North Carolina Newspapers

Weather Today: RAIN. The News and Observer. VOL. Lit. NO. 11. - Leads all Worth Carolina Dailies in Mews and Circulation HALF A MILLI TO BRIBE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS i ~ Agreement of Denmark to Pay Its Diplomatic Agent That Sum to Buy Votes For the Treaty of Cession. THE 1 AGENT’S ALLEGED SECRET REPORT Mr. Richardson Reads Fx-* tracts in the House. k • IT CREATES A GENUINE SENSATION The Report Mentions the Names of Abner McKinley, C. W. Knox, “A Friend of Senator Hanna,” and Oth ers. The Charges Against Members of Congress Not Specific. Committee of Seven Appointed to Investigate. (By the Associated Tress.) Washington, D- C., March 27.—A gen uine sensation was caused in the House today by the presentation by Mr. Rich ardson, of Tennessee, the Democratic leader, the charges alleging the corrupt use cf a fund of $500,000 in connection with the sale of the Danish West Indies. The charges were contained in an alleged secret report of Captain Walter Christ mas to the Danish Government, which declared that he had employed corrupt means to bring the negotiations for the sale of the islands to a consummation. The report, extracts from which Mr- Richardson read, mentioned the names of Abner McKinley and his partner, Colonel Brown, C. W. Knox, who was described as l- an intimate friend of Sen ator Hanna,” Richard P. Evans, who was said to represent “Mr. Gardner and his friends in the House,” and two press associations .the names of which were not given, as having been interested in the matter. The charges against mem bers of Congress were not specific. Upon the basis of this report, Air- Richardson asked the adoption of a res olution for the appointment of an inves tigating committee of seven. The speak er ruled that the matter was privileged after Mr. Richardson had amended his rcscluiton so as to specifically include members of tihe House. Great excitement attended the whole proceeding. Air. Cannon, of Illinois, in sisted that Mr. Richardson's presenta tion was fragmentary and that the whole matter should go over until tomorrow, in order that members might read the documents presented, which included newspaper extracts, affidavits, etc., in the record. Christmas, he declared! on his own statement was a briber and worse. But the House voted down the motion to postpone and the#resolution after being amended in minor particulars was adopt ed. Ihe speaker immediately appointed the following committee to make investi gation: Messrs. Dalzell, (Republican, Penna.): Hitt, (Rep., ills’.) : Cousins, (Rep., Iowa); McCall, (Rep., Mass.); Kithardson, (Dem., lenn-); Dinsmore, (I-em., Ark.); and Cowherd, (Dem., Mo). The Army Appropriation Bill was sub s< quently passed without material amendment, and a rule was adopted to make the bill to retire officers of the ie\enuo cutter service, a continuing order undisposed of, the order not to in- i tei sere with appropriation or revenue bills or conference reports. The resolutions presented by Mr. Rich ardson are in part as follows: "Whereas, one Walter Christmas, a subject of Denmark, who is no w and who has been for several years, a diplo matic agent and representative of the Government of Denmark, authorized and empowered to negotiate with the Gov ernment of the United States for the sale of the Danish West Indies Islands to the United States, and who was also the agent of the United States for the purchase of said islands, has submitted a secret and confidential report to his own Government and, “Whereas, the said Christmas, agent and representative, as aforesaid, in his report to his Government declares and sets forth among other things, the fact that the Government of Den mark has contracted, agreed and obli gated itself to pay and turn over to him, the said Christmas, ton per centum, or ahoiit five hundred thousand dollars of the proceeds of the purchase money seising from the sale of said islands to the United States when the same shall have been paid by the United States to Denmark, for the express purpose as has been declared and set forth by him in his said secret report to his Government, for the bribing of members of the United Stales Congress, including members of the House of Representatives and other prominent citizens of this country, and Ter subsidizing American to the end that the pending treaty be tween the United States and Denmark for the sale of the islands by the latter to the former government may be con summated.” The resolutions further recite th.it said •s-cret report states that the $500,000 shall be immediately paid to Christmas, it tue purchase money is paid by the United States for the corrupt objects set forth. The pendency of the ratifica- I tion of the treaty is also set forth. In conclusion ttie resolutions recite that a j select committee