The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1902-03-27
RICHARDSON OF TENNESSEE
SPRINGS A SURPRISE IN THE
HOUSE THIS MORNING.
BRIBERY IS OPENLY ALLEGED
Democratic Leader Claims to Have
Copy Of Secret Report Made by Ia
Danish Representative to His Home
Government in Which It Appears
That There Was Money Used to
Pass the Bill.
(Ry Associated Press.l

Washington, March 27.--At the open
Ing of the session of the house today Mr..
Richardson of Tennessee, the minority
leader offered, as a matter of privilege,
resolution for the appointment of u
committee of five to investigate the
charges said to have been made by
Walter Christmas, a semi official repre-
sentative of the Danish government, who
made a report to his government in
which 1t was made to appear that he
was to receive 100000 of the purchase
money for the sale OF the Danish West
Indies, for bribing newspapers and MEM
bers of congress.
The resolution was very long and de-
tailed, and It's reading caused great ex-
citemont on both sides Of the house.
Resolution in Part.
The resolutions presented by Mr. Rich
ardson are in part as follows:
Whereas, One Walter Christmas,
subject of Denmark, who Is now and
who has been for several years a dipo-
matte agent and representative of the
government of Denmark authorized and
empowered to negotiate with the gov
ernment Of the United States for the
sale Of the Danish West Indian islands
TO the United States, and who was also
the agent of the United States for the
purchase of said islands, has submitted
q secret and confidential report to his
own government; and,
Whereas. The said Christmas, agent
and representative as aforesaid, in his
said report to his government, declares
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 percentum. or about
S600,OO0, of the proceeds of the purchase
money arising 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 pur
pose, 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 representatives
and other prominent citizens of this
country, and for subsidizing American
newspapers, to the end that the pending
treaty between the United States and
Denmark for the sale Of the islands by
the latter government to the former may
be consummated."
Will Investigate.
lie IeSoiutioHS Feclte lHdl SaIQ
secret report states that the $500, 900 shall
be Immediately paid to Christmas IL the
purchase money is paid by the United
States for the corrupt objects set forth.
The tendency of the ratification of the
treaty Is also set forth.
In conclusion, the resolutions also re-
cite that select committee OF seven
members Of the house of representa-
tives be appointed by the speaker to ex-
anime into the charges and the alleged
circumstances, contracts, etc, (which,
in any manner, have for their object the
bribery of or the attempted bribery or
members of the United States congress
or of the payment of any valuable con-
Rlderation Of any kind or character 10
them or to any of them to vote for or
to assist In procuring the proposal, adop-
tion or ratification Of the said treaty OF
sale of the said islands,"
Leaders Consult.
The republican leaders hurredly con-
suited during the reading of the resolu-
ton and, when the reading had been con-
cluded Mr.. Payne, the majority leader,
Immediately made the point of order
that the matter presented was not priv
ileged The basis of the resolution, Mr..
Payne said, contemptuously was based
upon an alleged secret report to the
Danish government. Mr. Richardson
met this statement that he had copy
OF the secret report to the Danish gov
eminent.
"On my honor, as member of this
house." said he, II have now in my desk
what purports to be and what I believe
is that secret confidential report. AS
cunning the full responsibility of my
words, I believe I have unmistakable
evidence that this report is made to the
Danish government by quasi, If not
real, agent of that government"
When did the gentleman obtain ac-
ntss to the secret archives of the Danish
government" nterposed Mr.. Payne sar-
castically.