Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1903-02-05
TURNSNTWOREPORTS
HOUSE NAVAL COMMITTEE SUB.
MiTs FINDINGS IN LEssLER
BRIBERY CHARGES.
MAJORITY SUSTAINS THEN

evioenco Goes to Show That an At.
tempt Was Made to corruptiy In.
fiuence Mr.. LessIer's Action Re.
specting Proposed Legislation-Mi.
nority Report Holds That the Ac.
cusations Are Not Sustained.
Washington, Feb. 4.-The house
committee Gu naval affairs during the
day reported to the house its findings
in the matter of the investigation Of
the Lessler bribery charges. A minor
ity report s.gned by Representatives
Kitchen tDem., N. c., Vandiver
| Dem, Mo-. and Roberts (Rep.,
Mass.) also was submitted.
The majority report. after reciting
the resolution directing the naval af-
fairs committee to investigate the
charges of bribery, says in part:
AT meeting of the committee on
naval affairs held Jan. 20, 1903. during
the consideration of the naval apprO-
priation bill Mr.. Lessler, member
of the committee. charged that he had
been corruptly approached for the pur-
pose Of influencing his action respect
ing proposed legislation providing for
the purchase of Holland submarine
torpedo boats.
THE committee Immediately ap.
pointed subcommittee to make a pre-
| liminary investigation of Mr.. Lessler's
charge.
"Mr. Lessler in his testimony before
the committee stated that Philip Dob
lin had come to him some weeks ago
and had said that Mr.. Lemuel E.
Quigg had said to him (Doblin) that
there was $4,000 in it if Lessler could
be brought to support the proposition
to buy more Holland boats.
This statement, in substance, Dob
lin corroborated when he first testi-
fed before the full committee. stating
that Mr.. Quigg had said to him that
If Lessler could be got to vote for
more Holland boats, there would be
$4,000 in it. and that he (Quigg)
added, L think can make a thousand
for you
subsequently, Doblin again went
on the stand and retracted this state.
ment declaring that Mr.. Quigg had
never suggested money to him. and
that he (Doblin) had not told Lessler
that Quigg had made such proposal
to him and that he had made his first
statement at the request of Lessler
and for his protection"
In conclusion. the report says:
Your committee has most carefully
heard and considered the testimony
before it and upon the same has come
to the following cOnclusiOn:
Lessler Proves His Charges.
"First-That the charge made by
Mr. Lessler that an attempt had been
made to corruptly influence his action
respecting proposed legislation is sus
tanned by the evidence; such attempt
in the opinion Of the committee, hav
ing been made by one Philip Doblin
on his own initiative and responsible
ity. with the idea Of making money fol-
himself II he should find Mr.. LessleI
corruptly approachable.
"Second-That there is no evidence
to sustain the charge Of an attempt
by Lemuel e. Quigg to cPrruptly in
fluence a member Of the committee
or naval affairs respecting proposed
legislation pending before said com
mittee and the house.
"Third-That there is no evidence
to sustain the charge of an attempt by
the Holland Submarine Boat company
or any of its agents to corruptly in
| fluence member OF the committee or
naval affairs respecting proposed legis
lation before said committee and the
house.
I'm view of the foregoing We recon-
mend that the clerk of the committee
be directed to certify to the attorney
general of the United States a copy
of the testimony taken at the hearing
with a request that he take such ac
ton as the law and the facts war
rant"
The minority report states the cir
cumstance of the resulting investlga
ton and submits the conclusions OF
the minority. the first of which is as
follows:
"First-That the charge that an at
tempt was made to corruptly influence
member of the committee on nava
affairs respecting proposed Legislation
pending before the house is not sus
tained.' ..,..,
The minority differs with the ma
jority only in its first conclusion lr
other respects the conclusions are
identical
The committee having concluded It's
report, then resumed consideration o
the naval appropriation bill A vote
was taken on the proposition to au
thorize the purchase Of Ave submarine
boats. six voting in the affirmative ant
nine in the negative. Another motto!
to authorize the secretary OF the navy
In his discretion to purchase subma
rine boats. was lost by vote OF eigh
to seven.
, Roumanian Banker Suicides.
Bucharest. Feb An. Maresco.
former official Of the finance ministr
opd hapEer who was ahOut to n