The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, March 28, 1902, Page 1

4 VOLI',\R E XCL—NO. 118. SAN FRANCISCO, FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 1902. PRICE FIVE CENTS. GAGE CAMP IS ALARMED OVER THE REPORT THAT DEMOCRATS WILL NAME BERNARD D. MURPHY OF SAN JOSE FOR GOVERNOR CONGRESS TO INVESTIGATE BRIBERY CHARGE RELATING TO SALE OF DANISH WEST INDIES CowHERD. RichardsonBringsUp the Subject in the House. Minority Revives the Allegations of Christmss. ASHINGTON, March. 2. —A genuine sensation in the by the n by Rich- dson of Tennessee, leader, of ’f charges alleg- fund of $500,000 ale of the Danish s were contained of Captain Danish Govern- that he ng the nego- use ) to the red ns to b of the islands to a | Jort, extracts from mentioned and his part- W. Knox, who timate friend of P. Evans, who Gardner and e House,” and two press the names of w ich were not been interested in the chprges against members of Con- gress were not spec! Upon the basis of this report, Richardson asked the adop- tion of a resolution for the appo of an investigating committee of er ruled ntment en. that the matter was rivileged after Richardson had amended his resolution_so as to specifically include s of the House. Great excitement the whole proceeding. Cannon of Illinois insisted that Richard- son’s presentation was fragmentary and that the whole matter should go over untll to-morrow in order that members | presented, | am. | night rcad the documents which included newspaper extracts, G etc., in the record. Christmas, no lared, on his own statement was a briber or worse. But the House voted vits de: dewn the motion to postpone and the res- | civtion, after being amended in minor | particulare, was adopted. The Speaker immediately appointed the following com- mittee to make the investigation: Dalzeli (R.) of Pennsylvania, Hitt (R.) of Tiinois, Cousins (R.) of JTowa, McCall (R.) of Massachusetts, Richardson (D.) cf Tennessee, Dinsmore (D.) of Arkansas and Cowherd (D.) of Missouri. . DEMAND AN INVESTIGATION. Congressmen Are Anxious to Be Cleared of the Charges. WASHINGTON, March 27.—At the open- ing of the session of the House to-day had em-| the | | | | | &'C OUSINS -+ REPRESENTATIVES TO INVESTIGATE THE CHARGE OF BRIBERY or IN CO. TION WITH SALE | MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE APPOINTED BY THE HOUSE OF THE DANISH WEST INDIES. | Richardson of Tennessee, the minority leader, offered as a matter of privilege a | resolution for the appointment of a com- mittee of five to investigate the charges said to have been made by Walter Christ- mas¢, a semi-official representative of the Government of Denmark, in a secret re- port to his Government, in which it was made to appear that he was to receive $500,000 of the purchase money for the salc of the Danish West Indies for bribing newspapers and members of Congress. The resolutions presented by Richard- son are in part as follows: “Whereas, one Walter Christmas, a subject of Denmark, who is now and who has been for several years a diplomatic agent and representative of the Govern- ment of Denmark, authorized and empow- ered to negotiate with the Government of the United States for the sale of the | Danish West Indian 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 con- fidential report to his own Government; and “Whereas, the sald Christmas, agent | and representative as aforesaid, In his said report to his Government declares | and sets forth among other things the fact that the Government of DenmarM contracted, agreed and obligated | has itself to pay and turn over to him, the | sata Christmas, 10 per centum, or about $500,000, of the proceeds of the purchase | money arising from the sale of said isl- {ands to the United States when the same shall have been pald 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 States Congress, including members of the House of Rep- resentatives, and other prominent citizens of this country, and for subsidizing Amer- fcan newspapers, to the end that the pending treaty between the United States | Representatives Are Indignant at Story of | Danish Agent and Act Promptly ————— and Denmark for the sale of the islands by the latter to the former Government may be consumnfated.” The resolutions further recite that said secret report states that the said $500,000 shall be immediately paid to Christmas if the purchase money ¥s paid by the United States for the corrupt objects set forth. The pendency of the ratification of the treaty is also sct forth. In conclusion the resolutions recite that a select com- mittee of ‘seven meémbers of the House of Representatives be appolnted by the Speaker to examine into the charges and the