Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-09
Mr., T|LLMAN' DESK
ROBBED OF PAPERS
Missing Documents Needed in
His Defense.
HINTS OF WHEREABOUTS
Senator Says They Were Wanted in
a Certain Place.
MAKING READY HIS REPLY
Unhurt, He Declares, by "President's
Bomb" and Asks Public to
Wait Until Monday.
Senator Says They Were Wanted In
Certain Place.
MAKING READY HIS REPLY

Very important documents and letters
bearing upon the Presidents land fraud
charges against Senator Tilman of South
Carolina are missing from Mr. Tillmans
desk in his committee room at the Cap
itol
This is the sensational disclosure made
this morning by the senator from South
Carolina.
II had big envelope locked in my
desk last spring." said Senator Tillman.
and in that envelope We're all the let
ters and kilograms that l received from
Reeder & Watkins, and also several maps
and other documents. This envelope is
gone OF course, l don't know where it
has gone, but there is a certain place
where those documents may have been
wanted"
Mr.. Tillman has not yet given up all
hope of finding this envelope, but he has
pretty nearly done so for he has made a
most thorough search in the room of the
committee on the five civilized tribes. of
which he Is the chairman, and where he
has his private office.
Those papers were very valuable to
me- ne said land would aid me greatly
In presenting my side of this matter"
toned in the Presidents letter to Senator
Hale as the one with which Mr.. Tlllman
had correspondence last winter concern
ing the purchase of government land
grants, and against which Mr.. T1liman
persuaded the Postmaster General to issue
temporary fraud order, barring 1t from
the use of the mails.
Further than this Mr.. Tillman would
not discuss the loss of the documents
He has copies of all the letters he wrote
TO Reeder 6, Watkins. and he Is going
over everything bearing on the case with
the utmost care. In fact he locked hlm-
self in his room this morning with his
secretary in order that he might not be
disturbed In his work
He has not altered his intention to re-
ply to the Presidents charges Monday.
Asks Public to Wait.
He would not discuss the disclosures
of the President made public this morn
ing to any extent. He did make this
statement. however:
THE public can suspend judgment until
it has heard my side of this affair. The
President has exploded his bomb. and l
am not hurt single bit. In fact, l do
not believe / have been even joStled by
the explosion The President will find
before l get through that he has been
hoist by his own petard.
1t was made clearer than ever this
morning that Senator Tillman is not 60
dent. He is writing his speech, and will
give it out in advance to the press. He
has kept clerks running here and there
all day looking up points and gathering
bits of information to fit into his argu-
ment. He has not got worried look at
all, and seems to feel the confidence that
he expresses in the outcome.
The Senate appropriations commNtee
met this morning and turned over to Mr..
Tillman all of the documents relating 10
the Presidents charges against him. The
committee, IT is understood, Will take no
action on the matter until after MIR. I'LL
man has had an opportunity to reply 20
the charges.
Admits Typewriter Incident.
Mr.. Tillman admitted this morning with
out the slightest hesitation that he had
sent a typewriter through the mails under
frank and that he had received q nou-
fication from Postmaster Barnes Of this
city several days ago that there was
due SIG on it for postage.
Il have been sending a typewriter
through the mails franked Tor years,
said he this morning. and NOBODY mas
ever questioned my right to do So IL Is
government typewriter, and when go
home during the recess of the Senate L
take 1t with me in order TO use II III sel-
ting out my official correspondence
Il don't care whether anybody else ever
sent typewriters through the mails under
frank or not. l have been doing 1t
without question. L know that the Presi-
dent sent TO Senator Hale letter from
me to Postmaster Barnes In which re-
fused TO pay that S16. That is correct,
100 | told Mr.. Barhes he could keep the
old typewriter. II he wants 10 he can
send it to the dead letter office and place
the Post Office Department in the position
of selling at public auction a typewriter
that belongs to the United States Senate.
y never heard of the rule against send
ing government typewriters through the
notf fr MI
got that letter from Mr.. Barnes the other
day. [ understand it is new rule. but
don't care whether 1t is or not. This is
the first time l have ever been told that
] was doing anything | shouldn l.
Subcommittee Appointed.
II leaked out this afternoon that Senator
Hale chairman of the appropriations com
mittee. at the meeting this morning an
nounced the appointment Of the subcom-
mittee which Will have charge Of the
investigation Of the secret service under
the Aldrich resolution and which will
report upon what, in its opinion, action
shall he taken by the Senate with refer
ence to the Objectionable portion of the
Presidents annual message.
Members Cf the appropriations commit
tee after the meeting were unusually care
ful to try to keep the names of the mem
hers OF the subcommittee secret. II
became known. however that they are
iiemenway OF Indiana and Clay OF
Georgia.
IL was stated this afternoon that owing
To the absence OF Senator Gallinger OF
New Hampshire. where he will remain
perhaps two weeks longer, and also on
account of his large amount of work as
chairman OF the District committee Mr.
Hemenway will take up the principal bur
den OF the investigation.
The Gallinger subcommittee will prob
ably hold a preliminary meeting next
week but of course only Senators Hem
enway and Clay will be able TO he pres
ent. An early report to th<full committee
and by the full committee to the Senate
is expected upon the Presidents annual
message, recommending some action SIM
liar 70 that taken by the House yesterday
namely, the laying on the table Of the
portion with reference 20 the secret serv-
ice
The Presfdent'S letter TO senator Hale.
Transmitting the secret service report
I'm senator Cillman'- case, will be found
elsewhere In The Star.