The age-herald., 1902-04-02
Wants Denmark Treaty Held Up Until House InVesti- gatOn is Concluded REPUBLICANS BOLDLY
 AGAINST TAKING ACTION. Argue That as the Senators Had No Dealings With Gron or Christ
 mas, 1t Is Not Proper
 to Act.

Washington April 1.--In the executive session of the Senate today Senator Ba- con of Georgia offered a resolution re- questing the President to defer the issu- ing of his proclamation announcing the acquisition of the Danish West Indies under the terms of the treaty recently negotiated with Denmark until the pend ing investigation of the charges of bribery made in connection with that treaty should be concluded by the House of Representatives
 The resolution provoked a smart debate which was participated in by Senators Bacon and Money both Democratic mem bers of the committee on foreign rela- tions on one side, and by Senators Cullom, Lodge Hanna, Allison, Nelson and other Republicans on the other side In pre- senting the resolution Senator Bacon said he brought ito the attention of the Sem ate out of a sense of duty and of high regard for the position of that body be- fore the country.
 He outlined the charges made by M. Gron to the effect that MT. Christmas, another subject of Denmark had made a report to the effect that he was to re- ceive ten per cent of the consideration of S5,0O0000 to be paid by the United States to Denmark for the islands and that Christmas in his report had mentioned the names of several persons to whom he had paid money.
 Did Not Believe 1t True.
 MT. Bacon said he did not for a minute accept this report as true, but felt that inasmuch as the house had taken suffi- cient cognizance of 1t to order an in- vestigation the Senate should take some steps in view of it's recent action in ratifying lne treaty, looking to the sus- pension of final action by this country. He did not believe that the Senate could reconsider its action of ratification, but there would be no impropriety, he thought. in asking the President to hold the matter up temporarily, or finally in case 1t should be proved that the charges were not without foundation.
 Senator Bacon was interrupted fre- quently by Republican Senator's and when he took his seat there Were several of them on the floor ready to respond to his suggestion They agreed to a man that the Senate was not called on to take any aSllOn unuer the circumstances, say. ing that the charges had not been made public and were not known when the treaty was ratified that the President could be deperded upon to perform his duties without any hint from the Senate and that the House investigation would probably very soon develop that the charges were based upon nothing. Sena- tor Cullom, as chairman of the committee on foreign relations. said that the treaty had received careful consideration and that there was general agreement to the effect that the United States, from both a strategic and economic standpoint, had dcne well in acquiring the islands. Sena- tor Lodge, chairman of the committee on foreign relations, and other Republican nembsr took the same position
 Nelson Spoke With Feeling.
 Senator Nelson spoke with more feeling than most other Senators, saying he did not consider that the charge, originating as it had originated, with persons who were unknown to the Senate, was worthy of that body's serious consideration.
 Senator Hanna denied all knowledge of MT. Christmas or his mission.
 Senator Money spoke in the same vein as had Senator Bacon, saying that he saw ID objection to the passage of the resolutions, as they would only serve to delay she matter for a brief time in case the charges should prove to be without foundation, while if they were well found- ed. much good might be accomplished by tbe investigation. Senator Bacon closed the incident by saying he would not press the resolution in view of the expressions If so mary Senators, and in consequence of this announcNnent the Senate ad- tourned without taking action.