alleged circumstances, contracts, etc., “which in any manner have for their ob- Ject the bribery of or the attempted brib- ery of members of the United States Con- gress, or of the payment of any valuable consideration 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.” Payne Kakes Point of Order. “The Republican leaders hurriedly consulted during the reading of the resolution and when the reading had been concluded Payne, the ma- jority leader, immediately made the point of order that the matter presented was not priv- ileged. This basls of the resolution, Payne said contemptuously, was based upon an alleged secret report to the Danish Government, - Richardson met this with the statement that he had a copy of the secret report to the Dan- ish Government. On my honor, as & member of this House,” eald he, “I have now in my desk what pur- ports to be and what I belleve s that secret confidential report. Assuming the full respon- sibility of my words I belfeve I have unmistak- able evidence that this report was made to the Danish Government by a quasi, If not real, agent of that Government.” _“When did the gentleman obtain access to the secret archives of the Danish Government?'" interposed Payne, sarcastically. “I never have been in Denmark,” retorted Continued on Page Two. s o AIMING FIERCE REBUKE Root Is Preparing an Onslaught on Miles. Secretary Is Anxious to Outdo First Effort. Commanding General Is Happy in Beat- ing Staff Bill. weE Speclal Dissatch to The Call. CALL BUREAU, 1% G STREET, N. W., WASHINGTON, March 27.—Secretary Root is preparing an onslaught on Lieu- tenant General Miles which will make that officer’s reprimand in connection with the Schley case appear in compari- son in the light of a mild rebuke. The exact objeet of Secretary Root in formulating this statement cannot be as- certained, and, in fact, those close to him ace disposed to deny that he contempiates making any public criticism of the com- manding general. Nevertheless a member of the Cabinet said this afternoon that since General Miles’ attack on the President and Secre- tary Root, the latter has been callecting information bearing upon the relations which General Miles sustained with La- mont when that gentleman was Secretary of War, with General Alger and himself. A report was current in army circles that the Secretary was preparing this state- ment for the use of the President in con- nection with the transmission to Congress of ‘the information called for by the Bur- leson resolution. PURFPOSE OF ROOT. This resolution, however, calls upon the President only for “Coples of all cor- reepondence relating t6 and papers bear- ing upon the matter of the recknt request of Lieutenant General Miles..to.be as- #igned o duty in the Philippins ahd to be allowed 'to put into effect there the plan cutlined by him having for its pur- pese and being calculated to bring about an Immediate cessatien of hostilities in said Philippines without further loss of life on €ither side.” It would seem to be impolitic for the President te use this resolution as a peg upon whick to hang a statement of Licu- tenant General Miles’ general conduct, and it is not helieved that this is the pur- pose wiich the Secretary has in view in preparing o statement of that officer’s services since his occupancy of his pr ent peition. is nc intention at present of pla- tug lLieuterant General Miles on the re- tired list, although the statement wo be useful in showing the causes whizh would prompt the President to take suzh action. Secretary Root has not, however, finished his testimony before the Senate Military Committee, and he will reply to the strictures passed upon the President and himself by General Miles. It may be that he will avail himself of this op- | P e riunity to speak his mind about the >mmanding general. MILES REMAINS SERENE. When the statement reaches the public it wil. be found tc be in the nature of a resume of the correspondence to which General Miles was a party. There was friction between General Miles and La- mont, an open rupture between General Alger and the commanding general, and the same condition exists to-day between that army officer and his superior. It will be shown that General Miles alone was rcsponsible for bringing this condition about. It was the duty of General Miles t> have supported the views of the Presi- dent and Secretary of War on the canteen questicn, yet he .leliberately approved the abclition of this soldiers’ comfort. Gen- eral Miles has also Leen blamed for per- mitting the statement to reach the public that he had opposed the location of forts near large citles because he did not think 1. proper or wise (o attempt to overawe the laboring