New-York tribune., 1903-01-25


came. 1t was a week after that. witness said
that Doblin came into the office and told him
Lessler was in his office and would see him.
Dobn at the time said: "Lessler Is pretty not
about the torpedo boat proposition, and did not
believe he would vote for it" Mr.. Quigg salo
he called Lessler up on the telephone, ana III
tina conversation talked to him about a pending
pos tofice matter.
INTERVIEW WITH LEssLER.
when I got to the office, continued the wit
ness. Il referred to the conversation over the
telephone concerning the postoffice matter
(Which he exp1ained). Then said: LESSER
called here to talk with you about the Holland
torpedo boats behalf of a friend or mime
whom I would like to oblige. He has told me
your opposition is ugly and malignant, ana thdt
YOU have said all manner of nasty and dls-
agreeable things about the Holland people L
wanted to see if l could not persuade you not
to be so stiff about the matter
Witness said Mr.. Lessler thereupon told MIN
he was very much opposed to building any more
of the boats and entered upon long and de-
tailed statement of his reasons. describing the
mechanism of the boats and saying he did not
believe they were would be success
Continuing, Mr.. Quigg said: He says you
have got no idea of the abominaDle methods 10
which these people have resorted. lie SAID they
maintain a most unscrupulous lobby IN WASH
ingtOn, and 1T is much as anybody
tion is worth 10 have anything to do Win tnefn.
DENIES OFFER TO LEssLER.
Mr.. Ouigg specifically denied that he had Of
fered $1,000 for Lessier's vote. or that he had
told Doblin that he would try to fix it so there
would be 81, 600 In it for him Oobln). He also
stated that he had not authorized Mr.. Doblin
to make any offer of any kind to any one'
politically otherwise
In the cross-examination of Mr.. Quigg by
men hpr Of
diver said to him. You heard the statement
of Mr.. McCu1lagh in regard to Mr.. LESSER S
integrity Of the committee In your conversation
with Mr. Lessler you also referred to his re,
marks along the same line as to the lobby. Dld
he in his conversation with you say anything
of the nature that Mr.. McCullagh quoted!
Mr.. Quigg-Yes The only thing he said to
me was this: That on the subject of the Holland
tornedo boat this committee would be divided
into honest men and knaves. and that ne couio
not be
Mr. Vandiver-That this committee would be
divided into honest men and knaves?
Mr. Qufgg-Yes: and that he could not be in
the wrong crowd
In conclusion Mr. Quigg made the following
personal statement.
Now, Mr.. Chairman, do not know as see,
at this time. the motive Of Doblin for what he
has said here: / do not quite make it out. L
do not know whether Doblin has seen any Dooy
in connection with the enterprise or what he
has done I do not understand it. But | deem
it proper to say, not of course as matter OF
testimony, that / served in three congresses,
with many of the members of this committee,
and 1 cannot believe that any member of this
committee will believe what has been stated
I cannot believe it,
Mr.. Dayton-You cannot believe what? L do
not understand YOU
APPEALS TO FORMER COLLEAGUES.
Mr. Quigg-I said that 1 cannot believe Mr..
Dayton that any member OF this committee,
especially any member who served with me IN
other Congresses, who knows that such an I'M
putation could not have lain against me, who has
never seen me down here at Washington lobby
ing for anything, even seen me here, except
in the most occasional way, mostly OF a social
character. can believe such terrible statements.
I beg you not to grind me between the mill
stone Of the interests for or against this boat
You gentlemen have formed your opinions
whether this boat is good thing or whether it Is
not; whether you wan to support 1t or whether
you do not. But / want to beg that each of you
will put yourself in my position, Will know that
q thousand request; are made of me in this way
as to this, that and the other Now, sometimes
you consent to them and then, when you have
consented and have promised how you feel, you
have got to do it: and how any one of you may
1nd yourselves in the position I am in at this
moment l beg that you will remember that
and that you will think of it.
Major r. w. Hunter of Virginia, disclaimed
any connection with the Hunter of Virginia
mentioned in the testimony yesterday.
The committee went into executive session at
3:35 o'clock, prior to closing the investigation
for the day.