of seven members of I the House of Representatives be ap pointed by the Speaker to examine into J the charges and the alleged circum stances, contracts, etc., “which in any | manner have for their object the bribery j of or the attempted bribery of members ■ of the United States Congress or of the ; payment of any valuable consideration I of any kind or character to them or to ! any of them to vote for or to assist in procuring, the proposal, adoption or ratification of the said treaty of sale of the said islands.” The Republican leaders hurriedly con sulted during the reading of the resolu tions and’Avhen the reading had been con cluded Mr. Payne, the majority leader, immediately made the point of order that the matter presented was not privileged. The resolution, Mr. Payne said, con temptulously, was based upon an alleged i secret report to the Danish Government. Instantly Mr. Richardson met this with teh statement that he had a copy of the | secret report to the Danish Government. “On my honor as a member of this House,” said he, “I have now on my desk : what purports to be and and what I be ! lipv <> is that secret confidential report. Assuming the full responsibility of my words 1 believe I have unmistakable evi dence that this report was made to the . Danish Government was a quasi if not a real agent of that Government.” “When did the gentleman obtain ac | cess to the secret archives of the Danish { Government?” interposed Mr. Payne sar castically. ”1 have never been to Denmark,” re torted Mr. Richardson, “but the gentle man knows there are other ways of ob taining authentic government documents. I have the evidence here. This is a grave charge. I do not bring it here for j the purpose of making political capital. I Here is a charge that $500,000 was paid for the express purpose of bringing the American Congress yet the genteman from Now York seeks to interpose a ; tech.nica objection.” I Speaker Henderson at this point called attention to the fact that the language of the resolution charged that newspa pers and members of Congress had been bribed. “Members of Congress,” he said, “did not necessarily include members of the House.” He thought if the resolution was to be privileged it should specifically include members of the House. “I am prepared to say,” replied Mr. Richardson, “that these cliarges do in clude members of the House and will amend the resolution to that extent.” Speaker Henderson thereupon ruled that the matter presented was privileged. By this time the interest in the House was intense. Almost every seat was oc cupied and the members listened eagerly as Mr. Richardson proceeded to present his ease. First., he read extracts from the press at Copenhagen. These were followed by an affidavit from Neds Green concerning his dealings with certain people here, but they were ret particularly sensational. The real sensation came when he started to read from what purported to be the report of Walter Christmas concerning the nego tiations. He prefaced the reading by the statement that it would show a “corrupt bargain” worthy of the consideration of the House. TH’he report was too long to road in full, he said, “I will only read the luscious extracts which, if true, should bring the blush of shame to the Cheek of every American,” said he. “For the statement will disgrace this country in the eyes of every foreign country in the world. This is what this corrupt bargainer says.” He then proceeded to read Mr. Christmas’ account of his inter view with the prime minister of Den mark, in which he was said to have told the minister of the necessity for the use of money to bring the negotiations for the sale of the islands to a successful termi nation. He told of his acquaintance with Abner McKinley, President McKinley’s brother and his law partner, .Colonel Brown, two gentlemen whom Mr. Christ mas desi ribed as “having the entry to the White House and being familiar with the ways °f American politics and what mem bers of Congress would have to be paid to accomplish the results desired.” The report then described how Mr. Christmas had enlisted not only President McKinley's brother and his partner, but two press associations, one in New York and one in Washington and a prominent banking house in New Yotk in the sale of the islands. Tim Danish foreign minister was re ported as disgusted with the methods which had to be pursued, but as finally giving hi.s acquiesce. Mr. Richardson said that Christmas was speaking of inviting members of Congress to dine with him at Ihe Hotel Raleigh in ibis city. He then quoted from the report as fellows: “It was r.ct alone the members of Congress I had to invite. I had as my special assistants two men, C. W. Knox, who was an intimate friend of Senator llanna P. Evans, a lawyer RALEIGH. NORTH CAROLINA. FRIDAY MORNING. MARCH 28 1902. in Washington, who represented Mr. Gardner and his* friends in the House. These took an active part in the per sonal Rgitation, since they talked with a large number of memberk of Congress and agitated for the purchase of the is lands. 