The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-05-18
MAY KEEP THE MONEY
MAJORITY REPORT AT DALLAS so
RECOMMENDS.
THE QUESTION NOT DECIDED.
MINORITY STRONGLY URGES RE-
TURN OF FUND.

Would BE a Disturbing Factor in
Church and Might Disquiet Mem
bership i'm Future-Mai. StahIman
Vigorously Condemned by Minor
ity RepOrt-As Senate Has De-
cIared the Church BIameIess This
Should BE End of Matter, Says Mn
jOrity Resolution COndemning
Child Labor in Cotton Mills, Adopt
ed, But RccOnsidered.
Dallas, Tex. May 1.-THE presenta-
ton of the majority and minority re-
ports of the Committee on Publishing
House Interests with regard to the war
claim was the intensely interesting fea-
ture of to-day's session of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Conference.
The majority report was confined to
| brief summary of the contentious
urged by that faction. The resolutions
| condemn any departure of the attor-
ney of the Book Committee from the
explicit instructions given to him by
the Book Committee in regard to the
collection of the claim against the gov
claimed he did depart according to his
own statements made to the Senate
Committee appointed to investigate
these matters.
Continuing, the report disapproves
any language used by the book agents
in their kilograms to Senators Pasco
and Bate which may have misled them
as to the amount of the fee the at
torney was to receive for his services
in collecting the claim. The PROPOSE
ton of the bishops to take proper
steps to have the entire amount re-
turned to the government if the Sem
ate. by affirmative action, declares that
| the passage of the bill was due to mis-
leading statements, is approved. In
| view of the fact that the Senate, after
receiving this proposition, discouraged
the return of the money and further
more, since the Senate had declared
that the church is absolutely blameless
in the whole transactions, 1t is recon-
mended that this be considered a. final
settlement of the question. The report
is signed by James M. Robertson as
chairman.
Republican Insincerity.
The minority report took an hour in
| reading and condemns the actions of
1 Mai Stahlman, the attorney, in most
vigorous language Directly and by in
ference, the book agents and their at
torney are severely dealt with.
The resolutions appended are as fol-
lows:
1--WE believe that the retention of this
money is a disturbing factor in the
peace and harmony of the church at
present and may disquiet the member
ship in the future.
Therefore, that there may be peace
and harmony in the borders of our be-
loved church, and that it may do 10
act that calls in question its good name.
we recommend the adoption of the fol-
lowing resolution:
That the sum Be Returned.
"That the entire sum collected. viz,
$2SS0OO, be returned to the United
States government; that committee
of nine members of the general confer
ence be named who shall report to this
conference as soon as possible, plan
carrying into execution the above res
olution.
THAT we heartily indorse the letter
written by our bishops to the Senate
of the United States. 1t showed their
Jealous care of the good name of the
church and indicated a wise solution OF
the matter"
The resolutions are signed by James
Cannon, IL, Ol NlIBlIlld do Choii
Both reports were ordered printed
after much discussion. The war claim
matter will come before the conference
next Tuesday at 10 o'clock, and be con-
tinued until the matter is settled.
Bishop A. w. Wilson, the senior
bishop, presided to-day. The Commit
tee on Episcopacy reported and recon-
mended that two bishops be elected.
The minority report was given, dis
senting and stating that in their be-
lief no more bishops should be elected.
The Committee on Education recon-
mended that more attention be paid to
training schools.
A minority report from the Commit
tee on Finance urged further aid to
superannuated preachers, widows and
children be given and that permanent
fund be established.
The time limit remains as before ac-
cording to the report of the committee
on itinerary.
Dr. w A Haven of the American
Bible Society spoke on the gratifying
increase in the sale of Bibles.
The Cumberland Presbyterian As
sembly sent greetings from Spring
field Mo. The general assembly of the
Presbyterian Church also sent greet
irgs from Jackson. Miss.
The committee on Sabbath obser-
varce deprecated the increase of Sun
day labor Of So per cent in the last
decade, while the population had in
CT eased but q per cent. and also the
Increase in Sunday amusements.
The Matter of Child Labor.
DR.. Gross Alexander introduced a
resolution dealing with the question of
child labor in the South. particularly
in the cotton mill district. The reso-
luton, which urged that laws be pass
ed prohibiting the employment of chill
dren under IL years old, was adopted
This resolution was afterwards. on
motion of Mr.. Hoss, reconsidered on
the score that the statement that there
were 10000 children under II years of
age employed was not true. The mat
ter was finally referred to a special
committee.
The conference adjourned until Mon
day.
Conflicts With Libel Laws.
The discussion over the printing of
the minority report on the war claim
caused stormy scenes in the confer
ence.
The report is said to conflict with
the libel laws of Texas and the editor
of the official organ of the church,
while not declining, hesitated to pub
lish it, This caused great excitement
among the minority faction, and the