The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-03-28
PROBE BRIBERY CHARGES
Committee is Appointed by
Speaker Henderson.
EXCITEMENT IN THE HOUSE.
Grave offenscs Alleged Against Mem.
bers Of Congress and Press in Con-
nection With Sale Of Danish West
Indies-lnvolves Agent of Denmark.

bers Of Congress and Press in Con-
nection With Sale Of Danish West
Indies-lnvolves Agent of Denmark.
Washington, March 28.-A genuine
sensation was caused in the house
yesterday by the presentation by Mr..
Richardson Of Tennessee, the Demo-
cratic leader, of charges alleging the
corrupt use of fund Of $5O0,0O0 in
connection with the sale of the Danish
West Indies. The charges were con.
tained in an alleged secret report of
Captain Walter Christmas to the Dan
ish government who alleged that he
had employed corrupt means 20 bring
about the negotiations for the sale of
the islands. The reports from which
Mr.. Richardson read mentioned the
names of Abner Mckinley and his
partner, Colonel Brown, G. w. Knox,
who was described as IAN intimate
friend of Senator Hanna" Richard P.
Evans, who was said to represent "Mr.
Gardner and his friends in the house."
and two press associations, the names
of which were not given, as having
The charges against members Of
congress were not specific. Upon the
basis of this report, Mr.. Richardson
asked the adoption of resolution for
the appointment of an investigating
committee of seven. The speaker
ruled that the matter was privileged
after Mr.. Richardson had amended
his resolution SO as to specifically in
clude members of the house. Great
excitement attended the whole pro-
ceeding. Mr. Cannon Of Illinois insist
ed that Mr.. Richardson's presentation
was fragmentary and that the whole
matter should go over until members
might read the documents presented,
which included newspaper extracts,
affidavitS, etc, in the records. Christ
mas he declared, on his own state.
ment was a briber. and worse, but the
house voted down the motion to post
pone and the resolution. after being
amended in minor particulars, was
adopted. The speaker appointed the
following committee to make the in.
vestigation: Dalzell (Rep, Pa.), Hit
(Rep., Ills.), Cousins (Rep., Ia.), Nc
Call (Rep., Mass.), Richardson (Dem.
Tenn.), Dinsmore (Dem., Ark.) and
Cowherd Dem. MOI.
The Resolutions.
The resolution presented by Mr.
Richardson is in part as follows:
Whereas, one Walter Christmas, 8
subject of Denmark, who is now, and
who has been for several years, a
diplomatic agent of Denmark, author
lied and empowered to negotiate the
sale of the Danish West Indian isl
and to the United States, and who was
also the agent of the United States
for the purchase Of said islands, has
submitted secret and confidential re
port to his own government, and,
'.Whereas, the said Christmas, agen
and representative as aforesaid, IL
his report to his government, de
clares and sets forth among othe
things the fact that the government
of Denmark has contracted, agreed
and obligated itself to pay and turl
over to him, the said Christmas, II
per centum, or about $500,000 of tn,
proceeds of the purchase money aris
lAS llOlI tHC StilS VI odlu lSlduuS u
the United States when the same shal
have been paid by the United State
to Denmark, for the express purpos
as has been declared and set fortl
by him in his said secret report to hi
government, for the bribing of men
bers of the United States congress, ir
cluding members Of the house of rel
resentatives and other prominent cit
zens of this country, and SO subsidiz
ing American legislators to the en-
that the pending treaty between tn
United States and Denmark for tn
sale Of the islands by the latter t
the former government may be COZ
summated."
The army appropriation bill was sui
sequently passed without materis
amendment and rule was adopted t
make the bill to retire officers of tn
revenue cutter service continuing o.
der until disposed of, the order not t
interfere with appropriation or rev,
nue. bills or conference reports.
SENATE DISCUSSES oLEo BILL