1 had contracts with them both, according to which they and through them certain members of Congress should have a share of the commission if the sale took place; but the two gentlemen's agi tation, expenses, etc., bills in restaurants and hotels, I had to pay. The two press associations, Abner McKinley and Brown, Evans, Knox and others, l had promised that their contracts should be guaranteed by the House of Seligman. To this the banking house had agreed, as it should in one way or another have to be recognized by the Danish Government.” Mr. Richardson said he did not charge that any Senator or member of Congress had been bribed. He had simply pre sented the allegations of this agent that money had to be used for bribing Con gressmen. The charges had been published in this country and abroad, he said, giv ing the impression that conditions in the United States were “simply horrible.” He therefore proposed this inquiry, so that each member could disclaim the charges so far as it affected him. Mr. Richard son said there was one unpardonable fea ture to the affair, In that the State De partment must have known of the publi cation of these charges prior to the rati fication of the Danish treaty. Mr. Cannon (Ills.), made the first re joinder of any length. He pressed Mr. Richardson to know whether the report gave the name of a member or members of the House said to have been bribed and they engaged in a very sharp clash. Mr. Cannon was plainly laboring unefer considerable ex citement. Mr. Richardson insited that the report did charge members of the House and Senate. “I have mentioned several of the names,” said he, “I will repeat them if need be.” “It seems to me,” said Mr. Cannon, breaking in. “that it would be wise to make this investigation, if it is worthy of investigation after the members of the House have had an opportunity to exam ine the documents which the gentleman from Tennessee has read. “I do not believe that there is a man in the House who wants to investigate the mere statement of an acknowledged thief.” Mr. Cannon moved to postpone consid eration of the resolution until tomor row. Mr. Underwood (Ala.), declared that the honor of the country was at stake in this matter. It mattered not, he said, whether Christmas was thief or knave. He had made the charges. They should be thoroughly investigated. Mr. Cannon declared that he had never heard of this man Christmas, until today; he had no knowledge or information con cerning him, but according to his own belief, he was a briber and worse. “But ho was accredited by the Secretary of State,” interposed Mr. Richardson, “and instructed to go to our minister in London.” “The gentleman artfully says the Sec retary of State made this man his agent," cried Mr. Cannon, indignantly. “I know nothing about it. If anything ought to be investigated I am for an investiga tion.” “But these charges were printed in Denmark and were known here from Jan uary 28 to ebruary 17,” interposed Mr. Richardson. “Does the gentleman not think the Secretary of State should have called the attention of the Senate to charges that $5011,000 was being spent to bring about a successful termination of the negotiations?" “I do not know anything about it,” re sponded Mr. Cannon, warmly, “and until I do I will say nothing that would dis honor any one.” “I am not seeking to dishonor any one. I am seeking to prevent dishonor,” replied Mr. Richardson. The speaker then put the question on Air. Cannon’s motion to postpone. The Republicans generally voted for the mo tion, but such a stentorian chorus of noes came from the Democratic side that the speaker announced “the noes seem to have it.” Mr. Cannon did not ask for a division and the speaker declared the motion lost. The resolutions were then perfected by t'he insertion of “it is alleged” before all assertions of fact. At the suggestion of Mr. Laccv t’owa), the reference in the resolution to newspapers was changed to read ‘ newspapers or press associations." With these changes the resolutions were put to a vote and were carried without a dissenting voice. The Senate Proceedings. Washington, March 27. —In the Senate today Mr. Harris, of Kansas, and Mr. Quarles, of Wisconsin, spoke at length on the Oleomargarine Bill. Mr. Harris sup ported the measure, but urged that an amendment which be proposed placing a tax of ten cents a pound on adulterated butter and regulating the manufacture and sale of renovated butter ought to be adopted. Mr. Quarles vigorously denounced the oleomargarine industry, as at present conducted, as a fraud and insisted