The Washington times., 1902-07-02
Report Completely Ex-
onerates Everyone From
Suspicion of Bribery.
NO RECOMMENDATIONS MADE
Special Committee Recites That None
of the Allegations Rejecting Upon
the Honesty of Congressman Are Sup
ported by the Facts.

Chairman Dalzell, Of the special COM
mittee OF the House of Representatives.
which investigated the charges in con-
nection with the purchase of the Danish
West India Islands, yesterday submitted
the report Of that committee After de-
failing the charges of bribery and show
ing that Captain Christmas had repudi-
ated the alleged report on which the
charges were based, the committee sums
up the results of their Investigation as
follows:
That there is not. the slightest SEM
blance OF evidence thas any member OF
Congress, either directly or indirectly.
was offered or received any bribe or was
paid any valuable consideration of any
kind or character to vote for or assist
in procuring the proposal. adoption, or
ratification of a treaty of sale for the
Danish West Indian islands to the
United States. There Is not the remotest
ground from which to draw an inference
or on which to base a conclusion that
there was any corruption or wrong do
ing on the part of the public officials of
the United States in connection with the
negotiations FOR the purchase and sale
OF the Danish West Indian Islands.
Christmas Imagination.
at is plain beyond peradventure that
the bribery alleged in the report could
have existed nowhere save In the imagi-
nation of Christmas. since the whole
burden OF his story is that he had no
money. 1t is in evidence that he had to
borrow in order to pay mis- passage home
from this country.
Christmas claims that the arrange
ment with mis- government was that he
was to get the American Government
to take the first step toward purchasing
the Danish West Indian Islands; that
for his services in the event OF success
he wa, to receive 10 per cent. of the
purchase price (estimated at $500, ,0O0J.
Whether this be true or not. the fact
appears 10 be that he never received
any money, cave a small and insignif-
cant sum Of 81. 500 prior TO his leaving
home. and consequently he never was
in position to bribe any one"
The committee takes up in detail the
charges that a large sum of money was
10 be used 10 bribe American legisla
tors. Aside from the inherent improb
ability Of this charge the report states
the testimony given By all of the parties
mentioned shows the unwarranted ma
ture of the charge After citing the al
legation that Christmas had enlisted the
services Of Abner Mckinley. brother of
the late President. Of c. W. Brown, and
of Seiigman q Company, in New York,
the report gives the testimony of each
of these parties and firms denying the
Similar denials are given
from the Senator's and Representatives
who have been referred TO. The repor,
adds:
Each and every one of the parties |
thus named appeared before the COM
mittee and gave the lie TO the state
ment Of the report with the exception |
Of Senator Clark. OF Montana, who, |
however. stated to the chairman that |
he had never met Christmas, and had |
not. therefore, as matter of course, |
had any conversation with him on any |
subject.
Senator Lodge Above Suspicion.
Senator Lodge met Christmas two or
SAi C 'iH4SS' D"t II ID unnecessary TO |
cite his testimony, since the report |
speaks of him as the most respected |
member of the Senate and who, of all |
the political persons have met in ,
America. is the only one that cannot
be bribed.'"
After giving the evidence of Senators
and members OF Congress, the report
states:
From the foregoing citations of evil
ience 1t is manifest that the charges
made with respect to Senators and mem
6ers or CongI ess are wholly untrue"
The report also exonerates all those
Who in a private capacity had dealings
with Christmas. including Carl Fischer
uansen Richard z. Exams and C. "