Evening journal., 1902-03-28
Corrupt Use Of $3.50, 900 Al
legged in House
PROMINENT MEN ACCUSED
OF Shady Transaction in Connection
With Sale Of the Danish West
Indies

Washington, March 2S.-A genuine
sensation was caused in the house
yesterday by the presentation by Mr.
Richardson, of Tennessee, the Demo
cratic leader, of charges alleging the
corrupt use of a fund of S50O.00O In
connection with the sale of the Danish
West Indies. The charges were con-
tanned in an alleged secret report of
Captain Walter Christmas to the Dan
ish government, which declared that
he had employed corrupt means to
bring the negotiations for the sale OF
the islands to a consummation.
A sensation ensued when Mr.. Rich
ardson started to read from what
purported to be the report Of Walter
Christmas concerning the negotia-
tions. He prefaced the reading by the
statement that it would show a cor
rupt bargain" worthy of the consid-
Grafton of the house. The report was
too long to read in full. he said. II
will only read the luscious extracts
which If true should bring the blush
of shame to the cheek of every
American" said he, 'for the statute
will disgrace this country in the eyes
of every foreign court in the world
This is what this corrupt bargainer
says"
He then proceeded to read Mr.
Christmas account of his interview
with the prime minister of Denmark
in which he was said TO have told the
minister of the necessity for the use
of money to bring the negotiations
for the sale of the islands to a success
full termination. He told of his ac-
quaintance with Abner Mckinley.
President McKinley's brother, and his
law partner, Colonel Brown, two gen.
tlemen whom Mr.. Christmas described
as having the entry to the White
House and being familiar with the
ways of American politics and what
members Of congress would have TO
be paid to accomplish the results de.
sired"
The report then described how Mr..
Christmas had enlisted not only Presi-
dent McKinley's brother and his part
ner,. but two press associations, one
in New York and one in Washington,
and a prominent banking house in
New York in the sale of the islands.
Mr.. Christmas also said that he had
as his special assistants c. w. Knox,
an intimate friend of Saator Hanna,
and a washington lawyer named
Richard p. Evans, who represented
Mr.. Gardner and his friends in the
house.
Mr. Richardson said he did not
charge that any senator or member
of congress had been bribed. He had
simply presented the allegations OF
this agent that money had to be used
for bribing congressman. The charges
had been published in this country
and abroad. he said, with the allega
tion that conditions in the United
States were simply horrible"
Great excitement attended the whole
proceeding Mr.. Cannon, of Illinois
insisted that Mr.. Richardson's presen
tation was fragmentary, and that the
whole matter should go over in order
that members might read the docu
ments presented, which included
newspaper extracts, affidavits, etc, il
the record. Christmas, he declared
on his own statement was a bribel
and worse. But the house voteC
down the motion to postpone, ant
the resolution, after being amended
in minor particulars, was adopted.
The speaker Immediately appointed
the following committee to make thu
investigation: Messrs. Dalzell (Rep)
of Pennsylvania; Hit (Rep). of iii
nois; Cousins (Rep), Of Iowa; Nc
Call Rep). Of Massachusetts,; Rich
Rrdson Dem.), of Tennessee; Dins
more Oem), of Arkansas, and Cow
herd Oem.), of Missouri.