The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-07
j. H. SYPHER CALLED DOWN.
a SCENE IN THE RoOM OF THR
HOUSE NAVAL COMMITTEE.


sypher Charged that the chsirmss enc
Members of the Commi,tes Were In Coii.-
sion with shipbnnders In Rsssrs TO the
Premiu,- the speed OF wnr Vessels.
aud Chnirmsn Cumwina- Called HIrn /. Liar
WASHINGTON Jan. u-"You're q liar. and
you know It," was tho exclamation which fell
from the lips OF Representative Amos J. Cum-
mings OF New York at the Capitol to- day.
The remark was addressed to Mr. J. Hale
Sypher. former REPRESENTATIVE in Congress
from Louisiana and now practising attorney
Of this city. The scene was the room OF the
House Naval Affairs Committee. The subisct
before the committee was a resolution intro
duced 10 the House by Mr.. Holman OF
Indiana on Dec. 10 last which set forth
the fact that more than S1,000.000
had been paid out to contractors engaged
In the building OF war ships for premiumsg
that the ships were so built as to secure .
higher speed than was required by the con-
tract, thereby permitting the contractor to
earn these extraordinary and uniustinabls
premiums. and therefore that the COMMITTEES
on Naval Affairs was instructed to INVESTIGATES
the whole matter thoroughly and to learn es-
pocially whether through the collision OF any
officer Of the Government those premiums
were secured.
Mr.. Sypher appeared before the COMMITTEES
in support OF tho resolution. In the course Of
his argument he openly charged that the
committee had been formed for the express
purpose Of aiding the contractors In securing
those large premiums Mr.. Huick OF Ohio
reminded Mr. Sypher that his accusation was
q very grave one, and asked il he did not know
that Speaker Crisp himself appointed the com-
mittses. Mr.. Sypher replied that he did. aud
added that Speaker Crisp was also in the
ring"
And do you mean to insinuate." queried
Mr.. Hulick. that 1 am here as a paid attorney
II do" replied Mr.. syrher. II think you
are all paid attorneys. And" he added. glano-
ing around the room. Il am responsible fos
At a later point in the discussion Mr.. cum-
imings; h the chairman Of the committee read
tSnr , by MI Char ISL Cramp, the Philadel:
sept: ~ 1t was alleged to nave been written
by Mr.. sypher to Mr.. Cramn 1t contained
newspaper CLIPPINGS and various other data
was one that was likely to be investi gated by
Congress during the present session The
fraud, and that it was not unlikely that the
premiums that had been paid the contractors
Tor excess OF speed would have to be refunded
The suggestion was made to Mr. sypher By
letter might have been written with a view to
securing his retention by Slr; Cramp in pros
Mr. E i ts sass
purpose; lie was actuated. he SAID; by con-
scientious motives only. and lie then pro-
bert, ex-Secretary Tracy. and other prominent
officials Of the Navy Department were in col
fusion with the contractors. MIR, Sypher won't
on to say that Mr.. Cramp had answered his
letter, but that a few days later he came down
to Washington with Mr.. GrIscomb. tho presi-
dent Of the American steamship line that the
two invited Secretary Herbert to . luncheon,
aud In that way secured his friendly Interest
Mr.; Sypher Inslnuated that Mr.. Cummings.
the influence OF the shipbniders 1t WAS as
this point that the Chairman Indignantly said
that Mr.. Sypher was q liar. and curtly required
to answering the queries which the COMMITTEES
propounded to him. This practically closed
tho session to-day. which will be continued
again on Monday
The principal witnesses before the commit
tee have been Commodore Philip Hichborn.
Chief OF the Bureau OF Naval Construction. and
Chief Of the Navy Com am odore Hichborn and
Assistant Constructor Hibhs gave very clear
and important testimony. They said no living
naval constructor could estimate tho speed OF
n fast ship within n quarter knot Instances
were given where vessels Identical in every
way varied as much as a Knot in speed. Conn
mOdoro Hichhorn said that two vessels built
to exceed twenty knots per hour might he COM
structed on the same plans prepared by the
same person, built ny the same work mem at tho
same shipyaTl, and their speed would be found
to differ considerably when they came to trial.
He gave instances OF such cases In our own
ships Commodore llch born said the speed OF
the long, narrow ocean flyers for passenger
service might he estimated pretty closely, but
not So with the heavy and comparatively short
war vessels. Tho construction OF naval ves-
sells. said Commodore liichborn, with the
many exactions imposed hy the Government
and the uncertainty Of developing the required
speed, made II necessary to offer premiums
ness He ridiculed the idea OF eOlluslon be-
tween the department and tho contractors