for the corrupt OBJ
jects set forth. The tendency OF the
ratification OF the treaty is also set
forth.
In conclusion the resolutions recite
that a select committee of seven MEM
bers of the house of representatives he
appointed by the speaker to examine
into the charges and the alleged circum-
stances. contracts, etc. which in any
nave for their object the brih-
cry of or the attempted bribery of
members of the United States congress
or of the payment of any valuable con-
sideration Of any kind or character to
them or to any Of them, to vote for or
to assist in procuring, the proposal,
adoption or ratification of the said
| treaty of sale of the said Islands,"
The republican leaders hurriedly ON
4 al Irrrfno +hn -noIfn0 - thn rnrn
lutions and when the reading had been
concluded Mr.. Payne, the majority
leader. Immediately made the point of
order that the matter presented was
not privileged. The resolution, Mr..
Payne said. contemptuously. was bas-
ed upon an alleged secret report to the
Danish Government.
Instantly Mr.. Richardson met this
with the statement that he had a copy
of the secret report to the Danish gov
eminent. ION my honor as a member
of this house." said he, II have now
on my desk purports to be and
what I believe is hat secret confiden-
tial report. Assuming the full respon-
sibility of my words / believe / have un-
mistakable evidence that this report
was made to the Danish government
by a quasi, if not real, agent of that
government"
when did the gentlemen obtain ac-
cess to the secret archives of the Danish
government" 1nterpoSed MIR. Payne
Sarcastically.
81 have never been to Denmark" re-
torted Mr.. Richardson. but the gentle
man knows there are other ways of OBJ
tanning authentic government docu-
ments. / have the evidence here. This
is a grave charge. I do not bring it here
for the purpose of making political cap
ital. Here is a charge that $500. 900 was
4 Maid for the aYnrpSC nIlrnnSa nf hrihinp
the American congress, yet the gentle
man from New York seeks to interpose
a technical objection"
Speaker Henderson at this point call
ed attention to the fact that the lam
guage of the resolution charged that
had been bribed. Members of con-
gress." he said. did not necessarily in
clude m OF the house." He
thought if the resolution was to be
| privileged it should specifically include
members of the house.
II am prepared to say" replied Mr.,
Richardson. that these charges do in
clude members of the house and will
amend the resolution to that extent"
Speaker Henderson thereupon ruled
that the matter presented was priv
legged.
By his time the interest in the house
was intense. Almost every seat was
4 NSuDLN Cllu tIlC DNSll 81
erly as Mr.. Richardson proceeded to
present his case. First. he read eX-
tracts from the press at Copenhagen.
These were followed by an affidavit
from Neils Gron concerning his deal
ings with certain people here, but they
were not particularly sensational. The
real sensation came when he started &c
read from what ~purported to be the
report of Walter Christmas concerning
the negotiations. He prefaced the read
ing bv the statement that it would show
a cor! apt bargain" worthy of the con-
siderati0n of the house.
The report was too long to read in
full. he said. II will only read the
luscious extra = which if true should
bring the blush of shame to the cheek
of every American" said he, for the
statement will disgrace this country in
the eyes of every foreign country in the
world. This is what the corrupt bar
gamer says" He then proceeded to read
Mr.. Christmas account of hkS interview
with the prime minister of Denmark
in which he was said to have told the
minister of the necessity for the use I
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,
Colonel Brown, two gentlemen whom
Mr.. Christmas described as having the
entry to the White house and being ia
miliar with the ways Of American poll
tics and what members OF congress
would have to be paid to accomplish the
results desired"
The report then described how Mr..
Christmas a enlisted. not only Pres
ident McKinley's brother and his part
ner, but two press associations, one 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 finally
giving his acQuiescence.
Mr.. Richardson said that Christmas
was speaking of inviting members of
congress to dine with him at the Hotel
Raleigh in this city. He then quoted
from the report as follows:
1T was not alone the memhers Of
congress 1 had to invite. 1 had as my
special assistants two men. c. w. Knox,
who was al infinite friend of Senator
Hanna n Richard p. Evans. a law
yer in Washington who represented Mr..
Gardner and his friends in the house.
These took an active part in the per-