Evening journal., 1909-10-20
SCIENTISTS GET
PEARY PAPERS
National Geographic Society
to Merely Decide Whether
Commander Reached Pole
COPE HAGEN WILL
EXAMINE COOKS DATA

BY United Press Leased Special Wire
WASHINGTON, oct. 20-The claim
Of Commander Peary that he reach
ed the North Pole will be passed upon
by a subcommittee OF the committee
on research Of the National Geographic
Society OF Washington.
This action was decided upon at a
meeting to-day Of the board of man
ayers. In response TO an invitation
extended by the executive committee
last week, Commander Peary sent from
his summer home what he deemed to be
sufficient data to establish his claim.
The board OF managers decided to
refer the whole matter 70 the soclety's
! regular standing committee on re-
search and the chairman Of the latter
then appointed the following commit
tee OF experts 10 examine Peary's
/ proof:
Rear Admiral Colby NJ. Chester. U.
s. n. (retired): o. II. Tittman, super.
intendent OF the u. S. Coast and
Geodetic Survey and Prof. Henry Can
nell, geologist OF the u. S. Geological
Survey, the latter being chairman Of
tho committee.
The following cablegram> was re-
] AEANNA AAViAA AlAR 0MANNAoAAr " ZRE'h'
hagen in response to the suggestion
that that institution waive its rights
of priority to the examination Of DR.
Cooks detailed observations. in favoi
OF the National Geographic Society;
university regrets not able 70 com
ply with your request"
(Slgned) "Torp, Rector"
In a statement issued by professor
]
clear that the only question upoI
which the organization win pass viii
be whether Commander Peary's oh
servatione and records indicate that h
reached the pole-and there will be n
investigation into his claims of priorit
OF discovery over Cook The Pear
: data arrived by registered mail IN
> morning and was laid before the boar
J.. | when It met at 10 o'clock.
e In view Of the fact that Command
Peary has been waiting since his r
turn to submit his records 10 SC
entifc committee in the United States
the statement reads, The Nation
= Geographic Sociey believed II shou
+ receive his papers now in order tn
his claim OF having reached the 20
may be passed upon without furth
delay.
? THE society Is ready 20 make
7 similar examination Of DR.. Cook
. original observations and field note
y but as he promised 10 send them
the University Of Copenhagen. the &,
e ciety will not have an opportunity
seeing them for probably some month
IL did not seem fair TO defer actic
on Commander Peary's observation
until Dr. Cooks papers were receive
The only question now 20 be decide
J by the society Is whether or not Con
Y mander Peary reached the pole {
April c. 1909. as claimed.
. "The special committee OF the 81
!. clety appointed today to consider q
matter viii personally examine the no
4 books and original observations maj
- by Commander Peary in his march
:, the pole and see all the papers
= brought back from tho field. III
committee will report to the board q
result of its findings az a specl
meeting Of the board to be called
that purpose"
II will be some days before the su
NJ committee charged with this work c.
begin its labors, and their task
examination will. It is estimated. Ia
" at least two months Every observ
m ton must be proved. and since the
m are at least two observations for ca
IN days. the magnitude Of the task is a
be parent. Prof Tittmann. one of I
members Of the subcommittee. is q
OF the city but will probably retu
about the 25th. The other memb'
are as yet undecided whether to bel
work I'm his absence, but It is thoue
L they win wait his return.