Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-03-27
WILL Be INVESTIGATED
Charges of Bribery Brought
Before the House.
IN A SECRET REPORT
NEGoTIATIoNS FOR DANISH
WEST INDIES.
Statements of Christmas Read by Mr..
Richardson - Special Com
mittee Appointed.
IN A SECRET REPORT

sentatives today authorized the appoint
ment OF a special committee to investigate
charges Of the alleged corrupt use of a
fund of $500. 600 in connection with the sale
of the Danish West Indies to the United
States.
The committee appointed by the Speaker
consists of Messrs. DaIzell, Hit. Cousins,
Mccall. Richardson, Dinsmore and Cow
herd.
The case was brought up In the House
today by Mr.. Richardson of Tennessee, the
democratic floor leader, who offered a reso-
luton setting forth the allegations upon
which the charge was founded. Mr.. Rich
ardson read the allegations at length and
demanded an investigation to clear up the
charge
Mr.. Cannon Of Illinois attempted to have
the case go over until tomorrow, in order
that the House could judge of the serious
ness of the charge. The democrats on the
floor objected to postponement, however,
and Mr.. Cannon yielded so the resolution,
after being amended so as to insert the
words lis is alleged" after every where
as was adopted unanimously.
The Resolution.
The resolution follows:
Whereas it Is alleged that one Walter
Christmas, a subject of Denmark, who is
now and who has been for several years
an alleged diplomatic agent and representa-
tive of the government of Denmark au-
thorized and empowered to negotiate with
the government of the United States for
the sale of the Danish West Indian Islands
to the Urited States and who was also the
agent of the United States for the purchase
of said islands, has submitted a secret and
confidential report to his own government,
and
Whereas the said Christmas, agent and
representative aforesaid, in his said al
legged report to his said government de-
clares 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 eentum, or about $500, coo.
Of the proceeds Of the purchase money aris-
ing from the sale of said Islands to the
United States, when the same shall have
been paid by the United States to Denmark
for the express purpose. as has been de-
cA-ed and set forth by him in his said al
legged secret report to his government for
the bribing of members of the United States
Congress. including members of the House
Of Representatives and other prominent cit
fZens Of this country and for subsidizing
American newspapers or press associations,
to the end that the pending treaty between
the United States and Denmark for the sale
of the islands by the latter to the former
government may be consumma ted; and,
Whereas it is alleged that 1t Is also de-
claFed and expressly set forth in said al
legad secret report, that If said purchase
money shall be paid to Denmark by the
United States. the said sum of about five
hundred thousand dollars thereof will be
trt1rr 1sadi faIN rlafl said 6riy,
agent and representative Of the aforesaid
by his government In pursuance of the
agreement and contract already referred,
for the corrupt objects and purposes set
forth. and
Whereas. the treaty between the two
said governments for the sale of the West
Indian Islands by Denmark to the United
States is now pending, and its ratification
has not been finally consummated by the
two said governments. and the purchase
price for the islands has not been appro-
priated by Congress. therefore
BE 1t resolved by the House Of Repre-
sentatives that a select committee of seven
members Of the House of Representatives
be appointed by the Speaker. whose duty 1t
shall be to examine into the truth of all
allegations and charges made by the said
Walter Christmas. agent and representa-
f1oential report to the Danish government as
to the methods pursued and to be pursued
b. him and any of his assistants in the
United States, and the contracts made or
proposed TO be made by him or other per-
sons acting in any way for him, or as assist
ants to him for the purpose Of or which in
any manner had for their object the bribery
of or the attempted bribery Of members of
the United States Congress, or Of the pay
ment of any valuable consideration of any
kind or character to them or to any of
them tc vote for or to assist in procuring the
proposal, adoption or ratification of the
said treaty of sale of the said islands as
aforesaid. Said committee shall have power
TO subpoena and examine witnesses under
oath, and to send for records, papers and
all other evidence that may be necessary
for full and complete investigation of the
subjects herein mentioned: and it shall be
authorized to sit during the sessions of the
House. and to have such printing and bind
Ing done as shall be necessary. The COM
mittee shall make a full report to the
House OF the result OF its investigation at
as early date as Is practicable. The ex-
penses of the investigation shall be paid out
OF the contingent fund of the House of
Representatives"
Accompanying Affidavit
Accompanying the resolution was the
following affidavit:
District of Columbia
Washington City.
Personally appeared before me, the I'M
dersigned, Nell s. Gron, and made oath in
due form of law that he Is a native Of Den
mark, but citizen of the United
States; that he was in Copenhagen, Den
mark. from the eth day of December 1901,
TO the 18th day OF February. 1902. That he
arrived In the United States. returning from
Denmark, on the Goth day of February. 1902
and came at once to Washington city; that
he brought with him a copy of the special
and confidential report made by Walter
Christmas to the Danish government
of date October 1. 1900. less one
page thereof. which is missing from
the report; that large part
OF said report has been published in many
Of the newspapers of Denmark. and that
he. himself. translated said report into
English and delivered a copy thereof to