Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-04-02
CHARGES OF BRIBERY.

| - 49, -
CHARGES OF BRIBERY.
Big Sensation Connected With Pur-
chase Of Danish West Indies.
Some warm words were brought out
between Representatives Richardson,
of Tennessee and Payne, Of New York,
last Thursday as the result Of the eff
forts of the former to have the resolu-
tions providing for an investigation of
the charges made by Capt. Won Christ
mas in regard to the purchase Of the
Danish islands investigated. Mr.. Rich
ardson is the Democratic floor leader,
and Mr.. Payne is the leader Of the Re-
publicans on the floor Of the house.
Mr.. Richardson's resolution was as
follows:
Whereas, Captain Won Christmas,
agent of the Danish government, had
made a secret and confidential report
to his government, setting forth that
he was entitled to 10 per cent. or alto
gether about $5O0,0O0 Of the price to
be paid by this government for the
Danish West Indies, part Of which,
was used in bribing members Of the
United States congress and other prom
inent citizens and for subsidizing the
American press, and whereas, the rati-
fication has not yet been consummated,
the money not yet appropriated, there
fore.
Resolved, That the speaker Of the
house be instructed to appoint COM
mittee Of seven members Of the house
to examine into the truth Of these
charges"
Mr.. Payne, upon the reading Of the
resolution, said with considerable sar-
casm: 1.-The preamble sets forth that
this report is a secret one, and then
the resolution contradicts itself. The
facts are not known. A question of
privilege cannot be founded on such
report. The mater is not before the
house."
To this Mr.. Richardson replied, with
out any attempt to conceal his warmth,
II will state on my honor as member
that have before me what purports to
be, and what believe to be, that re-
port-less one page. Those charges
were made by the diplomatic agent Of
the Danish government, who was also
the quasi, If not the real, agent Of our
own government. The report was a Sc
cret one, but I say, fully realizing the
force of my words, that on my honor
have copy Of it."
when did the gentleman examine
the archives Of the government at Den
mark?" interjected Mr.. Payne.
II have never been in Denmark"
was the retort, "but that is not the
only way in which to get a report.
Capt. Christmas makes grave charges,
land they ought to be investigated. I
disclaim, in this connection, all inten-
tion of sparring for any political ad-
vantage in this mater
Mr.. Richardson's point was sustain
ey by the speaker. The story Of how
the report was secured was told by Mr..
Henderson, and was substantially as
follows:
In an affidavit, Neils Gron, former
citizen Of Denmark. stated that he had
seen the report Of Capt. Christmas to
the Danish government, and that it sus-
tanned reports printed in newspapers
in Denmark. capt. Christmas. Gron
declares in his affidavit, stated that
the printed reports were correct.
Translations from the Danish newspa-
pers tell that the report Of Capt. Christ
mas shows that he had made an agree
ment with the ministry by which he
was to receive 10 per cent. Of the pur-
chase price Of the Danish Islands.
With this promise Of the amount of
$500, 900, Capt. Christmas is spoken Of
by one of the papers as having bribed
certain members Of congress and two
press associations in the United States
for their aid in effecting the sale Of
islands to the United States. One of
the papers states that Christmas ne
gotiated with members Of congress
through Mr.. c. w. Knott, an intimate
friend OF Senator Hanna, and r. P.
Eddy, a friend Of Representative Gard
ner. When Secretary Of Embassy
White was in Copenhagen looking
after the purchase Of the islands, he
was the guest of Capt. Christmas. The
report of Christmas states that Abner
Mckinley and his partner Mr.. Brown,
knew all about the affairs Of congress,
t~f4 70 fiyha
members or congress must be paid to
accomplish results" He says, further,
that he had to promise certain sum
to Mr.. Mckinley and Mr.. Brown, and
to pay a large sum to two press asso-
ciations one in New York and one in
Washington. He further states that he
dined members of congress at the Raj
eigh in the interest of the sale Of the
islands, and assured them that they
would receive a share Of the commits
sion for the sale.
The resolution Of Mr.. Richardson was
adopted, and the speaker appointed the
following committee to investigate the
charges: Messrs. Dalzell, Of Pennsly-
vania; Hit, of Illinois; Cousins, Of
Iowa. Mccall, of Massachusetts,, Re-
publicans. Messrs. Richardson, of Ten
nessee; Dinsmore, Of Arkansas, and
Cowherd, of Missouri, Democrats.
Perhaps the Bard of Avon, If he were
living today, would be broader in his
views, and would not say there is
something rotten in Denmark" alone.
"a Some Of the caterpillars In Aus
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