Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-21
REWARD FOR PEARY STUART IS AROUSED
House Committee Says He Says SchooIboys Must Obey
Was Within 1.6 Miles of Pole. Rules or Be Suspended
is ENTITLED TO CREDIT FEELS DISGRACE OF TECH
Thanks Congress Retirement Has Not Yet Finally
as Rear Admiral altes for Joy Riders
MINORITY REPORT IS MADE USE OF TOBACCO COMMON
Scores COMMITTEES of National Within Sight
Geographic Society After Saloons
House Committee Says He
Was Within 1.6 Miles of Pole.
is ENTITLED TO CREDIT
Thanks of Congress and Retirement
as q Rear Admiral.
MINORITY REPORT Is MADE
Concurs in Credit to Explorer, But
Scores Committee of National
Geographic Society.

That Capt. Robert F. Peary came with
in 1.6 miles of the north pole-near
enough to establish his claim of having
been at the exact spotIs the decision of
the House committee on naval affairs,
which has been considering the bill TO re-
tire Capt. Peary with the rank of. rear
admiral.
The basis of the committees finding is
the chart prepared by Hugh C. Mitchell
and c. r. Duvall OF the United States
coast and geodetic survey and based on
Pearys observations. This chart shows
that Peary went to the left on nearing
the pole. due to an error in his instru-
ments. Later he crossed toward the
pole, his nearest point being 1.6 miles.
Rank Of Rear Admiral.
Representative Bates of Pennsylvania
presented the majority report OF the COM
mittee, recommending that Peary be re-
tired with the rank OF rear admiral
minority report, submitted by Repre-
sentative Roberts of Massachusetts,, does
not question Capt. Peary's performance.
but arraigns the National Geographic
Societys committee, which he claims an
nounced it's findings after only cursory
examination of Peary's proofs
In his report Mr.. Roberts SAYS that 'in
view OF the criticism upon Congress upon
the part of a certain section of the public
press because of its so-called tardiness in
taking some action looking toward a re-
ward for Capt. Peary in his attempt for
the north pole, it seems proper that a
nf al fho cir. q m
leading up to the final action of the naval
committee should be incorporated into
the majority report of that committee
accompanying the bill reported by it con-
ferring certain honors upon Capt Peary =
Reviews Polar Controversy.
Then Mr.. Roberts briefly reviews the
polar controversy from the time Cook S
announcement flashed from the north as
serting he had reached the top of the
earth.
"Partisans of both Peary and Cook .
says Mr.. Roberts, argued exhaustlvely
in favor of their particular views, but
nothing was done to settle the contro-
versy. until the National Geographic So
ciety constituted itself tribunal for that
purpose and invited both DR.. Cook and
Capt. Peary to lay before il such proofs
as each had of the truth of his claims
But at this time neither explorer had Of
fered to any person or tribunal. SO far a
can be ascertained. any of his proofs or
any verification OF his statements.
Capt Peary, upon this request did
submit through Mr.. Nichols to the Geo
graphic Society certain papers or docu-
ments. At this time it was of the ut
most Importance to the world. TO the
Geographic Society and to Capt Peary
a thOrOuOh pvh
examination be made of all proofs then
or thereafter to he submitted to the
Geographic Society, for it's verdict in a
large measure would settle in the minds
of the people the question as to which, If
either, Of the explorers had reached the
pole. A great responsibility was under
taken by the Geographic Society and its
committee of investigation when it as
sumed the duty of arbiter and the people
of the country had the right to believe
that the investigation into Capt. Peary's $
proofs would be conducted i'm a measure
commensurate with the Importance of
the subject.
Declare He Reached Pole.
THE Geographic Society, through a
committee of three. made some ex
animation of the proofs submitted by
Capt. Peary, and reported its conclusions
to the board of management of the So
ciety, which conclusions were that capt.
Peary reached the north pole April s.
1909. No statements as to the con-
tents of Capt. Peary's journal, and the
nature of his observations, nor of the
kind or character of his instruments $
or apparatus or any of the scientific
results Of his expedition were given to
the public, and it was said that the
subcommittee of the society was made
up of friends and partisans of Peary
and that his case had been heard in
the house of his friends, with the re-
suit that the report of the committee
in no way tended to satisfy the popular
mind and to allay the controversy that
was raging"
Mr.. Roberts then refers to the intro
duction of bills proposing 10 reward
Peary in various ways, the reference of
one of these measures to the naval COM
mittee and the appearance of the Geo
graphic Society's committee of three
which passed on Pearys proofs, before
the naval committee.
Henry Gannett. Rear Admiral Chester
L. s. ". and o. II. Tittmann, chief of
the coast and geodetic survey, composed
the committee. Mr.. Roberts devotes
many pages of his report to an effort to
demonstrate that the examination Of
Peary's proofs by these three men had
been trifling. careless and not in any
way thorough.
Speaking of Mr. Tittmann. Mr.. Roberts
says that this member says he did not
nave as H1ucH OppOIluIil ~ go over the
details as the other members of the COM
mittee because he was much occupied
with other matters.
Gannett Not Well Posted.
Then Mr.. Roberts points out that at the
naval committee hearings. after his
careful examination of Capt. Peary's
proofs Mr.. Gannett did not know how
many days it took Capt. Peary from the
time he left Bartlett to reach the pole and
return to the Roosevelt, that information
being supplied by Mr.. Grosvenor.
ct will also be observed that Mr.. GAN
nett, as a result of his careful examina-
ton of Capt. Peary's proofs and rec
ords, gives Capt. Peary, In his final dash
to the pole, equipment consisting of two
sledges, thirty-twO to thirty-six dogs, two
Eskimos and Henson. From Capt
Peary's own testimony it appears that
he had on that final dash forty dogs.
five sledges and a total of six men in
his party. This discrepancy on SO vital
a point must seem quite conclusive that
the examination of the Geographic So
ciety's committee was anything but
careful"
The report then states that on one ap-
pearance before the naval committee Mr..
Gannett had Peary's proofs ana records
with him, but would not present them
until assured secrecy would be observed
When he could get no assurance OF this
nature he took the records away with him
and his examination was not resumed.
..I1p to this time says Mr.. Roberts
..the failure of Can't. Peary to receive rec