The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1903-02-05
HOUSE. NAVAL CoMMnTEES SUB.
MITs. FINDINGS IN LEssLER 0
BRIBERY CHARGES.
MAJORITY SUSTAINS THEM

Spect!n9 proposed IeGESlatiOn--Mi-
nority,, Report Holds That the Ac-
cusatons Arc Not Sustained.
Washington, Feb. 4.-The house
committee on naval affairs during the
day reported to the house it's findings
in the matter of the investigation Of
the LESSER bribery charges. A minor
lty report signed by representatives
Kitchen (Dem., N. CO., Vandiver
(Dem., MOI, 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 a meeting of the committee on
naval affairs held Jan. 20, 1908, during
the consideration of the naval appro-
priaticn bill MI. LESSER, a 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.
1.-THE committee Immediately ap-
pointed subcommittee to make pre-
liminary Investigation of Mr.. Lessler'ss
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 LESSER could
be brought to support the proposition
to buy more Holland boats. - r.
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 LESSER 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 LESSER
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 conclusions: e
LESSER Proves His Charges ~
I First THAT the charge -madauEy
MI. LESSER that an attempt had besn
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 for
himself if he should find Mr.. LESSER
corruptly approachable.
Second there is no evidence
to sustain the charge of an attempt
by Lemuel E. Quigg to corruptly in
f1uence a member Of the committee
or naval affairs respecting proposed
legislation pending before said com.
mittee and the house. f..
"Third-That there is 10 evidence
to sustain the charge of an attempt by
the Holland Submarine Boat company
or any of it's agents to corruptly in
fuence member of the committee on
naval affairs respecting proposed legis-
lation before said committee and the
house.
"In 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 request that he take such &C
ton as the law and the facts war
rant"
The minority report states the cir
cumstance of the resulting investiga-
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. naval
affairs respecting proposed legislation
pending before the house is not sus-
tained."
The minority differs with the ma
jority only in it's first conclusion. In
other respects the conclusions are
Identical.
The committee having concluded its
report, then resumed consideration Of
the naval appropriation bill A vote
was taken On the proposition to au-
thorize the purchase of five submarine
boats, six voting in the affirmative and
nine in the negative. Another motion
to authorize the secretary Of the navy,
in his discretion, to purchase subma-
rine boats, was lost by vote of eight
to seven. .=
Roumanian Banker Suicides.
Bucharest, Feb. An. Maresco, a
former official of the finance ministry
and banker. who was about to be