Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-03-27
Alleges That Danish Official
Said He Bribed Members
and Newspapers.
WILL BE INVESTIGATED
Says in a Secret Note to His Govern.
nnent That He Bought American Leg.
islators and Newspapers to Further
Sale of Danish West Indies.

Washington, March 27.-At the op-
ening of the house today Richardson,
of Tennessee, the minority leader Of
fered as a matter of privilege, a resolu-
tion for the appointment of a commit
tee of seven to investigate the charges
said to have been made by Walter
Chirtsmas, the semi-official represent
ative of the government of Denmark.
in secret report to his government in
which it was made to appear he was to
receive 100000 OF the purchase money
for the sale of the Danish West Indies
Tor bribing newspapers and members
OF congress. The resolution is very
long. Its reading created great eX-
citement. Republican leaders hur-
riedly consulted and when the reading
Of the resolution concluded, Payne the
majority leader, Immediately made
point of order and the matter present
cd was not privileged. The basis of
the resolution, Payne said contemptu-
cusly, was based upon an alleged Sc
/ cret report to the Danish government.
Instantly Richardson net this with
the statement that he had had the Sc
cret report to the Danish government.
! Richardson modified his resolution so
as to specify that members of the
| house. were charged with being brihed
and the speaker ruled it as privileged.
This brought the matter before the
! house Tor consideration The house
unanimously adopted the Richardson
/ resolution. The speaker appointed
Dalsell, tIitt, Cousins, Mccall, Rich
/ a-dson, Dinsmore and Cowherd as an
4 Investigating committee to inquire in
to the charges.
interest Intense.
BY this time interest in the house
was intense. Almost every seat was
{! occupied by members who listened Gag
4 erly as Richardson proceeded to pre-
sent his case. First he read extracts
from the press OF Copenhagen. He
tnen proceeded to read Christmas ac-
4 count OF his interview with the prime
1 minister of Denmark. in which he was
said to have told the minister of the
necessity for the use OF money to
bring negotiations for the sale of the
/ islands to a successful termination.
1 He told OF his acquaintance with Alb
ner Mckinley, President McKinley's
brother, and his law partner, Colonel
| Brown, two men whom Christmas de-
scribed as having the entry to the
White House and being familiar with
the ways OF American politics and
4 what the members confessed would
have to be paid to accomplish the re-
suits desired
/ Rankest Lie Yet
4 The report then described how
II Christmas had enlisted not only Nc
Kinley's brother and partner. but two
press associations. one in New York
and one in Washington, and promi-
nent banking house in New York in
the sale OF the islands.
Knox for Assistant
: In the report Christmas said among
other things he has as his special as
sistants &c. w. Knox, an intimate
friend Of Senator Hanna, and Wash
ington lawyer, named Richard p Ev-
ans, who represented Mr.. Gardner and
his friends in the house"
Was Diseusted.
The Danish foreign minister was re-
Il ported as being disgusted with the
methods which had TO be pursued but
as finally giving his acquiescence.
Mo Charge of Bribery.
, Richardson said he did not charge
, that any senator or member of con-
gress had been bribed. He had simp-
ly presented the allegations of this
agent that money had to be used for
bribing congressman. Richardson said
there was one objectionable feature to
the affair, in that the state department
must have known Of these charges and
: had not brought them to the attention
OF the senate prior to the ratification
of the Danish treaty.
, Senate.
I Soon after the senate convened to-
day Hawley, chairman of the commit
tee on military affairs, favorably re-
ported bill to correct the military
record Of Charles H. Hawley. A sim
:. liar bill was vetoed a few days ago by
| the President.
Consideration OF the oleomargarine
, bill was then resumed.
M ------------- 80