man. Enemies of the general say in the case of ihe canteen he sought the influence of the temperance people of tte ccuntry, and in the other the support of the labor classes. General Miles Is apparently serene under the sword of Damocles which is hanging over his head. He was at the War De- partment this morning, and attended to routine matters, and this afternoon was playing golf at the Country Club. His friends insist that he is not dissatisfied with the result of his frank statement to the Senate Committeé, as the staff re- organization bill is dead, and this was the object of his criticism. SHRINKAGE OF BRITISH INVESTMENTS IN AMERICA Tondon Press Says England Is Wa: ing Her Energies in the South African Desert. LONDON, March 27.—In an edltorial this morning on the “American inva- sion” and the shrinkage of British in- vestments in the United States, the Daily News says: “We are assuredly not trying to make out a case for protection or the boycotting of American wares. But it is a matter of serious import that, while we are wast- ing our wealth, cnergies and manhood in the South African desert, the Americans are steadily ,securing control of our in- dustries. It is time the nation aroused it- self to a sense of the gravity of its po- L sition.” - His Retention as Bank Commissioner Is Advised. Suggestion Is Made y Herrin and Knight. HE Gage camp i excited | over_the "report that Bank | Commissioner ~ Bernard D. | Murphy has been slated as the | Democratic nominee for Gov- | ernor. “He will beat Gage,” | a well-known Republican-| to George Knight. The latter tened to the prediction of Gage's defeat | and also pondered oyér a suggestion that | it would be wise on the Governor's part | to reappoint Barney: Murphy to the Bank | Commission. It was said.to Knight that the Governor ‘could justify the appoint- ment of a Democrat on the ground that | the appointee was.a pioneer citizen and a | representative of one of the oldest and'| most distinguished families of Caufornia. This plan of putting Murphy on the side- track caught the fancy of Knight, who replied: “It is a good suggestion. Gage could give rezsons for indorsing & Demo- crat of Barney Murphy's character. Murphy is not ambitious to be Governor. He is quite well satisfied to remain as he | is, a Bank Commissioner. Let me talk | over this matter with Herrin. - If we agree we will go to Gage and ask him to take care of Barney.” 5 The story goes that Knight lost no time | In calling up Herrin' and making an ap- pointment to see the latter on important business. After the conference Knight said that Herrin readily concurred.in the suggestion and agreed to see Gage and urge the appointment. It is common political gossip that lead- ing Democrats have been considering the | advisability of placing Barney Murphy,at the head of their State ticket. Herrin" s | plan of campaign is to place Gage at the | head.of the Republican ticket and then pick out some weak and vulnerable Demo- crat to head the opposing ticket. Gage is ready to place the State patronage where it will do bim the most good in his des- perate struggle for re-election. He Is re- taining In office serviceable Democrats wherever they can be retained without provoking a storm of protest in the Re- publican ranks. Bernard Murphy's term as Bank Com- missioner will not expire until December, | 1902. He was appointed. by Governor Budd in 1893 to serve for a term of four years. The salary attached to the office is $3600 per annum. As the Governor at the last session of .the Legislature *monkeyed” | with section 1000 of the Political Code re- lating to appointments during recess, no | appointee of the present admlnlstratlonx exclaimed lis- can he sure of holding office beyond the | adjournment of the next session .of the Legislature. The appointees have a good many risks to take. In the flrst place, they must take the chance of the Gov- ernor's renomination, and in the next| place they must take the risk of his de- feat In the event of his renomination. Finally, they must take the chance that promises of reappointment will be fule filled. The amendment to’ section 1000 af the Political Code gives the Governor the | lease of a gold-brick yard. Fifty Families Made Homeless, SCRANTON, Pa., March 21.