The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-01-24
TORPEDO BOAT SCANDAL
HOUSE COMMITTEE INVESTIGATING
BRIBERY CHARGES.
Several Witnesses Exan1ined-Severai
Persons Named as Being Implicated.
Quies Asks to Be Heard.

Washington, January 2s.--The house
committee on naval AFFAIRS began the In
vestigstion authorized by the house. In
consequence Of the charges made by Rep
resentative Lessler Of New York. during
a recent session Of the committee on naval
affairs, that he had been approached with
an offer Of money for his vote In commit.
tee in favor Of the construction Of the sub
marine torpedo boats. brief secret SEES.
sion was held prior to the opening Of the
inquiry, at which the method o, procedure
was considered. Among those present dur.
Ing the hearing today aside from the com
mittee and press representa- tlves were *
Senator Thurston. who appeared as counsel
for the Holland Torpedo Boat company
Lemuel Quigg, formerly member of the
house from New York; ex-senator Eppa
tI ana Delaney Nicoll, an attorney
Representative Lessler was the irst wit.
ness and MS examination occupied the
greater part Of the days session. In his
testimony ne stated that an effort had been
made by former Congressman Ouigg TO In.
nuence his vote on the matter and that
phllip Doolin, a personal friend, had acted
az hrst as Mr.. ouiggs emissary. lie also
stated that John McCullagh, superntend.
en- OF elections In New York tried to get
him to vote for the construction of the
lOIpeuO DOdtS
Only two other witnesses were heard dur
ing the day. r. B. Zon, Mr.. Lesslers sec
rotary, gave evidence corroborsting some
OF Mr. Lessler,s testimony. and former
s,i tS Epppa Hunton Of Virginia, counsel
TOT the Holland company. stated that ne
mad never authorized any one to make
proposals to MIR. Lessler.
Former Representative Lemuel F. Quigg
VINO was present from the opening adj
dressed the committee, and said that In
view OF the fact that his name had been
brought into this matter, ne would like to
be heard at the earliest moment.
The committee went into executive sos
sion at i o'clock and decided to send a
summons to Mr.. Doblln TO appear before
the committee tomorrow, to which time an
adjournment was taken.
STATEMENT OF oUIGG.
Mr.. Lemuel b. Quigg made the following
statement tonight with reference to the
testimony before the house naval affairs
committee by Representative Lessler 81
have no interest whatsoever and never have
had an interest In the Holland Torpedo
Boat company, nor In any OF the companies
organized to promote the Holland company.
Nor am l. nor was ! ever In any way inter
ested In obtaining pending or other legis
laton in their behalf At the solicitation
OF friend, whose name | will give to the
committee, l consented to speak with MI.
lIeIslet IN advocacy or the boat Dill
was visited by Phillip Doblin, whom knew
TO be Mr.. Lessler's personal friend. made
no other request OF Doblin than that he
should let me know when Mr.. Lessler was
in town and in his office, in order that !
might see him, Later Doblin called at my
office again and told me III L Lessler was
in his office. and ! called there, accord
ing Mr. Lessler at his Office did not open
the conversation By saying that, of course,
there could be no talk Cbout money. He
did not say this then or at any other time
during the conversation. nor was there any
talk about money, except IN his own
declamations against the methods TO which
lie said the company was TesOrting. il is
very true, however that he did not mention
to me any prior conversation between him
and Doblin. He received me politely and
in a friendly way, and It was | who intro
duced the subject of The Holland torpedo
boat. Mr.. Lessler promptly announced his
opposition to the pending legislation, and
stated, In great detail, why, IN his opinion,
the Holland bill should not pass, | did
not feel well enough Informed about the
merits Of the case to discuss them with
him. and | told him / had no request ia
make thinking my duty had been per
! formed. / did not mention to Mr. Lessler
the name Of the gentleman who had re-
Quested me 70 t0lk with him or to say
more on that subject than that he was q
| friend, whom I should like TO oblige. AS
a matter Of fact, he was not General Eppa
Hunton or any Mr.. Hunter or any person
| of Il similar name. | never said anything
of that sort to Mr.. Lessler, Subsequent
| 10 this conversation Doblin called twice
Mt my office, urging me to visit LESSER
| again, but did not do So