New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-10
SYPHER'S CHARGES REFUIED
pprvJJ-MS ON WARSHIPS PAID IN &C
CORDANCE WITH THE LAW.
REPORT OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE on NAVAL
AFFAIRS SOME UNPLEASANT READING Ai'so
FOR "wATCIIDoG" HOLMAN
,ry TELEGRAPH 10 THE TElBrSR.l

Washington FEB. e-The unanimous report oil
the Committee Naval Ahairs on 'he fio''ia"
resolutions relating 70 the premiums paid 70 co''-
tractors on account Of the extra speed ana Morse
power of new vessels built by them Tor the Navy
was submitted to the House OF Representatives
late this afternoon The document VIII be rean
with greater interest than pleasure By Judge no man,
Of Indiana. and some of the other persons oo'-
cerned and 1t will excite the pleasure anu interest
not only of the naval officers but OF every citizen
who feels an interest in the welfare oil me H"'o''
can Navy and a Jealous desire that us hoho' anu
renu.o,ion shall no: be impaired or sulied The
resolutions were offered by Judge Holman on De-
cembcr y, 1885, and among the a"esa''o"S Se'
forth in the long preamble were tEeae' lnat sums
amounting 10 more than H.Ov)WO nnd p'"h pau
TO contractors on account OF premiums; that the
extraordinary and exorbltant sums PAD ana ca'nei
as premiums could not have been allowed or coud
not accrue under the statutes and terms OF the
contracts for building said ships unless the SP''u
requirements stipulated were ih''htioh"i! "a"''N
and fixed in the contract at rate Huch iesS "'a"
the designs and the engine power would JUSTIFY
that the designs Of the ships ana the machinery
u..rs 9, made az to attain and secure a much
higher sneel than was required by the terms OF the
contract thereby enabling and permitting the con-
tractors easily and without risk to earn ana c'a"
extraordinary. exorbitant ana uhJ"s'"ap'e pre-
mulms: that the contractors are permitted on the
trial trims TO resort to most extraordinary ana
unusual means to force the vessels up to speeds
,ovar attained in the service afterward. and by
strainng the ships machinery to make a reco'"
for speed upon which to claim extraordinary pre-
riun,s: and that such trials. 50 condicted' result
in no benefit the Government but are Wholly
artificial and Injurious TO the vessels, and serve
no purpose except 10 give eAorp''d"t S"''S az
premiums 10 the contractors
..rcoxoMIsT~' HOIMAN'S RESOLUTIONS
Tho frat resolution directed the Committee on
Naval Affairs to make complete ana thorough
Investigation and report, more especially whether
the law and the terms Of the contracts governing
in these matters have been strictly complied with
whether any officer OF the Government has, through
Ignorance or collision. aided and abetted con
tractors to earn and secure payment Of large pre-
miums 10y designing and towering ships for speed
much higher than was justified by the requirements
OF the contracts. and what extraordinary ana un-
usual means have been rcsortel to and practisel
by contractors the trial trips TO attain the tx
ccsslvely high speeds for premiums
The second resolution directed the Secretary o.
IN. Navy ITO withhold further payments Of any
and all premiums for warshps Until further dlrec-
ton of Congress" AMI required him - INFORM Inc
House In specific terms. in view o' the iA't '"''
saIl vessels were 10 be constructed In exact con-
fornllry with the law the terms OF the several con-
tracts and the specifications prescribed 10y the Navy
DEPARTMENT, upon what basis premiums have been
| maid and also what amounts are now claimed I'd
be due by contractors on account OF shch premiums
| and by whom such claim Is made
The r.port SAYS that in view 81 the testimony
taken hy the committee. it Is worth noting right
| here that the Hon. William Holman asked Tor
the immediate adoption by the House Of th.s pre-
ambe and these resolutions without reference
In view Of the facts get forth in The report. this
| seems 20 have been a most uniortunai" th'hs 10Y
Judge Holman To- DO. because ~ h" afteTwarl s'''
| before the committee hc had no personal know!-
edge Of the truth 81 the allegations upon when the
resolutions were basel. but relied wholly upon
statements made to him by "S-Congressman !.
