New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-03-28
OLD CHARGES REVIVED.
CAPTAIN CHRISTlL4S AND THE
DANISH WEST INDIES.
RICHARDSON BRINGS UP THE ANCIENT
BRIBERY STORY. AND THE HOUSE
VOTES To INVESTIGATE IT

Washington. March "a great sensation
was caused in the House today by tine pres
entation by Mr. Richardson. Of Tennessee. the
Democratic leader. Of charges published IN
all the newspapers Of the country two
years ago. alleging the corrupt use of a
fund Of S50OOOO in connee N with the
sale Of the .ish West Indies The charges
were contained in alleged secret report made
by CAPTAIN Walter Christmas 20 the Danish
Government. which declared that he had en-
pIoyed corrupt means to bring the negotiations
for the sale of the islands TO a c7nsumnat ton
The report, extracts from which Mr. Richardson
read, mentioned the names of Abner Mckinley
and his partner, Colonel Brown G, " Knov
who was described "an intimate friend os
Senftor Hanna Richard T. Evans who vas
said to represent Mr.. Gardner and his friends
IN the House. and two press associations. the
names Of which were not given as having bean
interested In the matter. The charges against
members "f Congress were not specific on the
basis of this report Mr.. Richardson asked the
adoption of resolution for the appointment %
an investigating committee Of seven members
The Speaker ruled that the matter was prfvi
legged, after Mr.. Richardson had amended his
resolution so as to include specifically members
Of the House
Great excitement attended the whole pro-
ceeding Mr. Cannon. OF Illinois, insisted thai
Mr. Richardson's presentation was frarr1An+ar1-
ana that the whole matter should 20 over until
tomorrow, In order that members might read
the documents presented. which included news
paper extracts, af1davits etc in The Record
Christmas, he declared. on his own statement
was briber and worse But the House voted
down the motion TO postpone. and the resolution
after being amended in minor particulars vas
adopted The Speaker Immediately appointed
the following committee to make the investfra-
ton:
Messrs- Dalzen CRep.. PENN. Hit CRep.. ny
cousins ReP.. Iowa). Mccall Oep.. MassE.
i'lr"arlS'h 'Dem-' Tenn) Dinsmore Oenl..
Ark). and Cowherd (Dem. MOI.
Representative DaIzeII. the obairr,s, - -.
committee. says he will go over the aUeratior,.
tomorrow. when they appear in The Co,--
S''ndI record, and arrangements will the, ~
made for an early meeting Of the cor,,,t...
probably on Saturday. Until then Mr. nat,
SaId. no plans as 10 the conduct of the invest
gation would be made
THE STATE DEPARTMENTS ANSWER
II Is said that the answer NJ the s,a., ~.
ment to the Richardson resolution will 1tsc1osa
the tact that according 10 the record the Trri.sz
states Government has refused to have snvtbirs-
10 DO with any persons as a party to the treaty
WEo were not directly connected with the rantsb
''' err"=nt- The department also placed on
record us determination to pay no commission
Of
islands II will be pointed out that this govern
ment had no right to dictate 70 the Danish
/ Government as 70 what it should do in the
matter Of paying commissions
As il is has been assumed in some quarters
tnat he failure of Congress to appropriate
S'ooooo0 TO be paid for the islands would in
itself cause 4 failure OF the transfer Of The
Territory, it may he said that the construction
OF the treaty at the State Department. is that
directly upon the exchange OF ratidCattons tbs
islands become the property Of the United States.
without waiting for the payment Of the money.
and the failure Of Congress TO make the appro-
Priatior would simply leave outstanding debt
Of honor against this country
Following is a statement made by Niels Grou
regarding the Christmas report:
When early in February last the contents 81
water thrlStmass secret report 20 tbs Danish
Danish West India Islands 10 the United States
heCame public party comprising a large por-
uon or panmarks best and most influential men
and highest interests, realizing that since Christ
mas had in the furtheranCe OF the pending-
treaty served by direct authority. first the SEQ
IrI@Iy OF STATE or the United States and after
Ndrd the DANISH Prime Minister, Mr.. HCrrinE,
II would he impossible To disassoCiate his af-
fortS from the treaty. or the methods set forth
IN ms report trom the official negotiation: and
realizing further. that if the present trastv VS.
C"nSummated and permitted to take effect Den
mark would be Obliged 70 stand before tha vror15
as haVin< made use of. and the United States
as naVinE accepted. such negotiations as said
ChrlStmaS Sets forth and describes I'm the above
mentioned report, and since il was thought thar
that would place the people Of the two nations
IN m unfaVoTahle and reSrettable light I was
requested by the party referred TO 70 tourney
WIN all speed from Copenhagen To Washington
ana lay BEFORE the representatives OF the peOpia
VI Ine nlted states the facts touching certain
parts Of the negotiations in order that 7Dv f1,r
ther steps taken by the United States toward
causing the taking effect Of the treaty in dues-
llon might he done with fun knowIadgA 81
the situation. NTE-T : CPSN-
Washington, March % 1902