The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-02-04
UNLOADED ONDOBLIN
Committee Investigating LessIer Brib.
cry Charges Reported It's Findings.
THE CHARGE SUSTAINED
But DObIin Is the 0HIy One Who
Was Censured.
THERE WAS A MINORITY REPORT
Which Declared That the Charges
Were Not Proven,
AFTER MAKING ITS REPORT
The Committee Resumed Consideration
Of the Bill and Rejected the PROPOSE
ton to Purchase the Torpedo Boats.
AFTER MAKING ITS REPORT

Washington. February 3.-The house com.
mittee on naval affairs today reported 20
tho house IT'S findings In tho matter Of It's
! investigation into the Lessler bribery
charges minority report signed nv Rep
| reseutatives Kitchen Dem O., vandi.
yer Dem, MOI aud Roberts CRep. Mass)
also was submitted
The fun committee on Investigation to-day
took W the report Of the committee, of
which Mr. Foss was chairman. which had
been charged with the preparation Of tho
findings for the committee Two hours
were given to It's consideration during
which tmc there was much discussion as
TO tho form tho findings should take
ON the hual vote on the adoption Of the
rerorf as a whole Representatives Kitchen.
Mudd Md and Roberts voted present.
REPRESENTATIVE vandlvcr voted in the mega
! tive, he giving an explanation for so yot.
ing
! There was desire on the part OF some
/ members to make the findings more sweep
| lng In some respects. The majority report,
after reciting the resolution directing the
naval affairs committee 20 investigate tha
| charges Of bribery saws: AT meeting
Of the committee on naval affairs, held jan
uary 20, 1903, during the consideration "
the naval appropriation bill, Mr. LESSER a
member Of the committee charged that he
! had been corruptlv approached for the pur.
/ pose OF influencing his action respecting
proposed legislation. providing for the pur-
chase Of Holland submarine torpedo
boats The committees Immediately an-
pointed subcommittee TO make prclim-
! mary investigation Of Mr.. Lpssler's charge,
/ The following day PHILIP Doblin OF New
/ York appeared before the subcommittee
/ and confessed that he had SO approached
/ MI Lessler, The substance Of this state.
! ment having been reported, the following
J day. 10 the full committee. the chairmun
was directed to present to the house aud
secure the adoption Of the above resolu
ton. In compliance with the direction aud
| authority Of said resolution, your commit.
tee proceeded at once to take testimony and
examine such witnesses as were believed
to have knowledge at the subject rhat tcs-
tiuiony is set out IN full ~ the appendix
TO this report and. In view pf tlleafaet that
your committee 10 this report makes an OK
Pilot finding OF its conclusions, It becomes
unnecessary to quite from or to comment
on the evidence,
MIR Lessler in his testimony before tho
| committee, stated that Philip pobln had
| come to him some weeks ago aud had said
! that Mr. Lemuci h. Qulgg had said to
, him. Doblin that there was 5000 In 1t II
| lesslcr could be brought to support the
proposition to buy more Holland boats
This statement IN substance, Doblin cor
roborated when he first testified before the
( full committee, sitting that Mr., Quigg had
said to him that II Lcssler could be got to
! vote for more there would be 5000 In It.,
/ and that he (Quiggl added, 4 think can
make a thousand for YOU
subsequently Doblin again went on the
stand aud retracted this statement, declar.
| ing that Mr.. QuigG had never suggested
money to him and that he (Doblin) had not
told Lessler that oulgg had made such
proposal TO him ana that no had made his
first statement at the request OF LESSER
and for his protection
The report then cites section $3.50 OF the
Revised Statutes. which makes II an Of
Tense punishable by fine or imprisonment
for any person to make any corrupt pro-
poenl 10 any member OF either house of
congress: also section 1892 OF the Revised
Statutes relating to the giving Of false
testimony. The report continues: "A wit
nets sworn by the chairman. as IN this
case who states any material matter which
he does NOT believe 20 be true before
committee OF the house conducting an In
vestigatIon under the authority Of the
house, commits perjury, and Is liable 10
punishment therefor under section 1892 %
In conclusion the reF2rt says your
committee has most carefully heard and
considered the testimony taken before g.
and on the same has come TO the follow
Ing conclusions:
II That the charge made by Mr.. Lessier,
that an attempt had been made 70 corruptly
influence his action respecting proposed
legislation. IS sustained by the evidence,
such attempt, IN the opinion Of the com
mittoe having been made by one PHILIP
Dohlin on ais own initiative and response
bnity. with the idea Of making money for
himself II ne should and Mr. Lessler cor
rnptly approachable.
'.2 That there is no evidence to sustain
the charge Of an attempt by Lemuel +
Quigg 10 corruptly Influence a member Of
the COMMITTEES.
20 That there n no evidence to sustain
the charge OF an attempt by the Holland
Submarine Boat company or amy Of Its
agents 20 corruptly influence member o.
the committee on naval affairs representing
proposed legislation before said committee
and the house
I'm view Of the foregoing. we recommend
that the clerk Of the committee I've directed
10 certify to the attorney general Of the
United states copy Of the testimony
taken at the hearing. with request that