The Savannah morning news., 1902-05-21
WAR CLAIMQUESTION
COMPROMISE VOW SEEMS TO BE IN
SIGHT.
MINORITY REPORT TAKEN UP.
SUBSTITUTE OFFERED AND MAY
BE ACCEPTED.

ments and DeceptiOns Alleged to
Have Been Practiced and Opposes
Methods of Proposed Expenditures.
The Proposition to Have the
Church Raise the Missing 800, 500
Laid ON the TabIe-Action of Bish-
ops Endorsed i'm Offering to Pro-
vide Means to Pay Back Money to
Governments.
Dallas, Tex, May 20.-The largest
audience in this years gathering was
present to-day when Bishop Hargrove
called the general conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, South, to
order. A large number of committee
reports were passed up to the secreta-
ries, as this was the final day foE the
introduction of new business. All went
10 the calendar. Many were of more
than ordinary Importance as they con-
template changes in the discipline and
other new features in the affairs of
the church.
When the calendar is reached after
the war claim issue and the election
of bishops shall have been disposed of,
the resolutions will attract general at
tention.
DR. James Cannon, Jr., during the
reading of the reports announced to
the conference that the minority report
of the Committee on Publishing In
terests in the war claim case
had been printed in pamphlet form be-
1f he bo%
ence officials organ declined to print il
in the records. Hundreds of the cir
culars were distributed among the del
egates and visitors.
Rev. r. H. Mahon of Memphis
moved to take up for consideration the
majority report of the committee on
publishing interests on the war claim
1t was so ordered and the secretary
read the report.
After the reading DR.. G. G. Rankin
of Dallas was recognized on question
of personal privilege. He desired to
change the verbige of the report where
it speaks of the United States sena-
tors who Endorsed the letters of Sena-
tors Bacon and Clay to Bishop Gambler
so as to deliver them from the atti-
tude of advising the general confer
ence, they merely expressing their in
dividual opinion that no further action
on the war claim matter be taken on
the part of the conference with Con-
gress. The conference permitted the
change requested. The resolutions and
recommendations of the minority were
then read, the body of their report be-
ing omitted.
B. F. Lipsconrb of Virginia moved
that the resolutions and recommends
tions of the minority committee be
substituted for those of the majority
end that the items referred to be con-
sdered seriatim. This was adopted
and the conference proceeded to con
slider item No. l of the minority re
port.
A Compromise offered.
In the midst of the considera ton DR.
w. F. Murray of St. Louis interrupted
to offer a substitute paper for botl
the minority and majority report
1t was termed a compromise paper
After a parliamentary tangle that was
rot definitely disposed of the confer
ence permitted the new paper to be
read. The paper reviewed the wal
claim issue, exonerated the church OF
any wrong in the matter, censured al
ooncealments and receptions claimed
to have been practiced by Ger.
tain persons and opposed the
methods adopted in the expenditure
of the amount paid as attorneys fees
recommendations were made thai
the church take no further action with
the government, but that the church
make up the sum necessary to in
crease the fund to what it was orig
inally intended to be, and that it be
kept intact for it's original purposes
This paper was signed by thirty-three
delegates.
Another parliamentary tangle was
precipitated and a score or more
points of order made. 1t was finally
decided that the ayes and nays be
called on a motion to table the first
item of the mincxity report and all
amendments thereto. This was adopt
cd, 152 to liz.
Several delegates voting aye explain
ed they did so in order to have an OPP
portunity to get the compromise paper
before the conference. A motion to
lay the second item of the minority
report on the table prevailed by a
standing vote. A motion was made to
table the item, that the entire sum
collected, viz, $2SS, 900, be returned to
the United States government. This
was adopted, ayes 159, noes los.
The remainder of the minority report
was laid on the table by a standing
vote. ana tnen LIT. McMuTTdy moved
substitution of the compromise paper
for the majority report. The com
promise paper was read again for the
information of the conference, and al
it's conclusion many amendments were
offered. None, however, was adopted
Mr.. Napier of Atlanta addressed the
conference in support of the paper.
dozen delegates, some for and against
made brief statements.
Part of the compromise paper had uI
to this time been adopted when in the
midst of another parliamentary tanyle
the conference adjourned until night.
At the night session the resolution
of the compromise paper providing fol
raising $10O,S00 by the church to bring
the congressional appropriation up t.
it's original sum, was laid upon the
table.
Examinations in the preamble that
were closely connected with the reso-
luton tabled We're next made. Other
changes were made until little was left
of the original compromise paper
Most of the session was consumed in
speeches. Finally an amendment by
MIR. Jordan of Tennessee was adopted
to the effect that the general con.
ference endorse the action oi
the college of bishops in of.
feIing to provide means 70,
paying back the money to the govern
ment. if the United States Senate de.
cides that this should be done; the con-
ference to make the act of the bishops
its act. and legalize it in all respects
Ill--- -