The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-05-14
WAR CLAIM REVIVED
HON. WARNER HILL OF GEORGIA
BRINGS 1T UP.
SENATE'S ACTION OUTLINED.
SEEMS A COMPLETE ENUMERATION
OF CHURCH.

by Senate on the Matter Stating in
Specific Terms That the Claim Was
just, and No Censure Should Rest
Upon Church for Misconduct of Its
Agents.
Dallas, Tex. May 18Th. Warner
Hill of the North Georgia conference
precipitated a spirited five minutes de-
bate on the war claim issue in the
Methodist general conference to-day by
a resolution seeking to instruct the
committee on publishing interests to
hold continuous sessions until the mat
ter be settled because of the impor-
lance of the matters and the universal
interest of the church in it. On motion
of DR.. Rankin, the resolution was
tabled, 160 to 6S.
Soon after this vote was taken, j.
P. Strother of Los Angeles, presented
paper to be read to the open confer
ence in defense of the attitude of the
minority of the book committee at Bal
timore in 1898 on the war claim. One
of the most acrimonious debates since
the conference opened resulted. The
paper was finally referred to the pub
fishing committee.
DR.. Wilson of South Carolina gave
notice to reply from the majority men,
bers of the book committee of 1898.
The War Claim Matter.
The letters of Bishop Gambler of
Georgia to Senator Clay with regard to
the war claim" which has agitated
the Methodist Episcopal Church, South,
for many years. and the reply of Sena-
tor Clay, concurred in by Senator Ba-
con and rs other senators, were hand
ed to the Associated Press by Bishop
Gambler to-day, with the request that
widespread publication be given them
in order that a wrong impression which
has gained currency may be corrected.
Bishop Candler's letter to Senator
Clay follows in part:
Il feel the utmost disapprobation of
the acts of Misrepresentation practiced
by the parties who had the claim in
charge.
Il have interpreted the final action
of the Senate as entirely exonera ting
the church from blame in the case, and
as eliminating the question of return
ing the money to the government.
But 1 find some extreme men still
insisting upon the necessity of return
ing the money to the government.
AS you were a member of the COM
mittee of the Senate upon the report
of which the action was taken, | take
the liberty of requesting you not only
to give me your opinion, but the
opinion of any other senators who gnay
feel free to express themselves on the
subject
When the facts connected with the
payment of the large commission were
made public and criticisms found ex-
preston, both on the floor of the Sen
ate and elsewhere relative to certain
occurrences at the time of the passage
of the bill, the bishops of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church, South, adj
dressed the presiding officer of the Sen
ate a letter which, while affirming the
business of the claim insisted that the
church could not afford to accept 1t
al a gratuity or on conditions that re-
fleet upon it's honor and that If by af-
firmative action it is declared that the
passage of the bill was due to mis-
leading statements proper steps would
be taken for the return of the money
to the government"
The Action of the Senate.
This letter was referred by the Sen
ate to- the Committee on Claims, which
reported the following resolution to the
Senate, which was adopted by thai
body:
Resolved, That the former report of
the committee be approved, and that
no censurc should rest upon the M eth
odist Episcopal Church, South. for the
misstatemenTs and concealments of the
book agents in connection with the
passage of the bill for the payment of
the claim referred to in the letter of
the bishops now under considerations
that the injury resulting therefrom af-
fected only the benefciaries of the fund
and not the United States, and the Sem
ate should take no further action in
the matter"
The BacOn-CIay Letter.
The letter signed by Senators Clay
and Bacon and concurred in by rs
other senators is in part as follows:
1.-THE simple statement of this his
tory of the case would seem to leave
no room for question of obligation de-
volving further duty upon the church
in connection Herewith.
1.-The report of the committee and the
resolution, both adopted by the Senate,
in explicit terms exonerate the church
from all blame or ground for criticism
and is a clear expression of opinion
that there is no obligation on the part
Of the church to repay the money to
the government, or to make further
offer to do So"
A resolution signed by A. Cooks
Smith of Virginia expressing gratifi-
cation at the visit and addresses of
the fraternal delegates of the Metho
dist Episcopal Church, North, and en-
dorsing the sentiments contained IN
the addresses was adopted.
A greeting from the Southern Bap-
fist Convention at Ashville, N. &C,
was read and accepted.
Among the reports of comittees was
one from the educational committee
urging closer and more careful study
of the Bible in biological seminaries.
The report enlisted unusual interest.
The Louisville conference requested
that the next quadrennial meeting be
held in Louisville. The request was
referred to the Committee on Enter
tainment of the general conference.
Rev. II. p. Parks, missionary secre-
tary and fraternal delegate of the Afri-
can Methodist Church, was presented
delegates rising.
only one session Of the conference
was held. Bishop Hendrix Of Kansas
city. presiding.
Bishop o. p. Fitzgerald, in a COM
munication to the conference, request
ed 70 be released from active service
because Of advanced age and feeble
physical condition. II was referred TO
the Committee on Episcopacy.