Hale Svihcr 81 Louisiana. with whom he had
formerly been associated in congress ana Tor
| whom h, had youcied a. "a gentleman OF excel
| len, reputation" According 10 ~" report OF 'h'
| committee "Mr. sypher. from his own testimony
! stated tina, he knew ~ no facts OF his own per-
| sonal knowledge relative t. cry frauI OF any
| fraudulent transaction In connection with the CON
| -irucion of any of these cruisers. ana n support
| Of the resolution. and that IA" was not an "SIcri
IN the construction u naval vessels nor IN engineer
ing and all his sugges,ions were based npo' news
| paper reports
| svpurrrs CHARGES CoNTRApfCTED EY EXPERTS
| Among the assertion. made by Mr.. sypher before
| the committee was one 10 the efec' t'"t WI"
given speed ana ,ngine-powcr naval ar'hi''c7
| could calculate ia, speed Of V"sa" wl'hih ono
quarter Of knot" The truth 81 this assertion was
| dcpeI bv Assistant Naval Constructor Hubs. whom
he had mentioned one naval archiiec' "h" 'ouii
| calculate with such ME" accuracy ana VINO SAN
| that he might predict within on" kno' ui' ,,{,hIn
| Of gunboat 81 ordinary constru,u"h anu m'inr
knot and a half in the case Of vessel 81 peculiar
grssn mirf T Me"ille who ,hongh three
quarters Of = knot was the best maj couIl n' "o,
iv naval architects familiar Win the designs ana
| knowing the construction 81 tn. engines by Chsi
| Constructor Hichhorn who slid that ~ rrss"is
knots margin Of from onc-half 20 one hnot woud
~ Is,,rreu Of Nava Orinancc. Mr. syphers aega,
lions and assertions In regard to thr nature am
| also completely refuted by The testimony oil the
| officers already named -. -.,...,,. -, cha
The report next discusses IN" authorship OF me
| IIolman resolutions and OF a resolution offered hy
Mr. Blair. OF New-Hampshire on October isss
on the subject. and the motives whch lns,i.
gated the proposed investigation When he hrst
| appeared before the committee Mr., syph"r saii
| that he dill pro bono pubIlco as patriot
| moIMAN's PECULIAR ACTIONS.
| From the following extract from the report il IL
evident, that the Committee on Naval Affairs IL not
only Of the opinion that Mr.. Sypher did not ncite
| the investigation from patriotic motives. but that
the action OF Judge Holman. especially his attempt
to have the resolutions adopted without reference
line H 'nan ,b House on december H. on his
| first appearance before the committee Mr.. Sypher
was asked: 'Dh you prepare copy OF that te res,
asked whether .i he had knowIeige OF the
| luton before It's Introduction. Ills reply was
luton fs I probably Originated from the Suggestions
made by me. based upon these newSpap.i
you father the resolution? lie replied. why
| il is not my child He again asked, pa You
not prepare II to be preparedY His reply
| was Il did not prepare but had talk with
| Judge Holman several times and showed him
! these newspaper articles and gave him this In
| formation Mr.. Holman afterward appeared be
fore the committee and testified that the preamble
S Wrtaa I by MT syphcr The eyience tina, Mr.
Sypher did incite the Introduction OF the pre-
amble and resolution from Il patriotic motive
| seems to be clear"
| The report then relates the history Of several
| transactions In which Mr.. Sypher had been pre-
| vously concerned. and In which his part was not
! a creditabe one In the opinion Of the committee
| This part OF the report viii give "Economst''
| Holman fine opportunity To rise to question OF
privilege in the House, and demand an ny cstlgaton:
I'm view OF all the facts" the committee is OF the
| opinion that "Mr. Sypher as factor In the nves-
| tiRaon should be eliminated because The did not
| present a single fact upon which 10 base in
| vestiga ton
| SEED PREMIUMS FAIRLY EARNED
| Notwithstanding his actions and his character"