The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1894-01-18
CUMMINGS CHARGES.
The New York Congressman After
Congressman Sypher,
GRAVE CHARGES OF CORRUPTION,

The Chairman of the Naval Committee
WIN Further Report That There Are
No Grounds for syphers Charges OF Col
Iusion Between Omoials aud Contractors
WASHINGTON, Jan 1S-Chairman Cum
mings, of the naval committee, is prepar-
ing the report on the Holman resolution,
calling for an Investigation of the system
of awarding premiums to contractors for
building government ships. The report
of the committee will be adverse to pro
ceeding with such an investigation, on
the ground that there was absolutely no
testimony tending to substantiate the
general charges made in the Holman res
olution. The resolution, it will be remem-
bered, charged collusion between the con
tractors and officers of the navy depart
ment.
Mr. Holman, who was called before the
committee, the report will state, offered
nothing in substantiation of his resolu-
tion 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
in the charges he made not only against
the navy department and the contractors,
but against members of the committee
themselves. Ultimately letter was pro-
duced from Mr. Cramp, of Philadelphia,
written by Mr.. Sypher in the early part of
the fall, warning him that resolutions
looking to just such an investigation
would shortly be introduced in congress,
and stating that he (Sypher) was at the
service of Mr.. Cramp.
This set the committee on the track of
t., 1,fv 10,
troduced in October, as well as the
Holman resolution, were ultimately
traced directly to his door His past rec
ord was to some extent investigated, and
the report which Mr. Cummings is pre-
pairing will allege that it has been shown
that Mr. Sypher's hands have not been
clean in the past. The report will quote
from General Sheridan's testimony in an
official 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 $50 600 more than the
| property demanded, and that subsequently
| Sypher went to him about the matter.
| The general denounced him as a black
mailer and showed him the door.
The report win further unearth an in
vestigation that was made in connection
with a contract awarded for building an
| addition to the New Orleans custom house
| At that time the investigation showed
| that the lowest bidder, whose bid was
something like $500 before the bids
were opened, was approached by Mr.
/ Sypher with the information that his bio
| was 1000 lower than any of the others
and that it could be safely increased by
| that amount. In return for this iuforma
| tion Mr. Sypher demanded $1,000. The
| contractor said nothing, but when tn,
| bids were opened it was found that his
] bid had been raised 81 600. He was awarded
the contract Mr., Sypher who was ther
member of congress, attempted to col
lect the money which he claimed to b,
due him, but the contractor refused this
and in accordance with his (Sypher's
threat he came to Washington and haC
the contract annulled.