Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-07
HE SUBMITS TO QUIZZING
Declines to Admit or Deny That
Records Could Be Faxed.
UP TO EXPERTS TO DECIDE
Promotion to Rear Admiral and
Thanks of Congress Are Possible
Rewards for Him.

fatty refused to appear before the
House committee on naval affairs at
the last session of Congress, was a
willing witness before that body today.
Although the hearing was supposed to
be merely before a subcommittee of five
members, the full committee and as
committee room were on hand and
heard Mr.. Peary begin his story of his
journey to the pole and back again.
The explorer was still at the north
pole when the converting of the House
at noon forced the adjournment of the
committee. He will appear before the
committee Tuesday and complete his
testimony.
Rewards lowering Over Him.
After Mr. Peary has told his story and
the naval committee has considered the
records he has submitted. it is probable
the bill introduced by Representative
Bates of Pennsylvania at the last ses-
sion proposing to retire Mr.. Peary with
the rank and pay of a rear admiral, will
be favorably reported.
1t is even possible that Mr.. Peary will
receive more signal honors than this by
being given the thanks OF Congress, car
rylng with 1t the much coveted floor
privilege" and gold medal.
Nothing could have been more matter
Of fact than the manner in which Mr..
Peary told of his experiences in the
frozen wastes of the north. Most of the
time he read from his diary or from some
other portion of his records in an even
tone.
When he reached that dramatic SEN
tence in his diary, The pole at last" he
might have been requesting member
of his family to pass the butter.
Representative Ernest w. Roberts oil
Massachusetts and Representative Rob-
ert Bruce Macon of Georgia seem to be
the only members of the naval affairs
committee who are at the present time
distinctly in opposition to the explorer.
Both indicated today that they were
seriously concerned about an alleged dis
crepancy between Mr.. Peary's state
ments concerning his arctic equipment
and a statement on the same subject
made before the naval committee by
President Gannett of the National Geo.
graphic Society. which passed on Peary' 8
records and declared that he had discov-
cred the pole.
Defensive, But Submits to Quizzing.
Mr.. Peary is on the defensive He an
committee about his polar experiences.
But he added that he would be glad to
answer any questions asked him.
Mr.. Peary began his tale to the COM
mittee at a point 1913 miles from the
pole. where Capt. Bartlett, commander of
the Roosevelt. turned back in command
of the last supporting party. Stating
that when this happened, he had with
h five ell nd fnrtxr
Mr.. Peary told in great detail of each of
the five marches from the time he quilted
Bartlett until he reached the pole.
AT the end of the last march, he
said. II judged | had got near enough to
the pole to enable me to reach it from
that point. l thought l was three or
four miles from the pole. j reached there
in the forenoon, as l had hoped to do, SO
l could make observations.
''These observations indicated that we
were at SO degrees 81 minutes, or about
three miles from the pole. They showed
that / could make my last camp there"
To make certain he had reached the
pole, Mr.. Perry said, he made marches
in several directions. Then he started
back.
He was still describing the hardships
and fatigue of the return journey when
the committee adjourned.
Discussion of Record Taxing.
The most interesting portion of the
hearing had to do with a colloquy be-
tween the explorer and several members
of the naval committee with reference
to the possibility of taking records.
Real observations" said Mr.. Peary.
ARE never made except at the place
where they are said to be made
IF these figures We're made without
your actually having been to the pole,
could that fact be detected?" Representa-
tive Butler Of Pennsylvania inquired.
There seems to be a difference Of
opinion on that score,'' replied the ex-
plorer
rs there anything on the face of the
figures ito show whether they were made
at the north pole or in Washington?' in
quired Representative Roberts of Mas
sachusetts.
THAT is a question for experts" said
Mr.. Peary.
Then occurred the conversation concern
ing the alleged discrepancy referred to.
Members OF the committee will question
Mr.. PeaFy more fully Tuesday.