The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-05-14

tors who may feel free to express them.
selves on the subject
When the facts connected with the pay
ment OF the large commission were made
public and criticisms found expression. both
on the floor OF the senate and elsewhere,
relative TO certain occurrences az the time
Of the passage OF the bill, the bishops OF
the Methodist Episcopal church, South, ad.
dressed to the presiding officer OF the senate
a letter signed by Robert X. Hargrove, sec
rotary Of the college of bishops Nashville,
Tenn, which, while affirming ~ business
Of the claim, insisted that the church
could not afford 10 accept 1t as a gratuity,
or on conditions that reflect upon its hon
or, and that II the senate, by affirmative
action. declares that the passage OF the
bin was due to misleading statements prop
or steps would be taken for the return to
the government OF the money The letter
vas referred by the senate to the commit
tee on claims which committee had made
the investigation. That committee after u
full consideration Of the same. In connec-
tion with the Investigation previously
made. reported on January ., 1899, the fol
lowing resolution TO the senate
"Resolved That the report of the com.
mittee made July g ls9s, he approved, and
that no Ccnsure should rest upon the Meth
odist Episcopal church. South, for the mis-
statements and eoncealments the book
agents In connection with the passage or
the bill for the payment Of the claim re-
ferred to In the letter Of the bishops, now
under consideration; that the Injury result
Ing thercfroin affected only the benehciarles
81 the fund and not the United States, and
the senate should take no further action in
the matter"
After this resolution had becn upon the
calendar Of the senate for nearly six weeks.
1t WAS. on February 81, adopted by the
senate. nomine diseentientc. The letter
signed by Senators Clay and Bacon and
Concurred by seyenty-Cight other senators,
''rhe simple statement of this history Of
the case would seem to leave no room Tor
question Of obligation dcyolyiuG further
q plnrcD connection
with, The letter of the bishops, ahoNe
quoted was practically an oner TO repay
the money to the government, So far MS II
could I've made through the senate Of the
United States The resolution adopted by
the senate was q distinct reply 10 ihat
oner declining to rGeoSnlze the ,prSpr,,GmJ,y S
money to the government. In view OF this
record, we are unable to see upon what
ground there can be based the contention
that the church should make secnnd OFFER
aud invoke second refusal from The GOV
eInment or any department. thereof. The
report Of the committee and the resolutions,
both adopted by the senate IN explicit
! terms eNonerate the church from all blame
or ground for criticism for anything which
occurred In connection with the passage OF
| the hill and is clear expression Of opn-
! ion that there is no obligation on the part
| OF the church to repay the monN TO the
government or to make further offer to do
| SO.
! The committee on boundaries In the gen
| eral conference of the Methodist Episcopal
| church, South. got to work today on Texas
matters Chairman Benton said tonight
! 'The Georgetown district WAS taken from
| the Northwest Texas distUct and added
! to the Texas tor Galvestoul district. Tic
/ Northwest district was then Wkcu up nnll
/ hearings given before the committee, which
! were nor concluded. West Texas is ask
/ ing for the BroNnwood district. aud North
[ west Texas Is contending against It.
/ There is n memorial before the committee
/ flom the Arkansas conference, asking for
a Strengthening OF the line betNecn the
Arkansas aud Texas Jurisdictions The
| memorial contcmpateS the enlargement
OF the Arkansas Jurisdiction in the neigh.
horhood of TcYarkana A memorial from
/ the East TeXns conference seeks To take
! some territory from tho North Texas dis
! trici These memorials are yet 70 be
/ acted on by the committee After the
| committees work has been concluded II
must, Of course, be acted on by the general
| conference.