The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1894-02-22
HOIST BY HIS OWN PETARD
SYpsr Attempted to Show Fraud in the
ship Premimums.

snip Prem1mumB.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9-Chairman
Cummings, Of tho House Naval Com
mtttee, has completed the reported of
the committee upon the Holman re-
solution declaring that the premiums
paid for speed Of naval vessels are ex-
cessive and seeking to restrain further
payments on that score. Mr. Cum
mlngs perfaces his report by calling
attention to the fact that Mr.. Holman
sought TO secure the immediate adop.
tlon of the resolution without reference
TO the committee. He says a patient
e1fort has been made to unearth facts
to warrant an investigation. Edr, Hol-
man has introduced Mr.. j. Hale Syper
as gentleman of excellent reputation
who had furnished the facts upon which
the charges were based; bnt when the
committee accepting Mr.. Holmau's es-
innate of the gentleman, called for
fdcts none were presented. The wit
| ness did not believe that any naval
officer had been party to a corrupt COM
bination, but believed that the pre-
| mlmum law was un wise ami that re-
ckles extravagance had been shown.
1t appeared that Mr.. Syper knew moth
lrg Ut any fraud or of navl construc-
tlon or engineering, but relied upon
newspaper reports. He named experts
who would support his statements,
that the designed engineers could cal,
culatr the speed of vissel within 4
quarter OF knot, but when one Of them
was called he denied the possibility of
predicting the speed within knot or q
knot and half. Chief Engineer Mel.
vile had denied that the prediction
could be made within half knot and
80 had other naval experts.
The committee found that the charge
that the designs were purposely dra n
TO secure more than the contract speed
was not borne out and the same was
true of the allegation that unusul al
| improper means were used to force the
vessels on trial trips, dam aging the
machinery.
me report next taxes up the question
of Mr.. Sypers motives IN passing the
charges. 1t quotes the testimony to
show that he declared that he appeared
"pro bono pnblicO, a patriot" and that
he had denied any concern in the in
PRODUCTION of the Blair resolution pre-
ceding Mr.. Holman's resolution on the
same subject.
Then 1t quotes Syper's letter to the
Cram ps Sept. 28th last saying that he
had important information at their
service; and continuing this evidence
Of Representative Hazelton who
drew up theBlair reolutlon he says 1T
was prepared In Syper's Office in forma.
tion furnished by Sypsr. In further at
tack upon the character Of thewitness,
the report says:
The Holman prermble and resolution
were introduced into the House Dec.
13. On his first appearance before the
Committee Mr.. Syper was asked; "Did
you prepare copy of that resolution ?"
His reply was, "No sir" He was
than asked whether he had knowledge
Of the resolution before It's Introduced
His reply was, "Yes. sir; had know
ledge and that resolution probably OIL.
gtnated from the suggestions made by
me based upon these newspaper arti.
cles." Futher along, he was asked,
"Did you farther the resolution?"
He replied, "Whyp 1t Is not my
child"
He was again asked, "You did not
prepare or caused 1t to 90 prepared ?"
His reply was, II did not prepare 1t,
but 1 had talk with Judge Holman
several times and showed him these
newspaper articles and gave this infor-
nation"