that in the interest not only of the five mil lion of dairymen, but also in the inter est of the whole American people, the pending bill ought to be enacted :nto law. Mr, Patterson, of Colorado, sharply < rit icised the methods by whiejj General I'un ston captured Aguinaldo and sought to show that General Funston’s statement published today that he bad not violated t-he articles of civilized warfare was not accurate. Air. Patterson said that all authorities upon international law and the ai tit les of civilised warfare declared that the use of the enemy’s uniform was not warrant ed and that a mad in an enemy’s uniform who killed another man was guilty of as sassination, and outside the pale of pro tection. The Senate adjourned until Monday. FROM ROOSEVELT I TO THE CONGRESS Regarding Diplomatic Repre sentation in Cuba. > OFFICIALS AND SALARIES He Recommends a Minister at Ten Thousand a Year. TWO SECRETARIES OF THE LEGATION • A Consul General at Havana at a Salary of $5,000 a Year. Consuls at Cien fjegos and at Santiago da Cuba. (By the Associated Press.) Washington, D. C., March 27. —The President this afternoon sent to Con gress the following message recommend ing provision for diplomatic representa tion in Cuba: "To the Congress of the United States: “I recommend to the Congress timely consideration of measures for maintain ing diplomatic and consular representa tives in .Cuba and for carrying out the provisions of the act making appropria tion for the support of the army for the fiscal year ending June 30th, nine teen hundred and two, approved March 2, nineteen hundred and one, reading as follows: “Provided further, that in fulfillment of the declaration contained in the joint resolution approved April 30tli, 1898, en titled ‘for the recognition of the inde pendence of the people of Cuba, demand ing that the government of Spain relin quish its authority and government in the Island of Cuba and to withdraw its ] land and naval forces from Cuba and j Cuban waters and directing the Presi dent of the United States to use the land and naval forces of the United States to carry these resolutions into effect,’ the President is hereby author ized to ‘leave the government and con trol of the island of Cuba to its people’ so soon as a government shall have been established in said island under a con stitution which, either as a part thereof or in an ordinance appended thereto, shall define the future relations of the United States with Cuba, substantially as fol lows: “1. That the government of Cuba shall never enter into any treaty or other compact with any foreign power or pow ers which will impair the independence of Cuba, nor in any manner authorize or permit any foreign power or powers to obtain by colonization or for military or naval purposes or otherwise, lodg ment in or control over any portion of said island ‘‘2. That said government shall not assume or contract any public debt, to pay the interest upon which, and to make reasonable sinking fund provision for the ullinnate discharge of which, the or dinary revenues os the island, after de fraying the current expenses ot govern ment shall be inadequate. *3. That the government of Cuba con sents that the United. States may exer cise the risht to intervene for the nrej orvation of Cuban independence, the maintenance of a government adequate for the protection of life, property, and individual liberty, and for discharging the obligations with respect to Cuba im posed by the treaty of Paris on the Unit ed States, now to be assumed and un dertaken by the government of Cuba. “4. That all acts of the United States In Cuba during its military occupancy thereof are ratified and validated, and all lawful rights acquired thereunder shall be maintained and protected “s. That the government of Cuba will execute, and as far as necessary, extend the plans already de\ised or other plans to be mutually agreed upon, for the san itation of the cities of the island to the end that a recurrence of epidemic and infectious diseases may be: prevented, thereby assuring protection to the peo ple and commerce of Cuba, as well as to the commerce of southern ports of the United Slates and the people residing therein. “G. That the Isle of Pines shall be omitted from the proposed constitutional boundaries of Cuba, the title there to be left until future adjustment by treaty. ‘‘7- That to enable the United states to maintain the independence of Cuba and to protect the people thereof, as well as for its own defense, the government of Cuba will cell or lease to tne United Stats lands necessary for coaling or naval stations at c< rtain specified prints, to be agreed upon with the President of the United States. “8. That byway of further assur ances the government of (Vha will em body the foregoing prevsions in a per manent treaty with the United States. “The people of Cuba having framed a I constitution embracing the foregoing re quirements. and having elected a presi dent who is toon to take office, the Lime is near for the fulfillment of the pledge of the United States tc leave the gov ernment and control of the island of Cu ba to its people. 