The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-01-07
SYPHER CALLED A LIAR.
Amos Cummings Applies The EpithGt
In a Committee Room.

gypher a Witness in the Investigation
Into the Premium System in Connec-
Eion With the Construction of War
6hips-Sypher Charged Collusion on
the Part of Everybody Connected
With the Matter from Secretary Her
bert Down.
Washington, Jan. 6.-"You're a liar,
and you know it," was the startling ex-
clamation which fell from the lips of Rep
resentative Amos J. Cummings, of New
York, at the capitol to-day. The remark
was addressed to ]. Hale Sypher, a former
representative in congress from Louisiana,
and now practicing attorney in this
city. The scene was the room Of the
naval affairs committee.
The subject before the committee was a
resolution introduced in the House by
Mr. Holman, of Indiana, on Dec. ID last,
which set forth the fact that mo re than
81, 200, 900 had been paid out to contractors
engaged in the building of warships, for
premiums; that the ships were so built as
TO secure a higher speed than was re-
quired by the contract, thereby permit
ting the contractor to earn these extraor-
binary and unjustifable premiums, and,
therefore, that the committee on naval
affairs was instructed to investigate the
whole matter thoroughly and to learn
specially whether, through the collision
of any officer of the government, these
premiums were secured.
SERIOUS CHARGE.
Mr.. Sypher appeared before the COM
mittee in support of the resolution. In
the course of his argument, he openly
- sl1pf he mil HaA hnA
formed for the express purpose of aiding
the contractors in securing these large
premiums.
Mr.. Hulick, of Ohio, reminded Mr.
Sypher that his accusation was a very
grave one and asked if he did not know
that Speaker Crisp himself appointed the
committee.
Mr.. Sypher replied that he did, and
added that Speaker Crisp was also in
the ring"
"And do you mean to insinuate"
cueried Mr.. Hulick, "that am here as a
paid attorney Of the contractors7"
~ do" bluntly replied Mr.. Sypher, II
think you are all paid attorneys" And,
he added glancing around the room,
81 am responsible for my utterances.
sYPHER IN A BAD LIGHT.
At later point in the discussion, Mr..
Cummings, the chairman of the commit
handed to him yesterday by Charles H.
Cramp, the Philadelphia ship builder.
This letter bore the date OF Sept 49, II
was alleged to have been written by Mr..
Sypher to Mr.. Cramp. 1t contained
newspaper clipping and various other data
to show that the matter of premiums was
one that was likely to be investigated by
congress during the present session.
The writer stated that the cruiser
New York was q fraud and that it was not
unlikely that the premiums that had been
paid the contractors for excess of speed
would have to be refunded to the govern
ment. The suggestion was made to Mr.
Sypher by several mem ers Of the com
mittee that the letter might have been
written with a view to securing his re-
tention by MIR. Cramp, in professional
way, to prevent the investigation.
sYPHER DENIES THE CHARGE.
Mr.. Sypher holly denied that such was
his purpose. He was actuated, he said,
by conscientious motives only, and he
then proceeded again to charge that Sec
rotary Herbert, ex-Secretary Tracy and
other prominent officials of the navy de-
partment were in collision with the con-
tractors. Mr.. Sypher went on TO say
that Mr.. Cramp had not answered his
letter, but that a few days later he
came down to Washington with Mr.. Girls
comb, the president of the American
steamship line; that the two invited Sec
rotary Herbert to luncheon, and in that
way secured his friendly interest
in their affairs. Mr. Sypher also
insinuated that MIR. Cummings, the chair
man of the committee, was also under the
influence of the ship-builders. 1t was at
this point that the chairman Indignantly
said Mr. Sypher was an emphatic liar,
and curtly requested the attorney to con-
tine his future utterances to answering
the queries which the committee might
PROFOUND TO him.
This practically closed the session to-
day, which will be continued again on
Monday.
THE PREMIUM SYSTEM DEFENDED.
AT yesterdays session of the commit
tee, Phillip Hichborn, the assistant chief
of construction of the navy, appeared
and addressed the committee for some
time regarding the question of premiums
He ridiculed the suggestion of collision
between the naval officials and the con
tractors, and said that such con-
spiracy could only exist where it
included everybody, from the secretary
clear through to the members of the trial
board. He explained the benefits of the
premium system, and showed that in
many cases the government did not lose
dollar, inasmuch as the contract price
was usually far below the amount that
would be paid if the contract were made
on the basis of the maximum rate of
speed.