Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-03-28

REPRESENTATIVES, RICHARDSON.
mark, in a secret report to his govern
ment in which it was made to appear
that he was to receive 100000 of the
purchase money for the sale Of 1.-THE
Danish West Indies for bribing news,
papers and members of congress. =,
The resolution was very long and de-
tailed, and its reading created great
excitement ON both sides of the house.
Mr.. Richardson's Resolution.
The resolution presented by Mr..
Richardson 10 in part asfollows: M
y Whereas One Walter. Christmas q sub
ject Of Denmark. who. is now and who has
been for several years a diplomatic agent
and representative Of the government Of
Denmark. authorized and empowered to
negotiate with the government of the
United States for the sale of the Danish
West Indian islands to the United States
and who was also the agent of the United
States for the purchase of said islands,
has submitted a secret and confidential
report to his own government, and
Whereas, The said Christmas. agent and
representative as aforesaid, in his said
report to his government declares and
sets forth among other things the fact
that the government Of Denmark has
contracted agreed and obligated itself to
pay and turn over to him the said
Christmas 10 per centum or about $780,
900, of the proceeds Of the purchase money
arising from the sale Of said islands to
the United States when the same shall
have been paid by the United States to
Denmark for the express purpose as has
been declared and set forth by him in
10 III ,~k
of bribing Of members Of the United
States congress. including members of the
house Of representatives and other promi-
nent citizens Of this country, and for sub
sidixing American newspapers to the end
that the pending treaty between the Unit
ed States and Denmark for the sale Of
the islands by the latter to the former
government may be contaminated.
The resolution further recites that
said secret report states that the $780,
600 shall be Immediately paid to Christ
mas If the purchase money is paid by
the United States for the corrupt OBJ
jects set forth. The tendency of the
ratification Of the treaty is also set
forth. In conclusion the resolution asks
that a committee of seven members of
the house Of representatives be ap-
pointed by the speaker to examine into
the charges and the alleged circum-
stances, contracts, ETC., (which in any
manner have for their object the brib-
cry of or the attempted bribery of
members of the United States congress
or Of the payment Of any valuable con-
sideration of any kind or character to
them or to any Of them to vote for or
to assist in procuring the proposal,
adoption or ratification of the said
treaty Of sale Of the said islands,
Payne Raises Objection.
The Republican leaders hurriedly
consulted during the reading of the
resolution, and when the reading had
been concluded Mr.. Payne, the major
ity leader, Immediately made the point
Of order that the matter presented was
not privileged. The basis Of the reso-
luton, Mr.. Payne said contemptuously,
was based upon an alleged secret re-
port to the Danish government. In
stantly Mr.. Richardson met this with
the statement that he had copy Of the
secret report to the Danish govern.
ment.
Speaker Henderson at this point call
Cd attention to the fact that the Ian.
guage Of the resolution charged that
newspapers and members Of congress
had been bribed.
"Members of congress-" he said, did
not necessarily include members of the
house; IL members Of the senate, that
body must be the custodian Of its own
morals" He thought IL the resolution
was to be privileged 1t should specific
ally include members Of the house. 4
" am prepared to say" replied Mr..