Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-02
DISCUSSED IN SENATE
SECRET REPORT OF CAPTAIN
WALTER CHRISTMAS.
Incredulity Regarding Charges Of
Bribery in Connection With Sale
of Danish West Indies.

The charges Of bribery in connection with
the acquisition Of the Danish West Indies
were the subject for discussion In the Sem
ate in executive session yesterday after
noon In connection with the consideration
of resolution offered by Mr.. Bacon of
Georgia requesting the President to defer
the issuing Of his proclamation announcing
the acquisition of the Danish West Indies
under the terms OF the treaty recently
negotiated with Denmark until the pending
investigation Of the charges of bribery
made in connection with that treaty should
be concluded by the House of Representa-
tives.
A Lively Debate.
The resolution provoked a lively debate
which was participated ii by Senators Ba-
con and Money. both democratic members
Of the committee on foreign relations, on
the one side, and by Senators Cullom
Lodge, Hanna, Allison, Nelson and other
republicans. on the other side. In present
ing the resolution Senator Bacon said that
he brought 1t to the attention of the Senate
out of sense Of duty, and Of high regard
for the position Of that body before the
country. He outlined the charges made by
M. Gron, to the effect that NJ. Christmas
another subject of Denmark, had made
report to the effect that he was to receive
10 per cent of the consideration of So, 600 900
to be paid by the United States to Denmark
for the islands, and that Christmas, in his
report, had mentioned the names Of sew
eral persons to whom he had paid money.
Mr.. Bacon said that he did not for minute
accept this report as true, but felt that In
asmuch as the House had taken sufficient
cognizance of it to order an investigation
the Senate should take some step, in view
of its recent action in ratifyins the treaty
looking to the suspension of final action by
this country. He did not believe that the
Senate could reconsider it's action of ratif1-
cation, but there would be no improperly.
he thought, in asking the President to hold
the matter up temporarily. finally. in
case it should be proved that the charges
were not without foundation. He said that
his only motive was to put the Senate right
before the country, and in this connection
he commented upon the readiness Of the
public to assume the correctness Of all
charges involving public men.
Views Of the Republicans.
Senator Bacon was interrupted frequent
ly by republican senators, and when he
took his seat there were several Of them
on the floor ready to respond to his sugges-
ton. They agreed to a man that the
Senate was not called on to take any ac-
ton under the circumstances, saying that
the charges had not been made public and
were not known when the treaty was rati
fed: that the President could be depended
upon to perform his duties without any
Eint from the Senate, and that the House
investigat ton probably very soon would de-
velop that the charges We're based upon
nothing. They expressed regret that any
charges had been made, but said they saw
no reason why the sale Of the islands
should not proceed.
Senator Cullom. as chairman OF the COM
mittee on foreign relations. said that the
treaty had received careful consideration,
md that -
the effect that the United States, from both
a strategic and economic standpoint, had
done well in acquiring them.
Senator Lodge, also of the committee on
foreign relations, and other republican
members took the same position.
Senator Nelson's Belief.
Senator Nelson spoke with more feeling
than most other senator's, saying that he
did not consider that the charge originat-
ing, as 1t had originated, with persons who
were unknown to the Senate. worthy OF
that body's serious consideration. In his
opinion. to take any such step as was con-
templated by the resolution under the cir
cumstances would be insult to the gov
eminent Of Denmark. He did not for
moment believe that the Danish admins
tration had made any contract to pay any
commission for the sale of the islands. nor
that any money had been paid officials or
the press, had been charged in that
connection. In the negotiation with the
United States.
Senator Hanna denied all knowledge Of
Mr.. Christmas or his mission. and express
ed his opinion that the transaction. SO far
as the United States government was con-
cerned. had been perfectly clean.
Senator Money spoke in the same vein
as had Senator Bacon, saying that he saw
no objection to the passage of the resolu-
lions. as they would only serve to delay
the matter for brief time In case the
charges should prove to be without founda-
ton. while If they were well founded
much good might be accomplished by de-
lay.
Senator Bacon closed the incident by say
Ing that he would not press the resolution
in view OF the expressions Of 80 many SEN
ators. and in consequence of this announce
ment the Senate adjourned without taking
action.