The age-herald., 1902-03-28
INVESTIGATION WILL BE
 STARTED IMMEDIATELY
Democratic Leader Causes Sensation In Mouse, and After Hot Speech Passes Resolution Over Re
 publican Objection.

EN House today by the presentation by Mr. Richardson of Tennessee, the Democratic leader, of charges alleging the corrupt use of fund of s5oOOOO in con- nectim with the sale of the Danish West Indies The charges were contained in an alleged secret report of Capt. Waiter Christmas to the Danish government. which declared that he had employed cor rupt means to bring the negotiations for the sale of the islands to consumma- ton
 The report, extracts from which MT. Richardson read mentioned the names Of Abner Mckinley and his partner, Colonel Brown, c ". Knox, who was described as "an Intimate friend of Senator Hanna" Richard P. Evans, who was said to rep resent INT. Gardner and his friends in the House. and two press associations, the names of which were not given, as haring been interested in the matter. The charges aginst members of Congress were not specific Upon the basis of this report. NIS- Richardson asked the adoption of resolution for the appointment of an in vestigating committee of seven Great ex- citement attended the whole proceeding.
 MT. Cannon, Illinois. insisted that Mir. Richardson's presentation was fragmen- taIy, and that the whole matter should go over until tomorrow in order that mem bers might read the documents presented. which include newspaper extracts, af- fidaNts, etc., in the record. Christmas. he declared, on his own statement. was brfber and worse. But the House voted + down the, motion to postpone and the res olution was adopted
 The speaker immediately appointed the necessary committee
 The appropriation bin was subsequently, passed without material amendment
 MT. Richardson's Resolution.
 The resolutions presented by MT. Rich ardson are in part as follows:
 ''Whereas one Walter Christmas, subject of Denmark. who is now and has been for several years diplomatic agent snd representative of Denmark, author ized and empowered to negotiate with the government of the United States for the sale of the Danish West India islands to the United States, and who was also the agent for the United States for the pur- chsse of eaid islands, has submitted a se- cret and confidential report to his own government; and
 .sWhsreas The said Christmas, agent and Representative as aforesaid, In his said report to his government, declares and sets forth. among other things, that the government of Denmark has contract ed, agreed and obligated itself to pay and turn over to him the said Christmas 10 aJ~o eT0N <<R 41.o ceeds of the purchase money arising out of the said islands to the United States. when the same shall have been paid by the United States to Denmark for the ex- press purpose has been declared and set forth by him in his secret report to his government for the bribing of the mem- bers of the United States Congress, in- cluding members of the House of Rep resenta tiye5 and other prominent citi- zens of this country and subsidizing newspapers to the end that the pending treaty between the United States and Denmark for the sale of the islands of the former to the latter may be consum- mated"
 $5oC,ooo Must Be Paid.
 The resolutions further cite that the secret report states that the $5OOOOO shall immediately be paid to Christmas if the purchase money is paid by the United States for the corrupt objects set forth.
 
 nittee of seven members of the House of Representa- b appointed by the 6epaker to examine into the charges and alleged circumstances contracts, etc., which in any manner have for their ob- feet the bribery of or the attempted bribc- ry of members of the United States Con- gress or for the payment of any valuable consideration of any kind character to them or to any of them to vote, or to as- sist in procuring the proposal, adoption or ratification of said treaty for the sale of said islands
 The Republican leaders hurriedly con suited during the reading of the resolu- tion. and when the reading had been con cluded MT. Payne. the majority leader made the point of order that the matter presented was not privileged. The basis of the resolution, Mr. Payne said con- temptuousiy, was based upon an alleged secret report to the Danish government
 Had the Secret Report.
 Instantly MT. Richardson met this with the statement that he had a copy of the secret report to the Danish government "On my honor as member of this House." said he. q have now on my desk what purports to be and what be- Neye to be that secret confidential re- port Assuming the full responsibility of my words, believe I have unmist akable evidence that this report was made to the Danish government by quasi 1T not q real agent of that government"
 .rWhen did the gentleman obtain access to the secret archives of the Danish gov ernment?" interposed MT. Payne sarcas- ticalfS.
 q have never been to Denmark" re- torted MT Richardson, but the gentle man knows there are other ways of ob- taining authentic government documents. I have the evidence here. This is a grave cbarpe do not bring it here for the purpose of making political capital Here is charge that $5Oo.oOo was paid for the express purpose of bribing American Congressmen, yet the gentleman from
 lcpntlnued on Third Paae.l