The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-03-11
EXPLORER SAYS HE CANNOT
BREAK CONTRACT WITH
PUBLISHERS.
HIS SOUNDINCS DISPUTED
Steenerson Submits Threatening Let
ters-Homesteading Given
Years Extension
for Payments.

Washington, d. C. - Commander
Peary declined to submit 10 congress
the proofs of his discovery of the
North pole He sent in care OF Rep
resentative Alexander of New York,
statement written in the third per-
son and addressed to the sub-cOmmit-
tee of the house committee on naval
affairs. in which he set forth his rea-
sons for refusing 10 send his data 70
the committee. The statement fol
lows:
Commander Peary and his friends
say that contracts signed months ago
with his publishers render ii impOssi-
bic 10 make his records and scientific
data public now. II would not only
subject Peary to heavy damages a
loss which he cannot meet, having
just eXtricated himself from debt in
Cured in connection with his various
eXpediliOns-but ii would be break
ing faith with his publishers, which
he is unwilling TO do under any cir
cumstanceS"
After hearing statements by Repre-
sentatiVes HObsOn OF Alabama and
Moore of Pennsylvania urging the
granting Of congressional reward 10
Peary irrespective of the question of
his proofs. the committee adjourned
without taking any action
The committee has received a mass
OF interesting communications on he
subject. One is from H. l.. Hopkins
secretary and treasurer of the Amer
lean Association of Masters. Mates
and Pilots, questioning the reports OF
Peary's sounding taken in the vicinity
of the North pole
How in time did Peary, with one
man. sound in 100 fathoms of wa
ter?" wrote Mr. Hopkins to the com
mittee
Steenerson Submits Letters
The question of whether there is a
lobby working for the enactment Of
a ship subsidy law and threatening
members of congress who are opposed
to such measure was again before a
subcommittee OF the judiciary com
mittee of the house. Representative
SteenersOn of Minnesota. who made
the original charges on the floor of
the house, was again before the COM
mlttee and submitted a number of
letters said 10 show that several con-
gressmen were being threatened with
defeat for reelection if they opposed
ship subsidy
The letters were addressed TO Rep
resentative BOrland (Dem) of Mis-
souri, lie nrOOt (RepD of Wisconsin,
and kusterman tRebD of Wisconsin.
and were from the Merchant Marine
league 1t is this organization which
Mr. SteenersOn charges with menac-
ing him by letters and paper articles.
Several prominent men. including ex-
Governor Herrick of Ohio and John
Hammond, are vice presidents of the
league
The committee will hear further
statements, however, before determin-
ing whether formal investigation
shall be made by congress of the ship
subsidy lobby changes.
Time Extended for Homesteaders
bill extending the time for The
payment to be made by hOmesteaders
on the Rosebud Indian reservation in
North Dakota, Red Lake reservation.
Minnesota. and COmanche, Oklaho-
ma, passed the house The settlers
on the Rosebud reservation received
an extension of one year without in
terest while those on the other reser.
vatiOns will be required to pay five
per cent
Bigger Postofice Is Asked.
An increase in the limit of cost for
Minneapolis public building from
100000 to $75O000 is provided for in
bill which was introduced by Rep
resentative Nye. AS soon as the house
committee takes up the omnibus pub
lie building bill Mr. Nye will appear
before it and ask for the change in
the Minneapolis item. Owing to the
determination of the house committee
to keep down its appropriation the
Minneapolis item may not be placed
In the bill until ii reaches the senate.
Chicago Live Stock.