1 am advised by the Secretary of War that it is now expect ed that the installation ot the government cf Cuba and the termination of the mili tary occupation of that island by the United States will take place on the 20th of Alay next. . “Tt is necessary and appropriate that the establishment of international rela tions with the government of Cuba should coincide with its inauguration, as well as to provide a channel for the conduct of diplomatic relations with the new State as to open the path for the immediate negotiations of conventional agreements to carry out the provisions of the act above quoted. It is also advisable ihat consular representation be established without delay at the principal Cuban ports in order that commerce with the island may be conducted with due re gard to the formalities prescribed by the revenue and navigation statutes of the United States and that American citizens in Cuba may have the customary local resorts open to them for their business needs and the case arising, for the pro tection of their rights. “1 therefore recommend that provis ion he forthwith made and the salaries appropriated, to be immediately avail able for “A. Envoy extraordinary and minis ter plenipotentiary to the republic of Cuba SIO,OOO. ‘B. Secretary of the legation $2,000. “C. Second secretary of the legation $1,500- ‘D. Consul General at Havana $5,000. “E. Consul at Cienfuffos, $3,000; Con sul at Santiago de Cuba. $3,000. ‘‘l do not recommend the present res toration of the consulates formerly main tained at Saraeoa, Cardenas, Matauzas, Nuevitas, Saguala, Grane and San Juan de LoS Romedios- The commercial in terests at those poets heretofore have not been large. The consular fees collected there during the fiscal vear 1890-7 aggre gated $752.10. It is believed that the ac tual needs of the six offices named can be efficiently subserved by agents under the three principal consular offices until events may show* the necessity of elect ing a full consulate at any point- The commercial and political conditions in the island of Cuba while under the Span ish crown affords little basis for estimat ing the local development of intercourse with this country undpr the influence of the new relations which have been creat ed by the achievement of Cuban inde pendence and which are to be broaden ed and strengthened in every proper w ay by conventional pacts with the Cubans and by wise and beneficent legislation, aiming to stimulate the commerce be tween the two countries, if the great task we accomplished in 1898 is to be fittingly accomplished. “THEODORE ROOSEVELT. “White House, Washington, D. C., March 27, 1902.” P0!l AROUSES THEM Great Papers Favor Resolu tion to Investigate Cor ruption in Elections. (Special to News and Observer.) Washington, I). C., March 27.—The big papers of the country are giving great prominence to the resolutions to investi gate the use of money in elections intro duced yesterday by Representative Pou, of North Carolina. The Washington pa pers write in high terms of Mr. Pou. and the resolutions have caused much fa- j vorable comment among Democratic Congressmen. It was a brilliant stroke for the- -party. Senator Simmons today introduced sev eral amendments to the House River and Harbor Bill. They will be considered by the Senate Commerce Committee tomor row. QUAKERS DEFEAT YANIGANS Sixteen to Four in a Snappy Game Flayed Yeßterday (Special to News and Observer.) Washington, N. C., March 27. —Shetts- line had the Philadelphia regulars out in a lively game this evening against the scrub team, the Yanigans. The Leaguers are developing their new ma terial into a set of brilliant players. “Shetts” says he is going to suhprise the Quakers by making his new baseball material into a set of snappy players. Short, Whiney and Bragaw, local play ers played with the Yanigans. The score was as follows: QUACKERS. A.B. R. H. P.O. A. E. R. Thomas, c. f 6 3 3 0 0 1 j Browne, r. f 6 2 2 3 0 0 I Douglas, lb 5 0 1 11 0 1 j Hulswitt, s. s 5 1 2 2 4 0 i Barry, c. f 5 3 2 4 1 0 Dooins, c 5 2 3 0 0 0 Hallman, 3b 5 2 3 1 3 0 Childs, 2b 5 2 2 6 4 0 Voorhecs, p 5 1 0 (I 1 0 Total 47 16 18 27 13 2 YANIGANS. ' A.B. R. H. P.O. A. E. Duffy, 1. f 5 0 0 2 0 I) W. Thomas, c. f 5 1 0 4 0 0 Felix, 2b. & p 4 0 2 1 6 1 White, lb 4 0 2 12 0 1 Short, s. s 4 0 0 0 3 2 ! Bragaw, 3b 4 0 1 3 0 3 ! Whitney, c 4 1 2 1 (t 0 . Salisbury, r. f 11 3 11 o Iberg, p. &2b 4 11 0 3 0 Total 38 4 11 24 13 7 Timo 1:50. Umpire, W. J. Shcttsline. Women May be Notories Public. (By the Associated Press.) Richmond, Va., March 27.