Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-03-27

Ing Of the session OF the house today
Mr.. Richardson Of Tennessee the mi
nority leader, offered as matter Of
privilege Il resolution for the app0int-
ment Of committee Of seven to inyesti-
gate the charges said to have been
made by Walter Christmas u
semi official representative Of Denmark,
who made report TO his government
In which it was made to appear that he
was to receive 100000 Of the purchase
money for the sale Of the Danish West
Indies for briblng newspapers and
members Of Congress- The resolution
was very long and detailed, and us
reading caused great excitement ON
both sides Of the house.
THE RESOLUTIONS,
The resolutions presented by Mr..
Richardson are In part as follows;
whereas. one Walter Christmas, a
subject OF Denmark, who Is now ana
who has been for several years dlplO-
matte agent and representative OF the
government OF Denmark, authorized
and empowered TO negotiate with the
government of the United states for
the sale Of the Danish West Indian ISL
ands To the United states and who was
also the agent of the United states for
the purchase Of said Islands has sub
mltted secret and confidential re-
port to his own government, and
Ia
and representative. as aforesaid IN his
said report TO his government. de-
cIares and sets forth among other
things the fact that the government Of
Denmark has contracted, agreed and
obligated itself to pay and turn over
to him the said Christmas 10 per c5n.
tum. or about S50O00 of the proceeds
of the purchase money arising from
the sale OF said islands 10 the United
States when the same shall have been
paid by the United States to Denmark
for the express purpose, as has been
declared and set forth by him IN his
said secret report TO his government,
for the bribing OF members OF the
United States Congress, including
members Of the house OF representa-
tiyes and other prominent citizens Of
this country and for substituting Amer
lean newspapers, "a the end that the
pending treaty between the United
States and Denmark for the sale OF the
islands by the latter TO the former gov
eminent may be contaminated,
The resolutions further reclte that
said secret report states that the 5000
900 shall be Immediately paid TO Christ.
mas, If the purchase money is paid by
the United states. for the corrupt OBJ
iects set forth The tendency OF the
ratification of the treaty Is also set
forth In conclusion the resolutions
reclte that a select committee Of seven
members Of the house Of representa-
lives DE appointed by the speaker to
examine into the charges ana the al
legged circumstances, contracts. etc,
(which In any manner have for their
object the bribery Of or the attempted
bribery Of members OF the United
States Congress or of the payment Of
any valuable consideration of any kind
or character 10 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 ISL
ands."
A HURRIED CONSULTATION,
The Republican leaders hurriedly con-
suited during the reading OF the resolu-
ton, 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 basis OF the resolu-
ton, Mr.. Payne said, CONTEMPORARY
was based upon an alleged secret report
to the Danish government. Mr.. Rich
ardson met this with the statement that
he had a copy Of the secret report to
the Danish government,
RICHARDSON ON HIS HONOR.
ION my honor, as member Of this |
house" said he. II have now In my |
desk what purports TO be and what | |
believe is that secret confidential re- |
port. Assuming the full responsibility |
of my words. | believe | have unmis- |
taxable evidence that this report Is |
made to the Danish government by a |
quasi II not a real agent OF that gov.
ernment.o u 900
When did the gentleman obtain &C. |
cess to the secret archives of the Dan |
ish goyernment2", interposed Mr. Payne |
sarcastlcally
~ never have been In Denmark" re-
tOrted Mi Richardson, but the gen |
tleman knows there are other ways OF |
obtaining authentic government docu-
ments. have the evidence here. This
is grave charge. u do not bring Il |
here for the purpose Of making politi-
cal capital, Here isa charge that $500
900 was paid for the express. purpose OF
bribing the American Congress. yet the
gentleman from New York seeks to In.
terpose a technical objection"
Speaker Henderson at this point |
called attention TO the fact that the
language of the resolution charged that
and members OF Congress