Daily Kennebec journal., 1910-03-05
Caused in Subcommittee
By Peary Proofs.
Members Of The Geographical
Society Would Submit
The Data in Confidence, but Not
For Publication.

washington, MafCN 4.-fToOlS oI
Commander Peary's discovery of the
North pole caused a row in the sub
committee of the House committee on
naval affairs today. TWO members OF
the National Geographical Society ap-
peared before the committee with
copies of Mr.. Peary's proofs to urge
the granting of a suitable reward by
Congress to the noted explorer, but
the committee declined TO receive them
in confidence with the ultimate result
that the committee has made 1T known
that unless the Peary proofs are forth
coming to the full satisfaction of the
committee every bill introduced for the
purpose OF rewarding the North pole
discoverer will be pigeon holed.
The members of The committee We're
in favor of receiving the Peary proofs
without making them public. Rep.
Macon hotly objected, and after de-
claring his position, stalked angrily
from the room.
II am against any legislation in the
dark" Mr.. Macon sharply told the
committee. Furthermore, if this
committee decides in favor of Peary
without inspecting the full records and
making them public, / will expose the
whole business on the floor of the
House or in Il statement to the press.
If we reward Mr.. Peary. the American
people have Il right to know what we
are rewarding him for"
Prof Gannett Of the coast and geo
gexdic survey and one of the members
Of the National Geographic Society.
which accepted Peary's proofs. told the
committee that Mr.. Peary would not
let the committee have the proofs for
public purposes, because he wanted
them for use in newspaper and maga :
zine articles. The professor with him
a copy of the proofs but he declined
to submit them. He told the commit
tee that he had not the slightest doubt
that Peary discovered the pole and he
never had any doubt even before he
saw the proofs. He submitted TO
lengthy questioning and answered
many interrogations about Peary's
dash for the pole.
He told of the tidal observations
which Peary took and sent back to the
department from time to time, which,
he said, We're of great value. These
filed 81 volumes. he said. Prof. Can
nett told OF the soundings Peary took
in the vicinity of the pole and of his
having gone 10 miles past the pole to
make sure that he was at the extreme
top of the earth. A sounding was made
140 miles from the pole, at a depth OF
1910 fathoms. Another was taken
within five miles of the pole, but Peary
lost the heavy lead and a couple of
nick heads which thax, hll Lot
to furnish the necessary weight to
make the sOundings.
Prof. Gannett said the committee eX-
amined Mr.. Peary's instruments. Ask
ed what he could tell from an eXamina-
tion of such instruments. the witness
said nothing could be told from them.
they only showed that Peary had the
instruments.
1t was further explained that any
scientist who knew his business could
remain in Washington and make astro-
nomical observations and records such
as man might make at the pole.
These could not he told from the gen.
uine. it was acknowledged.
Rep. Alexander of New York was
present as the personal representative
of Mr.. Peary and told the committee
that the latter would be glad to have
the committee examine the records, but
he would have to see Mr. Peary again
and learn whether he would consent
to have them published.
The committee will take up the sub
iect again next Tuesday and if Mr..
Pearys proofs are submitted it is in
tended to have scientists there to cx-
anime them on hel1alf of the commit
tee.