Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-03-31
Richardson, of Tennessee,
Demands Investigation,
Reading Secret Report
Made to Danes.

WASHINGTON. March 27.-At the
opening OF the session OF the house today
Mr.. Richardson. OF Tennessee. the minor
fty leader. offered as a matter OF privilege
a resolution for the appointment OF
committee OF seven 10 investigate the
charges said 10 have been made by Walter
Christmas. q semi-Offiicial representative
OF the government Of Denmark. in a Sc
cret report TO his government. in which
II was made 20 appear that he was 10 re-
ceive $4,000 OF the purchase money for
the sale OF the Danish West Indies for
brihing newspapers and members OF con-
gress. The resolution was very long and
detailed. and its reading created great ex-
element on both sides OF the house
The Republican leaders hurriedly con-
suited during the reading OF the resolu-
ton and when the reading had been con-
Guided Mr.. Payne. the majority leader.
made the point OF order that the matter
presented was not privileged. The basis
Of the resolution. Mr.. Payne said contemp-
tu0usly. was based upon an alleged Sc
cret report 10 the Danish government.
Instantly Mr.. Richardson met this with
the statement that ne had a'copy Of the
secret report 70 the Danish government.
sOn my honor as member OF this
house." said he. Il have now on my desk
what purports 20 be and believe is that
secret confidential report. Assuming the
full responsibility OF my words. believe
have unmistakable evidence that this
report was made 10 the Danish govern
ment BY quasi II not real agent OF
that government"
Speaker Henderson at this point called
attention 70 the fact that the language
Of the resolution charged that newspa-
pers and members Of congress had been
bribed.
Members OF congress" he said. did
not necessarily include members Of the
house. II members OF the senate that
body must be the custodian OF its own
morals"
He thought If the resolution was to be
privileged IL should specifically include
members OF the house.
II am prepared to say" replied Mr..
Richardson. that these charges do in
clude members OF the house and will
amend the resolution TO that extent"
Speaker Henderson thereupon ruled
that the matter was privileged.
The gentleman having youched for
the authenticity OF the charges" con-
tinued the speaker. ''the chair holds that
the matter IS one OF privilege and recog-
nizes the gentleman from Tennessee"
BY this time the interest in the house
was intense. Almost every seat was oc-
cupied and the members listened eagerly
as Mr.. Richardson proceeded TO present
his case. First he read extracts from the
press at Copenhagen These were follow
Cd BY an amdavft from Neils Gron con-
z rerning ais dealings with certain. people
here. but they were not particularly SEN
sationai.
The real sensation came when he start
ed TO read from what purported TO be the
report Of Walter Christmas concerning
the negotiations. he prefaced the read
ing BY the statement that II would show
q corrupt bargain" worthy Of the cOnsid-
Grafton OF the house The report was too
long 10 read in fun. he said.
49, r-o~1HrE - raad
mas account OF his interview with the
prime minister OF Denmark. in which he
was said 70 have told the minister OF the
necessity for the use OF money 10 bring the
negotiations for the sale OF the, islands to
a successful termination. He told Of his
acquaintance with President Mckinley.
President McKinley's brother and his law
partner. Colonel Brown, two gentlemen
whom Mr.. Christmas described as hay
ing the entry 10 the white house and be-
ing familiar with the ways OF American
politics and what members OF congress
would have TO be paid TO accomplish
tie results desired"
The report then described how Mr..
Christmas had enlisted not only President
McEfnley's brother and his partner but
two press associations, one In New York
and one in Washington and a prominent
banking house in New York in the sale OF
the Islands
ed as disguised with the methods which
had to be pursued. but as officially giving
his acQuiescence.
In the report Mr.. Christ las said among
other things that he had as his special as
sistants &C. W. Knox. an intimate friend
Of Senator Hanna, and a Washington
lawyer named Richard p. Evans. who
represented NJ. Gardner and his friends in
the house"
1Ir. Richardson said he did not charge
that any senator or any member OF con-
rress had been bribed. He had simply pre-
serted the allegations OF this agent that
money had 70 be used for bribing con-
gressmen. The charges had been publish
ed in this country and abroad. he said,
with the allegation that conditions in the
United States were simply horrible"
He therefore proposed this inquiry so
that each member could disclaim the
charges so far as II affects him. Mr..
Richardson said there was an unpardona-
bic feature 10 the affair, I'm that the de-
partment must have known OF these
charges and had not brought them to
the attention OF the senate prior 70 the
ratification OF the Danish treaty.
Mr. Cannon moved that consideration OF
the resolution be postponed until tOmor-
row. The motion was voted down without
a division. The resolution was then
adopted