Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-22
Naval Committee Authorized
to Probe Bribery Charges.
NO OBJECTION MADE
DEBATE RESUMED ON PHILIP
PINE COINAGE.
Senator Fairbanks Lets the 1mm1gra-
ton Bill Go Over-Mr. Burnhams
Remarks on Statehood.

Immediately after the House convened
today the members of the committee on
naval affairs who have been investigating
the Lessler bribery charges filed into the
House. and Mr.. Foss Qll). chairman OF
the committee. was Immediately recognized
TO offer a resolution to order full lnVesl-
cation OF the charges. The resolution was
as follows:
whereas information has come to the
committee on naval affairs through a mem-
Der of said committee of an attempt 10
corruptly influence his action respecting
proposed legislation pending before SAID
committee and the House,
Resolved, that the committee on naval
affairs or such subcommittee tnefeot as
said committee may appoint, De ana II IS
hereby authorized and directed to fully IN
yestigate said matter, and for sucn purpose
II Is hereby authorized and empowered to
send for persons and papers, to compei the
attendance of witnesses and to administer
oaths. Said committee shall nave authori-
ty to report at any time. and the expense
Incurred hereunder shall be paid out or the
contingent fund Of the House on vouchers
approved by the chairman"
Mr.. Foss explained that the action OF the
committee was unanimous and demanded
the previous question.
Mr.. Richardson (Tenn.). however, inter-
posed to suggest that the charges were
vague and indefinite. No names were given.
and he said 1t seemed to him that some-
thing more definite should be Vouchsared
to the House. Still. he said, he would not
insist if the committee was satisfied
ASK for the name" cried Mr.. Sulzer
On " from his place in side aisle
Mr.. Wheeler (Ky) assured Mr.. Richard
son that the minority Of the committee
were satisfied, whereupon the latter yield
ed and the resolution was UNANIMOUSLY
adopted
The Philippine Coinage Bill.
The House then proceeded with the Phil
ippine coinage bill.
In the course of the debate Mr.. Hill
Comm made the important statement. in
connection with what he had said yester-
day that Secretary Shaw had informed him
this morning that Mexican gentleman was
now in this city In the interest of an ar
rangement by which Mexico could adopt
currency system uniform and interchange
able with that of the United States.
After a protracted discussion In which
Mr.. Cannon Oll) Mr.. Payne On. " and
others spoke in support of the majority bill
and Mr.. Fowler On. j. and Mr.. Grosvenor
tOhio, in favor OF the substitute, Mr.
Jones (Va) moved to strike out the hrst
section of the majority bill and insert the
first section Of the minority substitute.
which provided for the Introduction OF the
American coinage system complete into
the islands
The first section of the substitute pro-
vided that tAe lawful money of the United
States should be legal tender for in the
Philippines for debts. public and private.
and declared the coinage laws OF the
United States to be in full force in the
islands.
Mr. Mccall CMass.) spoke in favor of the
substitute.
MI. Jones' Motion Carried.
The vote then was taken. The entire
democratic side and about. twenty republic
cans voted for Mr.. Jones motion. and 1t
was carried on a rising vote-115 to 30.
AHlI