The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-03-27

| ifically include members of the house
II am prepared to say replied Mr..
| Richardson. that these charges do in
clude N members of the house and will
amend the resolution to that extent
Speaker Henderson thereupon ruled
that the matter presented was privileg-
ed
This is a matter of high privilege -
said the speaker, delivering his ruling
Exactly what status a report to a
foreign government would have here
man from Tennessee having stated
upon his honor as a member of the
house that the charges are true
''Oh, no, Mr.. Speaker" interrupted
charges were true 1 vouched for the
fact that Mr.. Christmas had made
them
THE gentleman having vouched for
the authenticity of the charges con-
tinued 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 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 SenSa tional
The real sensation came when he
started to read from what purported to
be the report of Walter Christmas con-
cerning the negotiations. He prefaced
the reading by the statement that it
would show a corrupt bargain worthy
of the consideration of the house" The
report was too long to read in full
he said. I viii only read the luscious
extracts, which if true, should bring the
blush of shame to the cheek of every
American, said he, for the status will
disgrace this country in the eyes of
IVORY ion ,frVr in, hO
This is what this corrupt bargainer
says
He then proceeded to read Mr. Christ
mas account of his interview with the
prime minister of Denmark in which he
was said to have told the minister of
the necessity for the use of money to
bring the negotiations for the sale of
the islands to a successful terminal ton
He told of his acquaintance with Abner
Mckinley, President McKinley's brother
and his law partner, Col. Brown, two
gentlemen who Mr.. Christmas described
as having the entry 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 Presi-
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.
In the report Mr.. Christmas said
among other things that he had as his
special assistants &c. w. Knox, an in
innate friend of Senator Hanna and
Washington lawyer named Richard p.
Evans, who represented Mr.. Gardner
and his friends in the house"
The Danish foreign minister was re-
ported as disgusted with the methods
which had to be pursued, but as finally
giving his acquiscence.
MI Richardson said he did not charge
that any senator or member of congress
had been bribed. He had simply pre-
sented the allegations of this agent that
money had to be used for bribing con-
gressmen. The charges had been pub
lished in this country and abroad. he
said, with the allegation that conditions
in the United States were simply hor-
rihle" He therefore proposed this in
quiry so that each member could dis
claim the charges so far as it affects
him Mr. Richardson said there was
one objectionable feature to the affair
in that the state department must have
known of these charges and had not
brought them to the attention of the
senate prior to the ratification of the
Danish treaty.
Mr.. Cannon moved that the consider
alton of the resolution be postponed un-
til tomorrow. The motion was voted
down without division.
The house unanimously adopted the
and Speaker Henderson ap-
pointed Representatives Dalzell, Hit, |
Cousins, Mccall, Richardson, Dinsmore,
and Cowherd as the investigating COM |
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