Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-23
.LESSLER'S CHARGES
Investigation Authorized by
the House.
D0BLIN SUMMONED
ALLEGED OFFER OF MONEY TO
INFLUENCE VOTE.
Conversation With Ex-Representativ
Quigg-Extenxion Of Political In
duence in New York.
DOBLIN SUMMONED

The House committee on naval affairs
this morning began the Investigation au-
thorized by the House as result Of the
statements made by Representative Less
Ter to the committee that he had been APP
preached with an offer of money to influ-
ence his vote in the committee The COM
mittee first went into executive session.
| At lilo the doors were opened. and
Chairman Foss announced the purpose of
| the meeting, reading the resolution adopted
| by the House yesterday.
Mr. Foss first called Representative Less
Ter, who was sworn.
Mr.. Tayler of the committee questioned
Mr.. Lessler, who stated that he was opposed
| to the building of more submarine torpedo
boats.
Conversation With Doblin.
Mr. LESSER identified Philip Doblin. and
told Of a conversation he said he had had
| with him.
Mr.. LESSER said Mr. Dobln came to him
one morning and asked If the Holland SUBJ
| marine torpedo boat proposition would
| again come before the House. II said I
| supposed SO. He asked II I was still OPP
| posed to it. and said I was"
Mr.. Lessler testified that Mr.. Doblin said
| he had been sent for by Mr.. Quigg. and
Mr. Quigg had told him there was $4,000
| in 1t If he Uessler) could be brought to the
| other side.
Mr.. Lessler said he said there must be
no further talk on that proposition. Mr..
| Lessler then testified that Doblin sug-
| gested that Mr.. Quigg was a man Of power
and influence. and that If I wanted to
come back here I would be aiding myself
by doing him this favor.
Mr.. LESSER then testified Of q converse
| ton which he said he had with Mr.. Quigg
| at his Gessler's) office. 81 Nassau street.
New York
He testified that before the opening of
| Congress or during the holiday recess Mr..
Quigg telephoned that he wanted to see
| him.
Talk With Mr.. Quigg.
st told him to come over and h came to
my office within one hour" Mr.. Lessler
said that he then told Mr.. Quigg that there
should be no question OF money.
In answer to questions he said Mr. Quigg
| had not mentioned torpedo boats. but
| added: II had no other business with Mr..
| Quigg. and inferred that it was on this
| account that he came to see me-"
Mr.. LESSER told Of conversation he had
with John McCullagh, superintendent OF
elections in New York. at his hotel In this
| city. McCullagh. he said. told him that
| there were men in New York who could re-
elect him or defeat him. and that they
wanted him to support the measure.
| Mr. Lessler testified he told Mr.. McCul-
| lagh that he would not do it. Mr.. LESSER said
| that at the time of the conversation with
-Doblin. the latter was deputy in Mr.. NC
Cullagf's office He said that Doblin got
some mail in his Gessler's) Office and had
| the freedom of his Office Dobiin, he said,
was an ardent and faithful political friend.
and he Oessler) felt under obligations to
him. He did not know except through the
newspapers that Doblin had been ordered
off the floor of the board Of aldermen of
New York city.
| Asked what were the political relations
| between Mr.. Quigg and Mr.. McCullagh, Mr..
Lessler explained the political positions
| held by the two men. He knew of no rela-
tions except that Mr.. Quigg was probably
| one of those who advised Mr. McCullagh, s
appointment.
Thought Doblin Had Authority.
At the request of Mr.. Quigg, Mr.. Delan-
cey Nicoll. an attorney, was permitted to
question Mr.. Lessler. His questions aimed
to develop the relation existing between
Mr.: Lessler and Mr.. Doblin. Mr.. Nicoll
then questioned the witness relative to a
conversation he testified he had with Dob
lin. Mr.. Lessler could not fix the time
when the conversation occurred. ,i
| Mr. Lessler said he believed Doblin was
authorized to come to him. Mr.. Lessler said
| that Mr.. Quigg had told.him that he (Quigg)
had no interest in the Holland boat. but
he remembered the name-was interested in
| Them and that he wanted to do him a
favor.
ITO whom, If anybody, did you tell the
story of the proposal?" Mr.. TayIer asked.
ITO Mr. Foss and Mr.. Dayton of this
committee, shortly after Congress opened, %
| he replied.
Mr. Lessler added that he also had told
Representative Wheeler about it, and Mr..
Wheeler explained that it was some time
during the holidays. and that Lessler did
not want to say anything about it If he
could avoid it.
Revealed in Confidence.
A question by Representative Vandiver
brought out the statement from Mr.. LESSER
| that he made the statement in the commit
tee believing that it would be held in con-
| hdence. and that he did not believe any
member of the committee would repeat it
outside of the committee.
Ex-senator John M. Thurston announced
to the committee that he represented the
| that inasmuch as nothing had been said to
| connect the company with the charges he
did not desire to ask any questions, but
asked to reserve the right to interrogate
witnesses il necessary.
Former Senator Eppa Hunton of Virginia,
| the next witness, said he was counsel for
the Holland company.
Have you any acquaintance with Mr.
Quigg?"
Yes. sir, my acquaintance began with
him at IL o'clock today in the committee
ROOM. He said he had never authorized
any one to make any proposals, and had
never heard of Mr.. Quigg being connected
with the company.
The Interview With McCullagh.
Mr.. Lessler's secretary, Frank B. Son.
testified to a conversation which he said
took place between Representative Lessler
md AHr (Ny,lyo ct
in Washington, when he said Mr. McCul-
lagh told Mr.. Lessler that he represented
men who could either defeat his nomination
or nominate him, and wanted him to vote
for the torpedo boat bill. Mr.. Lessler. he
said. refused.
The witness. replying to- Mr.. Thurston,
said that McCuliagh did not give the names
of the men he said he represented
General HINTON was recaIIe6 vhou