Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-04-08
How Mr.. pana Went for Wool and
Came Back ShOrn.

lt IL not pleasant thing 10 DC admitted on The
part of the press that one of its members should
he placed in such a notifying position, but
there is no gainsaying the fact that Mr.. Dana.
of the New York san, has made such complete
breakdown in undertaking to sustain his allega-
tons against Secretary Robson, that not only
will his own utterances hereafter be taken with
a large discount for exaggeration, but what is
called independent journalism" will receive
undeserved discredit. Dana's style of running
muck is sensational, however, rather than indie
pendent, and thoughtful readers know how to
make the distinction. The baseless character OF
the Suns representations in regard to the Navy
Department is conclusiyely illustrated by the
following extract from the verbatim report OF
the cross-questioning; Mr.. Dana being ON the
stand, and Secretary Robeson the questioner:
Q,-On March IL you saw: "Iaking the facts
already within our knowledge, "A rough calcula-
ton shows that his robberies will not amount to
less then S1.i00 ,o0o F" Now what fac : have You
in your possession or within yodr knowledge, a.
you say, to justify that statement? A.-The
SecOr fraud the two SecOr frauds, and
Q-How much is that? A.-That was writ
ten before the Tennessee case was investigated;
Mr. Sargent has just Intercepted me about it,
Q.-How much of the Secor frauds did get
OF your own knowledge-you speak there OF
your own knowledge? A.-By knowledge there
DO not mean personal knowledge.
Ooh, you do not? A.-NO, sir; and il does
not say personal knowledge.
Q-Then when you say within our knowl-
edge you do not mean that You have any
knowledge about il? Ayes; when you say
that thing iswithin your knowledge you mean
that you know il; that il is fact that you have
Learned from reading, from information,
Dwell, go on; you have mentioned the Sc
cor claim; how much of that did ges on your
| knowledge that you have from information and
| reading? Al have no means OF knowing;
| only know the aggregate amount Of the claim;
am not able to state how it was divided
"A S,,,,y soAr, -,
| what next? A.-The Tennessee case.
GLOW much of that did get? A.-That
was put down originally at 100000.
| 81 got $1,000 A.-No, you did not get
| that; am stating that that was an error or ex-
| aggeratiOn.
| Q.-what next? Al do not remember; /
am not prepared to go into an arithmet'cal cal
| Q.-Youwere prepared to make tn at state men.
| in public newspaper, but you are not prepared
| to establish it even by suppositious figures A
| have established a considerable portion Of it by
| evidence before this committee.
| Q.-No, you have not. Thatquestion remains
| to be decided Are you prepared TO make any
ether statement?
Mr.. Peters-He says that he does not call it
| more than million now.
Mr.. RObescn-That is leaving the Tennessee
! ont.
Q.-Have you ever taken any means TO know
| whether l was a rich man or a poor man? A
only know from public notoriety.
| Q.-Public notorety from whom. A.-Gen-
eral opinion and belief which is circulating
| around in the community.
| Q.-That is all? A.-That Is all
| Odd you ever take any means of finding
| out? A.-Not beyond that.
| Q.-There are means OF knowing that kind of
| thing? A.-There are, presume; the opinion
prevails that you spend great deal more money
than you earn, and that is the foundation OF this
| general belief
Q.-That is all, is it? Did you ever take any
| means of verifying IL in any way or shape
Al have never investigated your income on
| property.
Q.-Have you any idea how much | spend in
| any way or shape? A.-No.
.Q.-You never have had? A.-NOt any pre-
else idea.