Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-03
THE LESSER CHARGES
Report Of the Investigating
ga
. Committee.
MR.. QUIGG ExoNERATED
HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE
OFFER OF A BRIBE
Subcommittee Decides That Doblin on
His Own Initiative Made
the Attempt.
NR. QUIGG EXONERATED
Had NVTHING TO DO WITH TIE
OFFER OF A BRIBE


At an extended meeting Of the naval at
fairs committee Of the House today the re-
port on the Lessler bribery charges submit
ted by the subcommittee was taken up and
agreed to. This report comprises three
propositions; first, that Mr.. Lessler was
offered a bride Of 5000 by one Philip Dob
lin ON his own account; second. that Mr..
Quigg had nothing to do with the offer Of
this bride, as shown by the testimony, and
that the Holland Torpedo Boat Company
had also nothing to do with the offer Of the
brtbe, as shown by the testimony. and,
third. the Attorney General is authorized to
take such action in the matter as he may
deem fit. The report Of the committee was
declared to be a unanimous report. although
several Of the members refrained from vot-
ing. The report, after recitinE the resolu-
ton. says:
I'VE beg leave to make the following re-
port: AT a meeting of the committee on
naval affairs held January 20. 1908. during
the consideration Of the naval appropriation
bill. Mr.. Lessler. a member Of the commit
tee, charged that he had been corruptly
approached for the purpose Of Influencing
his action respecting proposed legislation
providing for the purchase Of Holland sub
marine torpedo boats.
Ao SSAAAhAttSc lniHSutdtcly dppOlutCO q
subcommittee to make a preliminary in
vestgation Of Mr.. Lessler's charge. The
following day Philip Dob1in Of New York
appeared before the subcommittee and con-
Iesseo that he had so approached Mr..
Lessler. The substance of this statement
having been reported the following day to
the full committee. the chairman was d.
rected to present to the House and pro-
cure the adoption OF the resolution above
set out.
I'm compliance with the direction and au-
thorfty OF said resolution your committee
proceeded at once to take testimony and
examine such witnesses as were believed to
have knowledge of the subject Of inquiry.
That testimony is set out in full in the ap-
pend1x to this report, and in view Of the
faet that your committee in this report
makes an explicit finding OF its conclusions,
1t becomes unnecessary to quote from or to
comment upon the evidence.
The Testimony.
'Mr. LESSER I'M his testimony before the
committee stated that Philip Doblin had
come to him some weeks ago and had said
that Mr.. Lemuel e. Quigg told Doblin that
there was 5000 in it II Lessler 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, stating that Mr.. Quigg had
said to him that II Lessler could be brought
to vote for more Holland boats there would
be 5000 in It, and that he-Quigg-added:
I think can make a thousand for you
Subsequently, Doblin again went on the
stand and retracted this statement, declar-
ing 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 Lessier
and for his protection.
Mr.. Lessler's Charges.
Section $3.50. Revised Statutes of the
United States. provides that:
Every person who promises, offers.
gives or causes or procures to be promised,
offered- or given, any money or other thing
OF value, or makes or tenders and contract
undertaking, obligation, gratuity or security
for the payment Of money, or for the deliy-
cry or conveyance Of anything OF value, to
any member Of either house of Congress,
even before or after such member has been
qualified or has taken his seat, with the in
tent to influence his vote or decision on any
question, matter. cause or proceeding which
may be at any time pending in either house
Of Congress or before any committee there
OF, shall be fined not more than three times
the amount Of money or value of the thing
so offered, promised, given, made or ten
dered or caused OF procured to be 80 offered,
promised, given, made or rendered, and
shall be, moreover, imprisoned not more
than three years.
The Law on Perjury.
Section 1892 provides that:
EVERY person who, having taken an
oath before a competent tribunal, officer or
person, in any case in which law of the
United States authorizes an oath admin
istered. that he will testify, declare. de-
pose, or certify truly or that any testimony,
declaration, or certificate by him subscribed
is true. wilfully and contrary to such oath
states or subscribes any material matter
which he does not believe to be true, is
guilty Of perjury, and shall be punished by
fine Of not more than five years, and
shall, moreover. thereafter be incapable Of
giving testimony In any court OF the
United States until such time as the judg-
ment against him Is reversed"
IA witness, sworn by the chairman, as in
which he does not believe to be true, before
a committee Of the House conducting an
Investigation under authority Of the House.
commits perjury, and is liable to punish
ment therefor under section 1902.
Committees Conclusions.
"Your committee has most carefully
heard and considered the testimony taken
before 1t, and upon the same has come to
the following conclusions:
II. That the charge made by Mr. Less
Ter that an attempt had been made to cor
ruptly influence his action respecting pro-
posed legislation is sustained by the evil
dence: such attempt IN the opinion OF the
committee, having been made by one Philip
Doblin, on his own initiative and RESPONSE
bility, with the idea of making money for
himself II he, should find Mr.. LESSER cor
ruptly approachable.-
49, That there is no evidence to sustain
the charge or an attempt by Lemuel E.
Quigg to cofruptly influence a member OF
the committee on naval affairs respecting
proposed legislation pending before said
committee AID the House.
''3. That there no evidence to sustain
the charge Qf an Attempt by the Holland
Submarine Boat, Company. or any of its
agents, to corruptlt influence member OF
the committee on naval affairs respecting
proposed leasladona before said committee
I'm view 81 the foregoing we recommend
that the clerk OF tfe committee be directed
to certify to the Attorney General Of the
United States a copy Of the testimony taken
at the hearing, with q request that he take
such action as the law and the facts war
rant"
Voted Against Submarine Boats.
A vote was first taken on the question of
authorizing the construction Of submarine
boats, three propositions being submitted:
First, to buy ten boats. which was voted
down-8 to A; second, to buy I'VE boats,