—Fire to-day in the vallage of Peckville, eight miles from here, destroved forty buildings, with | much of thelr cortets. Loss £130,00). Thir, ty of the bulldings were insured. Fifty | fort to make’political capital out of the | help the Mayor's counsel in the courts | held in the Mayor's office or in the rooms | Herrin to act as his agent? | jected to dosGage politics and-to do such *the casge in court. cor-u-'u:mom E & ! I ‘ ks TO THE BANK COMMISSION IN GEROUS POSSIBLE RIVAL FOR LEADING DEMOCRAT WHOM GOVERNOR GAGE MAY REAPPOINT ORDER TO GET RID OF A DAN- THE GUBERNATORIAL OFFICE. i | X i | - A HE course of Mayor Schmitz in removing from office the bu- bonic Board of Health is widely | commended. People indorse his | judgment and admire his nerve. | In the approaching. contest in | the courts the Mayor is sure to have the moral and material support of the city The question to be determined is not one | of polities or. of factions, and- the com-, munity will view with suspicion any ‘ef- proceedings. n was whispered about last night that | - F. Herrin had invited a conference to | consldcr the ‘advisability of supporting | the Mayor by employing a big lawyer to and by dipping into the State appropria- tion ‘of §$100,000, for counsel fees. It seems to The Call that the proceed- ings ought to be conducted without any active interferénce on the:part of Herrin. | If Governor Gage desires to assist Mayor Schmitz in handling the case let him ex- tend his'aild through the State Board of Health and keep the law department of the Southern Pacific in reserve for some other kind of work. HERRIN INVITES CONFERENCE. At the City Hall last night it was said that Herrin had invited the conferénce to assemble at his office at 12 o'clock to-day. It this question pertains to the public health and this proposed meeting really signifies a purpose to uphold and strengthen the executive of San Fran-| cisco why should not the conference be of the newly appointed Board of Health? 1f Governor Gage wants to get in and sustain the Mayor why does he engage | The tendency of the Governor and Her- (Tin to subvert everything to politics ex- ¢ites' the suspicion of the people. No go0d can _result from _a secret session pro- grammed by Herrin ana Gage. Again, what is'the serse of talking about em- ploying specially gifted and eminent coun- sel to assist the Mayor when that bril- Hant- lawyer, George A. Knight, is al- ready on the pay. roll of the public as attorney of the State Board of Heaith? i The ‘conference at Herrin's cfice Is pro- political work to the real detriment of SCHMITZ DESERVES SUPPORT. Mayor Sehmitz deserves support, but the assistance should come In a proper manner and through legitimate channels. Governor Blunders in Appointing Buck. Suspicious Conference to Be Held. EVERAL stories are in cireu- lation regarding the influences which prevailed on Governor Gage in the recent appoint- ment of a Superior Judge in San Joaquin County. The facts seem to he that the Governor studied the political sityation with an effort to ascertain what effect the appointment would have on_ his own prospects in San Joaquin County. Perhaps the Governor appointed the best man on the list of as- | pirants. Information recéived by The Call, however, is to the effect that Gage ap- pointed the candidate who was most ac- ceptable to the law department of ths Southern Pacific. The following story from Sacramento concerning the appoint- | ment is readable: SACRAMENTO, March 27.—The Bee to~ night publishes 2 very amusing tale from Stockton of a gold brick presented to and accepted by Governor Henry T. Gage. A short while ago Judge Joseph Budd, one of the Judges of the Superior Court of San Joaquin County, died in Stockton, and Governor Gage has been meditating for some time as to who he would appoint to the vacancy, having, of course, due consideration to the improvement and re- pair of his own political fences. ‘Wednesday afternoon Alexander Brown, chairman of the State Board of Equali~ zation, meandered into Stockton, evi- dently. at the request of Governer Gage, to inquire into matters over there con- cerning the various aspirants for the judgeship. TELEPHONES HIS VIEWS. ‘Wednesday night he telephoned from the Stockton Independent office his views on the matter, and the Governor tele- phoned over the appointment of George F. Buck to bé Superior Judge in place of the lately deceased Judge Joseph Budd. Now comes the story as wafted from Stockton. It appears that George F. Buck is in hot water with the Federated Trades of Steckton, an organization to which Governor Gage has been Kowtow- ing for quite a long while. In fact George F. Buck is virtually on the blacklist of the Federated Trades of Stockton because he has persisted In patronizing an estab- lishment which that organization had boycotted. The attorney for the Federated Trades, one C. H. Fairall, was an aspirant for this position, and it is asserted that the other day Governor Gage told Fairall that he would give him a hearing in reference familles are left homelces and are beix cared for by the nelghbors. Continuéd on Page Two. i ;‘.onflnucd onrhgc Twe.