South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1859-04-01
Report of an Investigating Committee
at Washington.
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.

CONTINUED FROM LAST wEEK.l
The next point is The abuses in the o.iirc
of the NAVY AGENT at New York. who dis
hur<cs abont $I.O0o.0n0 per unnnm. 1t
Is managed $" as to make money for bim-
self. over and above his $4,000 salary. and
reward men who contribute literally I" car
~ elections. The llnndcrir. firm is Sc
con X Go. One Of th" firm is on Sanders
bond, and is his confidential! friend. Of
c"nr>", they "f'a,Lcr thin nest"
The next iS the NAvAi. STrEE.KErrrr's
oi'ic" at New York. to Which the arroin,c".
l!crirk, proprietor Of :: Sunday paper in y.
York, pays 10 personal attention. His s.n
rcrfnrus the hn;ics. after !, fashion. The
accounts are bchina hand: and every Thing
III confusion. Commander Hoot"s, of the
Navy Yard. has often reported lIcrick as
negligent. but no n"ti." i taken rf the
matter. lIr,ick controls newspaper.
The Philadelphia Navy YARD next oh.
tars attention. All the Gakrim. spinning
for Il year was crowded into few wccl;s
abou; tn" last election. Eighty persons
were employed to do the work The ry-
tent of the increased force in the Yard. 10
Influence the election, is given under tie
Erookl,n Yard
CONTRACTS FOR MACHINERY.
During the last year. the machinery for
seven Sl""ps-of- was given out by con
tract. That 10 hc built at Portsmouth, y.
IL. was given to Woodruff and Beach at
Sl23,Gpn. The lowest bidder was the
Novelty Iron Works. New York, at sos
IGO. Bcach. Of the above FIRM: is con
n"ctinn Of Mr.. Tvuccy, Secretary Of the
Navy.
That to be built at Boston. was given to
the Locomotive Works, Boston, at SlU4,-
Gto. The lowest bidder was the Allaiic
Works. New York. at S97 geo.
That to be built at Nurfnlk. was awarded
to Murray IL lIaz.chur>t, Baltimore, at
Si3l .0O0-S37 Geo more than had been
offered by {. Ree,cr. Baltimore but Mar
tin ovcrruled that bid, because Ills boiler
was not preferred.
That to be hull, at New York, was civ
en- to James Murphy Il Co. New York, at
Si3u.nO0. The lowest bidder was the
Novelty Iron Works. New York, at S91.-
600. Tw" other bidders we're lower than
Murphy n Co. ami one at the same y, ice
That 10 hr built 4: Pensacola. was awar-
d"d to the Morgan Iron Works, New York,
for Sl2on0n. The lowest bidder was
Murray Il lIazichurst. Baltimore, at SlU0,-
'"'n. T':". ,":,"r bids w,rc LC!Lw The.
Morgan Iron Works.
That t" he built at Philadelphia. was A.
wai'!cd to Mcrick 4 Sons, for S1n!. 900.
The lowest lil was the Novelty lien " orks.
New York, Che largest establishment in
IL" L. StalcS,) al SGS. coo. With regard
to this contract, the President was address,
cd by Col. w. &. Patterson, Il lcadin. De-
mocrat If Philadelphia. aud requested TO
give this contract to Alcrick Il Sons. as
they were Old Line Whig gs. in favor of Col.
Fiorcnce's recollection to Congress. and it
was the interest of the Democratic party to
encourage the Firm The President read
this letter, and sent it to the Secretary OF
the Navy. "sabmiHi"y Il m his uticnt;Dn -
The Committee consider this n grave Of
fence. The request was equivalent to a
command. as the giving Of contract is a
judicial act. and 10 tampering with it shonl,i
he tolerated. Mcrck & Sons received the
contract. though their price was $4,000
higher than that of 4 perfectly responsible
establishment
y great controversy cnsucd over the
contracts for the Griffith ship. building at
Philadelphia. Norris 4 Co. were claimants
on one side; Rcanry. Neafic 4 Go. on the
other. WIN. II. Wittc, OK member of the
House, and candidate for nomination for
Governor against Mr.. Packer, was borcr
for the latter tirm-he to receive one fourth
Of the profits if the contract was awarded
to his employers! Several Democratic
members Of Congress backed up Norris e.
Co.; others Reaney, Ncafie & Co. The
contract was finally awarded to the latter
for Sl39000. Norris & Co.'S bid was
Sl26,0OD. Charges of fraud, favortisr,,
and improper disclosure ofthc plans ofcom-
pcting bidders were made by each upon the
other. The aggregate difference between
the lowest bids and the accepted Lids for
the machinery Of these Sloors. was $50
600. Of the advisory board OF Engineers,
David Is. Martin was member. His
voice prevailed in every instance: vet he
has au interest Of over 81 900 as Patent
fees for the boilers and valves used in the
machinery Of the five Sloors, awarded upon
~" 'p'"iou' " lhc ]DbdTu was UlNluSu,
The Secretary adopted his opinions. In de-
Gliding upon the proposals, no award was
made except to these whose drawings show
cd the Martin boilers-for the privilege Of
using which he received from $3.50 to ST.
600 in each case This boiler is not ccu
orally adopted, except on government vcs-
sells. and the proposals did not require this
form Of boilers. He used his position to
drive fat bargains, and the Secretary help
cd him.
j: is also proved that j Clancy Jones,
while n member Of the House. obtained
work for the Reading Forge from Govern
ncnt, upon receiving five per cent Of the
gross sum. lie procured the work. and at
various times rcceired .from, tie Rcu,iing
f"rgc C"apuny compensation Merctw!-
This is directly in violation Of the law, and
is made misdemcsuor. utject to fine of
$4,000. Mr. Jones IS now our minister to
Au-t,ia,
The report recommends some stringent
1,t,, o,,I .. I