The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-24

testimony he stated that an effort had been made by former Congressman Quigg of New York to influence his vote on the matter, and that Philip Doblin, a personal friend, had acted at first as MT. Quigg emissary. He also stated that John Me- Cullagh, superintendent of elections in New York, tried to get him to vote for the construction of the torpedo boats.
 Only two other witnesses were heard during the day. F. B. Zon, MT. Lessler's secretary stated that he had never au- thorized any one to make proposals to MT. Lessler.
 Former Representative Lemuel E. Quigg, who was present from the open ing, addressed the committee and said that in view of the fact that his name had been brought into this matter, he would like to be. heard at the earliest moment
 The committee went into executive ses- sion at l o'clock and decided to send a summons to MT. Doblin to appear before the committee to which time an adjourn ment was taken.
 Quigg Makes Statement. Lemuel F. Quigg made the following statement tonight with reference to the testimony before the house naval af- fairs committee by Representative Less Ter:
 'I have no interest whatsoever and never have had an interest In the Holland torpedo boat, nor in any of the companies organized to promote 1t. Nor am l, nor was l, ever in any way interested in ob- taining pending or other Legislation in their behalf At the solicitation of a friend whose name l will give to the commit tee, l consented to speak with Mir. Less Ter in advocacy of the boat. I was visited by Philip Doblin, who 1 knew to be MT. Lessler's personal friend. 1 made no other request of Doblin than tI4at he should let me know when Mr. Lessler was in town and in his office in order that 1 might see him.
 Subsequently Doblin called at my of flee again and told me that Lessler was in his office and I called there accord ingly. Mir. Lessler at his office did not open the conversation by saying that, of course, there could be no talk about money. He did not say this then or at any other time during the conversation nor was there any talk aoout money ex- cept in his own declamations against the methods to which he said the company was resorting. It Is very true, however, that he did not mention to me any prior conversation between him and Doblin. He received me politely and in a friendly way, and it was l who introduced the subject of the Holland torpedo boat.
 MT. Lessler promptly announced his op- position to the pending appropriation and stated, with great detail, why, in his own opinion, the Holland bill should not pass did not feel well enough informed about the merits of the case to discuss them with him, and told him I had no request to make, thinking my duty had been per- formed.
 "l did not mention to MT. Lessler the name of the gentleman who had requested me to talk with him, or to say more on that subject than that he was a friend whom l should like to oblige. As a mat ter of fact, he was not Gen. Epha Hunton or any MT. Hunter, or any person of a similar name. l never said anything of that sort to MT. Lessler. Subsequent to this conversation between Lesser and me, Doblin called twice at my office urg- ing me to visit Lessler again. but I did not do so."