Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-28

".
usmbsrt q congress had been bribed.
members of oongrsss." he said. "did not
necessarily include members n the houge.
II msmbsrs Of the senate. that BODY must
b. the custodian u its own morals" He
thought that " the resolution was % BE-
proved. 81 should specifically include mem
bers Of the house.
Il am prepared 70 say" replied Nr. Rich
srdton. that these charges DO include
uembers Of the house and I will amend
the revolution 20 that extent"
YsiI at PostpoBement.
Mr.. Cannon moved that the consideration
pf the resolution be postponed until to-
morrow. The motion Was voted down
without a division.
The house unanimously adopted the Rich
ardaon resolution for an investigation Of
charges In connection with the purchase Of
the y Danish West Indies. and Speaker Hen
ssrson appointed Representatives Dslzell.
Hit. Cousins. Mccall. Richardson, Dins-
more and CoWherd a. the investigating
committee.
This IL a matter OF high privileges"
iaid the speaker. delivering his ruling.
Exactly what status q report 20 a foreign
government permits is not questioned, but
the gentleman from Tennessee, having
NAAANN 1Fgb ~ aphgA ~ "a A@AA!9 ~ 80
bOuse that the charges are true"
"ob, no. Hr. Speaker" Interrupted Mr..
Richardson. II DID not say the report was
true. I vouched for the fact that Ar.
Christmas had made them"
The gentleman having vouched for the
authenticity OF the charges" continued the
speaker. the chair holds that the matter
IL one Of privilege and recognizes the gem
tiemsn from Tennessee"
by this time the interest in the house
vas intense. Almost every seat was occu-
pied and the members listened eagerly as
Mr.. Richardson proceeded 20 present his
case. First he read extracts from the
press At CopenhaVen.
Followed by AmdavIts.
These we're followed by an afndavit from
EelIa Green concerning HIS dealings with
certain Deoule here.
But they we're not particularly sensa-
t'onal. Tho real sensation came when he
started 10 read from what purported TO be
the report Of Walter Christmas concerning
the negotiations. He ~prefaced the reading
by the statement that II would show a
corrupt bargain" worthy Of the consld-
Grafton Of the house.
The report was too long 10 read in full.
he said. II will only read the lucious ex-
tracts which, ~ true, should bring the
blush OF shame TO the cheek OF every
American" said he, "for the statements
will disgrace this country In the eyes OF
every foreign country in the world. This
il what this corrupt bargainer says"
lie then proceeded to read Mr.. Christmas'
account OF hb Interview with the prime
minister OF Denmark. in which he was said
10 have told the minister Of the necessity
for the use Of money to bring the negotia-
tions for the sale Of the Islands TO a sue
cessful termination. lie told OF his ac-
auaintance with Abner Mckinley, President
McKinley's brother. and his law partner,
Colonel Brown, two gentlemen whom Mr..
Christmas described as having the entry to
the White House and being familiar with
the ways Of American politics and what
members OF congrehs would have TO be paid
TO accomplish the results desired"
The report then described how Mr.. Christ
mas had enlisted not only President McKin-
ley's brother and his partner. 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 as
sistants. C. W. Knox. an intimate friend Of
Senator Hanna, and a Washington lawyer
named Richard 7. Evans. who represented
Mr.. Gardner and his friends in the house.
The Danish foreign minister was reported
as disguised with the methods which had
TO be pursued. but as finally giving his ac-
quiescence.
Means Adopted by Christmas.
Mr.. Richardson said that Christmas was
speaking Of inviting members Of congress
20 dine with him at the Hotel Raleigh In
Nhla cINy He Nba, at,aVaA Irnun 2ha ranarf
as follows:
1T was not alone the members OF con-
gress ! had to invite. / had as my special
assistants two men. c. w. Knox. who was
an intimate friend OF Senator Hanna, and
Richard p. Evans. a lawyer in Washing
ton. who represented Mr.. Gardner and his
friends In the house. These took an active
part In the personal agitation. since they
talked with a large number OF members OF
congress and agltated the purchase OF the
islands.
Il had contracts with them both, accord
ing TO which they and through them GER
tain members OF congress should have a
share OF the commission II the sale took
place. but the two gentiemen's agitation
expenses, ETC., bills in restaurants. hotels,
etc, had to pay. The two press associa-
lions. Abner Mckinley and Brown. Evans.
huoA anu others 1 nau promised tnht their
contracts should be guaranteed by the
house or Seligman. To this the banking
house had agreed. as II should In one way
or other have to be recognized by the DAN
iah government"
Could Add More Evidence.
Mr.. Richardson then proceeded:
Now. Mr.. Speaker. II could make more
OF these quotations. but | will not take the
time OF the house. II Is enough to show
what a report this creature has made TO
the Danish government. this man whom our
secretary OF state used as an aEent-I was
about TO say tool, but az an agent-to carry
q trusted diplomat from our legation In
London TO the court in Copenhagen and
there entertain this trusted agent and pro-
cure him admission and introduction to the
prime minister OF Denmark. which resulted
In putting on foot the negotiations leading
TO this treaty.
Now. ! am not here TO charge, and I
do not charge that any American congress
man or senator has been bribod In this
matter, but here IL the declaration Of this
agent OF the Danish government and of our
own government that he had contracts for
100000 OF the money which we supposed
we were paying into the treasury OF DEN
mark for these islands, to be used. as he
said for the corrupt purpose OF brIbing