New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-03-05
CLASH OVER PEARY
COMMITTEE DEN M1NDS
PROOFS.
Declines to Make
Records Public and May
Lose Thanks of Congress-
rEroD, The Tribune Bureau.

rFrom The Tribune Bureau
Washington March 4-Untl Com
mander Peary submits his records to the
House Committee on Naval Affairs that
body will -iot make a favorable report on
the bill to vote him the thanks OF CON
gress- This was made clear to-day after
a hearing given by the subcommittee
which received the testimony of DR.. Otto
II. Tittmann. chief of the Coast and
Geodeti, Survey, and Professor Henry s
Gannett. both Of whom were members
of the board appointed by the National
Geogra phic Society to examine the Peary
data
In their testimony to-day these sclen-
fists declared their absolute conviction
that Commander Peary had reached the
North Pole. Examined closely by mem
bers Of the committee, they asserted that
this conviction was based on a thorough
investigation of Commander Peary $
Journal. his astronomical observations
and the scientific instruments with which
these observa tions were made.
Members of the committee Immediate
Iy asked to see copies of the records
which Professor Gannett had with him.
Professor Gannett said that he would be
entirely willing to present the records
provided their contents should be held in
strict confidence by the committee
Representative Macon. of Arkansas.
made a forcefuI objection to this request
and emphasized his dispIea sure by leav-
ing the committee room and announcing
that he would not review the records un-
lie.
L am against any legislation in the
dark Mr.. Macon sharply told the COM
mittee. Furthermore, if this committee
decides in favor of Peary without in
specting the full records and making
them public I will expose the whole
business on the floor of the House or in
a statement to the press. If we reward
Mr.. Peary the American people have a
right to know what we are rewarding
him for
Members of the committee then asked
Professor Gannett the reason for his re-
fusal to submit the records. He replied
that he was not authorized to answer
that question. and while he was willing
the committee should examine them for
its own information he was not at lib
erty to present them to the public. The
committee decided that it would not ex
anime the records until they could be
available to the public and could be used
as the basis for a recommendation that
Peary receive d vote of thanks from
Congress-
Discovery Not Doubted.
Representative Alexander, of New
York a fellow aIumnus of Commander
Peary in BoWdoin College, announced
that lie would present the question 10
Commander Peary and ascertain whether
the records could be made public at the
pre- mt session of Congress. The COM
mittee will give a further hearing to DR.
Tittmann on Tuesday. There is no dis
position on the part of the committee to
question the fact that Commander Peary
reached the pole. but there is unani-
NOUS opinion that no recommendation
to give official sanction to the discovery
should be made until the committee is
convinced by the records.
The committee was surprised to learn
from Professor Gannett that Commander
PearV went ten lilIltS Dey oIiu I4lc pOlS III
the fear that he had not reached the
end of his Arctic journey When Pro-
fessor Gannett was asked as TO the data
submitted by DR.. Cook to the University
Of CopenhaSeH he said that his informa-
ton was that Dr. Cook s records showed
that he was journeying south when he
supposed he was going north
The hearing developed that Com
mander Peary made his last sounding
five miles from the pole. He was unable
IN reach bottom. however, although his
lead sank 300 feet. y previous sound
ing. made 40 miles from the pole.
showed 224O fathoms. A question which
remained i'll the minds of the COMMITTEES
after hearing the testimony WAS how
Commander Peary made his soundIngS.
7, WAS stated that in order to sound sue
cosSfully at 100 fathoms II was hcceS-
cary to attach 10 the 20 pound sounding
Load two pickaxc heads and the runner
+a sled While these We're Sufficlenl to
ascertain the depth 4 lp fath"mS.
members of the committee are perpleNeI
i'm cndeayoring to learn what weight was
,,sed by Commander Peary when ne
,,adc his final soundings five miles from
tho mole and how he was able To with
draw the lead after it had been sunk.