—The confer ence of Democratic members of the Con stitutional Convention today agreed to ! the proposition that women be made , notaries public. FRI NTS. tn :t ' STORMS II 011 Furious Floods Cause Wash outs and Stop 1 raffic on the Roads. (By the Associated Press.) New Orleans, March 27. —One of tbv* heaviest rains ever known in this section: fell last night at Pori* Gibson and vicin ity and the storm continued today. A. train on the Yazoo and Mississippi Val ley Which left this city last night is ditched near Dorman. Miss. The engine and mail coach were overturnei. but the passenger coaches remained on the track- About six miles of track on this road is washed away in front of the station of Russem, Afiss., seven miles south of Port Gibson. A train over this line from Vicksburg, due here this evening, is tied up at Port Gibson, South of that town the tele graph wires and poles are washed com pletely away. The Queen and Crescent road in that locality is blockaded. No loss of life has been reported. Bayou Pierre is out of its banks and the water is up to the edge of the main street of Port Gibson. Alcre than s>x inches of rain has fallen since the storm set in. ickrburg, Aliss., March 27.—A1l trains on the Yazoo and Mississippi Valley- Road south of here and all of those east on the Queen and Crescent were stopped today on account of the furious floods from a heavy rainstorm which began last night. The Weather Bureau announced a fall of 2V 2 inches for twelve hours. Washouts are reported all along the valley railroad south, but the north end is open. Bakers creek is the cause of the trouble on the Queen and Crescent route and it was announced today that there would be no train either way. The Yazoo and Mississippi alley shops were flooded with two feet of water and have been shut down. O’Nieli Bottom, a low district cf the citiy. was flooded and people had to be carrid out of their houses to higher grounds- IN SUPERIOR COURT. Beveral Minor Criminal Cases. Colored Bishop's Brother For Receiving Chickens. Several cases of minor importance were disposed of in Superior Court yesterday- John Alatten, for larceny and receiving, got six months on the roads. • Sid Freeman, Noah Pearce and Emmett Pool were sentenced to twelve, ten and eleven months respectively on the roads for larceny and receiving. Sarah Davis plead guilty of larceny and receiving, and judgment was sus pended on payment of costs. Monroe Roland got twlve months cn th-: reads for larceny and receiving. Charlie Chamblee and Cleveland Cham blee plead guilty of affray; judgment was suspended on payment of costs. Prank Smith, for carrying a concealed weappn, got six months in jail with leave to county commissioners to hire him out. Tom Scott, Tom Edwards and John Nichols were up for stealing and receiv ing stolen chickens from H. E. Glenn and N. B- Gulley. Nichols is the brother of a colored bishop in South Carolina. Scott j and Edwards, for stealing the chickens, got one year on the roads. Nichols was j found guilty of receiving and got olt upon payment of his share of the costs. Archie Taylor, for two indictments of I forgery and one of false pretence, got eighteen months on the roads altogether. ELKS’ BURLESQUE CIRCUS. “ Ac*ave Wqrk Has Commsncsd Big Production Will be April 3rd W. L. Haskell, W. B. Day, and Rube Davis, of the Buffalo Bill show, who have been engaged by the Elks, to assist them in the presentation of their big production, arrived in the city yesterday afternoon. A business meeting was held last night, which was attended by nearly every Elk in the city. The following' committees were ap pointed to handle the various depart ments of this big show: Executive Chairman: L. A. Mahler. Duplicity Committee: R. T- Gray, E. C. Smith, E. H. Lee, B. S- Jerman. Parade Committee: J. B. Stronach, G. M. Harden. John Pugh. Lithograph Committee: W. H- King, J. F. Jordan. Ticket Committee: R. Galloway. Cast and Amusement Committee: J. i W. Cross, W. B. Snow, L- A. Mahler, j Press Agent: J. F. FeTrall. The first rehearsal •was held last night j and active rehearsals will continue morn- I ins, neon and night until the big produc j tion is given the night of the 3rd. I To Establish Naval Hospital. (Bv the Associated Press.) j Washington, March‘27.—Surgeon Gener- I al of the Navy Rixey has gone to Char i loston, S. (\, to look over the grounds ! for the naval station at that city, with a view to the establishment of a naval hospital. He will also visit Port, Royal to inspect the naval hospital there and see what can be done in the way of in creased accommodations. Mullen Appointed Postmaster. (By the Associated Press.) Washington, March 27.—The President today sent the following nominations to the Senate: Postmasters —North Carolina, Jonas W. Mullen, Charlotte.