The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-01-18
CUMMINGS CHARGES.
The New York Congressman After
Congressman Sypher.
GRAVE CHARGES OF CORRUPTION.
The Chairman Of the Naval COMMITTEES
wni Further Rsport That There Are
No Grounds for syphsr's Charges of ooi-
IusIon between on,ciais and Contraotors.

wni Further Report That There Are
No Grounds for sypher's Charges of ooi-
IusIon Between omciais and Contractors.
WAsHfscToN, Jan. 1s.-Chairman Cum
mtngs. OF the naval committee, is prepar-
ing the report on the Holman resolution,
calling for an investigation Of the system
81 awarding premiums to contractors for
bQliding government ships. The report
ef tho COMMITTEES will be adverse to pro-
seeding with such an investigation, on
the ground that there was absolutely no
testimony tending to substantiate the
general charges made In the Holman res
nintion. The resolution, IL will be rcmem-
bered. charged collusion between the con-
tractors and officers Of the navy depart
ment. =
MIR. Holman. who was called before the
committee, the report will state, offered
nothing In substantlntion OF his resolu-
fion except some rather vague newspaper
reports, and the testimony OF ex-Congress-
man Sypher OF Louisiana. Mr.. Sypher.
when before the committee, was very free
lathe charges he made not only against
the navy department and the contractors,
but against members of the committee
themselves Ultimately a letter was pro-
dnced from Mr.. Cramp. Of Philadelphia,
written by Mr.. Sypher ia the early part OF
the fall, warning him that resolutions
looking to just such an investigation
would shortly be introduced in congress,
aud stating that he (Sypher) was at the
service of Mr.. Cramp
This set the committee on the track Of
Mr.: Sypher, and the Blair resolution in
tsoduced In October, as well as the
Holman resolution, were ultimately
faeced directly to his door His past rec
ord was to some extent Investigated. and
tbs report which Mr. Cummings is pre-.
psring will allege that it has been shown
that Mr.. Sypher's hands have not been
n1ean In the past. The report will quote
from General Sheridan's testimony In an
oAiciai investigation into the purchase of
the Fort Brown property. The general
alleged that General Sypher told him that
Through his influence the appropriation
had been increased $4,000 more than the
property demanded, and that ubsequently
Sypher went to him about the matter.
TIE general denounced him as a black
mailer and showed him the door
The report will further unearth an in
vsstigation that was made In conueotion
with contract awarded for building an
addition to the New Orleans custom 9use.
AZ that time the investigation showed
that the lowest bidder, whose bid was
s9nething like $4,000, before the bids
wore opened, was approached by Mr..
Sgpher with the information that his bid
was $1,000 lower than any of the others,
and that It could be safely increased by
thst amount. In return for this informa-
tin Mr.. Sypher demanded $1,000. The
eeatractor said nothing. but when the
bids were opened it was found that his
bid had been raised 81 900. He was awarded
ths contract. Mr.. Sypher, who was then
aneinher of congress, attempted TO col
isct the money which he claimed to be
dne him. but the contractor refused this,
aAd In accordance with his (Sypher's)
threat he came TO Washington and had
the contract annulled.