The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-02-10
THE CHARGES UNTRUE.
CUMMINGS SAYS An OF THE PRE-
NUNS WE'RE FAIRLY EARNED.
A Drastic Fxcoriation OF y. Hale sypher,
Who Brought tho Charges Against
the Navy Department.

WASHINGTON. ID. c., Feb. 9.-Chair-
man Cummings, of the House Naval Com
mlttee. has completed the report Of the
committee upon the. Holman resolution
declaring that the premiums paid for
speed OF naval vessels are excessive and
seeking TO restrain further payments on
that score. Mr.. Cummings prefaces his
report by calling attention to the fact
that Mr. Holman sought to secure the
Immediate adoption OF the resolution
without reference to the committee. He
says a patient effort has been made TO
unearth facts to warrant an investigation.
MIR. Holman had introduced Mr. j. Hale
Sypher as a gentleman OF excellent repu-
tation who had furnished the facts upon
which the charges were based; but when
the committee, accepting MT. Holman
estimate of the gentleman, called Tor
facts. none were presented. Tne Witness
did not believe that any naval officer had
been party to a corrupt combination, but
believed that the premium law was un-
wise and that reckless extravaganza had
been shown. It appeared that Sypher
knew nothing OF any fraud, or OF naval
construction or engineering, but relied
upon newspaper reports. He named ex-
perts who would support his statements
that the designing engineers could cal
culate the speed of a vessel within
quarter Of a knot; but when .one of them
was called, he denied the possibility OF
predicting the speed within a knot or
knot and a half. Chief Engineer Melville
had denied that the prediction could be
co
other naval experts.
The Charges Absolutely Untrue.
The committee found that the charge
tha, designs were pnrposely drawn 10
secure more than the contract speed
was not borne out. and the same was
| true Of the allegation that unusual and
| improper means We're used 10 force the
vessels on trial trips, damaging the ma
| chinery
| The report next takes up the question
Of Mr. Syphers motives In pressing the
! charges 1t quotes the testimony 20 show
| that he declared that he appeared pro
| bono publico a patriot" and that he
| has denied any concern in the introduc-
ton OF the Blair resolution, preceding Mr..
| Holman's resolution on the same subject.
| Then II quotes Syphers letter 10 the
| Cramps, OF September 2sth. last, saying
|
their service. and continuing, cites the evi-
dence OF x-Representative Hazeton, who
| drew up the Blair resolution, where ne
| SAYS II was prepared I'm Syphers ohice, on
| information furnished by Sypher.
| In further attack upon the character
! Of the witness, the report says Ihe
| Holman preamble and resolutions were
introduced into the House on December
18Th on his first appearance before the
committee. Mr.. Sypher was asked:
Did you prepare a copy OF that Ieso-
lution qi His reply was: no. sir"
He was tnen asked whether he had
| knowledge of the resolution before It's
| introduction.
His reply was: ayes, sir. I had knowl-
edge. and that resolution probably origi'
mated from the suggestions made by me
based upon these newspaper articles
Further along he was asked: Did you
| father the resolution
lie replied. why it is not my child
He was again asked: "You did not pre-
pare or cause IL TO be prepared
His reply was. Il did not prepare IL
but I had a talk with Judge Holman seF
eral times. and showed him these news
naper articles. and gave him this infor
nation"
Holman Coniradicts Sypher.
Mr.. Holman afterward appeared befor'
the committee and testified that the pre-
amble and resolutions were revised bA
him. but were written by Mr. Sypher.
THE report goes into Syphers' past his
tory I'm Louisiana. It's deductions there
from, being seriously TO Syphers' detri
ment. and then charges that I'm the pres
ent case. under cover OF permission To ~
wise his statement before the committee
he carried away the official rcord befor
anv member had seen fl; g9rhed an'
mutllated It 10 such an extent that Il wa
necessary to prepare a new record. an'
printed this garblcd statement withou
authority. changing and striking out Ques
tions and answers And. SAYS the report
a printed copy of this garbled statemen
vas taken to the room Of the Commtte
on Indian Affairs. OF which Mr.. Holman
Is chairman. and afterwards circulated
by the clerk OF that committee, with
paster on the outside headed, Premium
on War-Ships-A Millon-Dolar Steal o.
Four Ships" giving the premium isures
and winding up: "Will somebody VINO ae
fends this extravagsnt and pernicious sys
tenn Of premiums inform the country VIVA
benefit or value the people get for thl
! large expenditure? Is IL not a monstrou
steal and fraud?"
Before concluding the report. with
detailed statement Of the law and con
tracts applicable 10 the ships since lSsZ
the committee says that Sypher shoul'
be eliminated as factor In the invesI.ga
tion; that his charges are untounded
that there is not the slightest eyidenc
that any premium paid was not fairl
earned; that Sypher produced false figure
and newspaper articles; that the law ha
been observed. and that the naval expert
examined agree that the premium pla
has been productive Of the most satisfa'
tory results.