The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1902-05-23
PENNSYLVANIA is recognized.

Pennsylvania is recognized.
Mr.. GAINES of Tennessee. hop.
the gentleman from Pennsylvania
will indulge me this is somewhat of 1
matter Of personal privilege
The SPEAKER. Does the gentleman
from Tennessee rise to a matter OF
personal privilege of his own
Mr.. GAINES of Tennessee / do.
The SPEAKER. The gentleman
will state it.
Mr.. GAINES of Tennessee. | ex.
ceedingly regret that the gentleman
] from Wisconsin Mr. Jenkins should
have said of my colleague Mr.. Sims
that The is only consistent when he is
voting for the Methodist Church to
rob the Treasury of the United States -
In explaining his relation to the pass
sage of the bill providing for the pay
ment of this claim my colleague states
that he based his support of the meas
ure upon information received from
me, and from the letter which has Just
been read, written by Messrs. Barbee
q Smith.
The information which | had in
reference TO the payment of this large
fee to Major Stahlman was received
from Messrs. Barbee q Smith in
person, while the letter they wrote me
led me to believe, very naturally. that
Major Stahlman was in Washington on
other business, and that he would in
cidentally. or as fri end of the church,
aid in the passage of this bill
Messrs. Barbee d Smith stated to me
that Major Stalhman was to receive no
compensation for his services and
Major Stahlman said to me himself,
and to many others of Congress. that he
was not to receive one cent for his
services.
Relying upon this information, it
was natural for me TO repel the
charge that this, hinge fee was TO be
paid Major Stahlman. | had known
DIR. Barbee a number of years he was
my neighbor; he had been the pastor
of the church attended, officiateo at
my marriage and at the burial of sew
eral of my people, while Mr. Smith was
my Sunday school superintendent.
relied implicitly upon what they
in person said to me, and on what they
wrote me, and submit Mr.. Speaker,
if | can not rely upon men of this class
men whom ] knew to be honorable |
and upright, upon whom could l rely :? |
When | received this letter from
,dessrs. BarDee & Smith. l determined |
to lay aside, as | did, my personal |
feeling toward Major Stablman, enter
tanning as | did no friendly feeling to-
ward him. / did all / could honorably
for the passage of the bill. I saw Maj.
otahlman almost daily, as we board
ed at the same hotel. But at no time
lid he tell me that he was to be paid
my fee.
| knew he was in Washington often,
out thought he was on some railroad
business, and l naturally believed that
lis offices in the matter were purely
is friend of the church.
Had known that this enormous fee
vas to be paid Major Stahlman. or any
me else, for lobbying for this claim
'efore Congress, would not have voted
or the passage OF the bill, and I GER
ainly would not have misled my
riends-the members of Congress-in
he manner that did when they asked
ne if the charge that this fee was to !
re paid, was true, and | said to them :
hat there was no truth in the charge.
was misled, as you must see, and 4
m grieved that misled my friends
MEMBERS of Congress.
Now, a moment as to the merits of s
he claim. The United States Army :
While in Nashville used and consumed !,
n immense amount-about $500, 600 !,
yorth-of property of the Methodist !
Episcopal Church South The amount a
aid by Congress was 1888, 600. Gen. :,
linton B. Fiske said this was just .
lain. He, | think, was in Nashville e
vhen this property was taken.
Maj. A. w. Wills, Republican, who -
-as in Nashville at the time this prop :
rty was taken, and who is now and
as been several times the postma ster
Nashville, espOused this measure. ~
1deed, he was very active in its sup q
Ort. l.
The Hon. John G. Houck Repub-
can, once member of this House, u
ldorsed it. So did Capt. J. w. Bak- 8
> leading Republican of Nashville,
I'D so have many other leading Repub- e
cans as well as Democrats. The
ishors of both branches of the Meth o.
DIST church Endorsed it, including the ii
'lored Bishops. could give you a =,
IT as long as my arm of leading men a,
hose names appear in the Record con- az
lining the debate on this bill when
'nding in the House. The claim was ~
'solutely meritorious. The history of al
70 claim is odious now because OF the nc
ception practiced in procuring it's ot
ssage, as have stated, aid as the ~
nate hearings on this matter clearly ~
sclose. thank the House for the OPP 90
rtunity granted me for making this w
ate ment. n
ex
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