The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-28
aEP0RT0 OF MR. CHRISTMAS
Alleged That He Used Money
 to Secure Legislation.
AAnsr Mckinley Among Those Said te Have Been Bribed-Congress- nan Gardner Also Indirect
 ly Implicated by the
 Allsgations-


 WaatAnStea. Maroh N.-A genuine sem ssA1sa was caused fn the House today by the presentation by Mir. Richardson tTsnn.). the Democratic leader. of charges a1isstng the corrupt use of fund of $5oo.ooo in connection with the sale of the Danish West Indies.
 The charges were contained in an al- legged secret report of Captain Walter Christmas to the Danish Government, which declared that he had employed corrupt means to bring the negotiations for the sale of the islands to a consum- nation.
 The report, extracts from which Mir. Richardson read. mentioned the names of Abner Mckinley and his partner, Colonel Brown, c. W. Knox, who was described as an intimate friend of Senator Han na;', Richard P. Evans, who was said to repr ssent MT. Gardner and his friends in the House." and two press associa- tions, the names of which were not given, as having been interested in the matter.
 The charges against the members of Congress were not specific. Upon the basis of this report MT. Richardson asked the adoption of resolution for the appointment of an Investigating com mittee of seven.
 Great excitement attended the whole proceeding Mir Cannon ulls.) insisted that Mir. Richardson's presentation was fragmentary. and that the whole matter should go over until tomorrow. in order that members might read the documents presented, which included newspaper ex- tracts, affidavits, etc. In the Record. Christmas he declared, on his own state ment, was a briber and worse.
 But the House voted down the motion to postpone and the resolution was adopt ed. The Speaker Immediately appointed the neeessary committee.
 The army nprropriation was subse- auentiy passed without material amend- rnent.
 The Resolution.
 The resolutions presented by MT. Rich ardson are fin part as follows:
 Whereas, As one Walter Christmas. a subject of Denmark. who Is now and has been for several years a diplomatic agent and 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- chase of said island, has submitted se- cret and confidential report to his Gov ernment: and,
 To Bribe Congressman.
 'where1s, The said Christmas, agent and representative aforesaid, in his said report to his Government, declares and sets forth. among other things. that the Government of Denmark has con- tracted agreed and obligated itself to pay fn ha mas. 10 per centum or about $500.000. of the proceeds of the purchase money aris- ing out of the 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- clared and set forth by him in his secret report to his Government for the bribirg of the members of the United States Con- gress, including members of the House of Representatives and other prominent citizens of this country. and substituting 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"
 To Appoint Committee.
 The resolutions further cite that the secret report states that ,the $500, 900 shall immediately be paid to Christmas if the purchase money is paid by the United States, for the corrupt objects set forth. These resolutions recite that select committee of seven members of the House of Representatives be appointed by the Speaker 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 bribery of members of the United States Congress. or for the payment of any ,aluable consideration of any kind or character to them or to any of them to- vote or to assist in procuring the pro- posal adoption or ratification of said treaty for the sale of said islands.
 Richardson Gets Hot.
 The Republican leaders hurriedly con- suited during the reading of the resolu- ton, and when the reading had been con- cluded Mir. Payne, the majority leader, made the point of order that the matter presented was not privileged. The basis of the resolution. Mir. Payne said con temptuously, was based upon an alleged secret report to the Danish Government. Instantly Mir. Richardson met this with the statement that he had a copy of the secret report to the Danish Government. "On my honor as a member of this House" said he, "I have now my desk what purports to be. and what I be- lieve to be- that secret confidential re- port. Assuming the full responsibility of my words. I believe I have unmistakable evidence that this report was made to the Danish Government by a'quasi if not a real agent of that Government"
 When did the gentleman obtain access to the secret archives of the Danish Gov- ernment?' interposed Mir Payne sarcas-
  tically.
 Never Been to Denmark.
 "I have never been to Denmark" re- torted Mir Richardson, but the gentle man knows there are other ways of ob- taiuing authentic Government documents I have the evidence here. This is a grave charge. I do not bring 1t here for the purpose of making political capital. Here is charge that sJ0oO00 was paid for the express purpose of bribing the American Congressmen. yet the gentleman from New York seeks to interpose q technical objection"