The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1859-03-11
az 4, POE II,

oy Department.
The Black Republicans IN Congress, as the
public are aware, have had an investigating
committee appointed to inquire INTO certain mat
ters connected " ith the awarding Of Naval con-
tracts. The result OF the Committees labors,
is, first, correct, honest and straightforward
statement by majority of The Committee, sus-
tanning the Secretary of the Navy and the
President. This majority is composed of two
Democrats and one American. Secondly, tie
minority, composed oft Black Republicans,
have gotten up an electloneering document IN
the shape OF Report, which is filed with per-
versions of facts and which is published al the
expense of the Government, 10 be scattered
broadcast over The land, ioi the purpose Of ma
king political capital. In order that the pub
lie may be fully enlightened on this subject we
make room for the following Report Of the
majority
Mr.. Bocock, of Virginia, from the Select
Committee 10 examine into the alleged Naval
contracts and frauds, presented report from
the majority, and Mr. Sherman, OF Ohio. presen-
ted a minority report from the same Commit
4 tee.
Messrs. Bocock, Groesbeck and Ready join in
Report
First. on the management of the Brooklyn
/ Navy Yard
/ They take the position that appointments
/ have long been made on political grounds that
on the incoming OF the present administration
! the patronage thereof was concentrated to two
or three districts. All these districts at the
/ time were represented by Democrats. The
/ delegation from the city Of New York and that
/ neishborhood petitioned the Secretary Of the
! Navy to divide the patronage among them e,
| qualy. Thereupon there was great deal OF
confusion and controversy among the different
/ members Of the delegation, and between the
delegation itself and the Secretary OF the Navy
that great abuses had previously existed at the
| yard, such as ldleneSs, nsubordination, levyinE
OF contributions by the master-workinen on life
men, and The appointment and retention oil in
competent woIkmeu.
The Committee admit all these abuses, bat
say they have not sprung from anything done
| or any steps taken, by the present Secretary OF
the Navy, unless this policy ot attempting to
distribute The patronage equally br the cause oil
q part oil The abuses. No complaints have been
made 10 him on the subject, and no request to
redress them in most OF the cases but 50 far as
these abuses have been made known to him, he
has promptly taken means to correct thetn.
In addition to this, Ee Instituted mrasurss for
a reform in this particular navy yard. Atoul
a year aud half ago he issued an order thai
before q man was appointed 20 the place Of mas
ter workman, be should be objected to an ex-
animation as to bis qualifications and character,
that under his. direction strenuous efforts
were made TO prevent practice which obtain
ed in the yard, of men answering to their
names at roIl-ca! and afterwards a5sentng
themselves that in addition 10 this, on the ita
day Of December last, BE- issued an order giving
power to the commander of the yald 10 diS-
charge worthless and Incompetent men-rnra-
sures of reform, all Of which we're very iul9og-
ant.
i TheiCoinn&tee rprpat--Hp hal pndsavorcd
10 redress particular cases Of abuse Witica cam@
to his knowledge. Iue Committge however
believe that the yard can never be managed IA
proper Elannrr, and profitable way 10 the
government until some regulation shall b. a
doP'ed preventing appointments in the yard
from being made on political grounds.
The Committee instituted particular eXamj- |
netion into the manner 10 which Tie Navy
Agent and Naval Storekeep4r discharged their
respective duties. 10 charge Of maIirasance
against them was proven; bot II was proven
that they had net devoted as much ligue aad
alienation to tl,zlr CliceS as the important dulies
thereof required.
The second point Of exa1 inaiion is the ar
lhraCiie coal agency. It was proven that DR..
Huater, the agent, has grycn no sort Of atten-
ton 10 the duties OF the Office, bal has entire
Iy neglected IT, He has partner IN the prol-
lis and duties Of The Office, located al Phiiadel
phia. But the partner has bestowed very lit
tie more time upon ii than has the agent him
SELF He has left the mana cement ci The bus-
ness in the hands OF 4 large igm Of coal deal
els in Philadelphia under the tile OF Ty-
lsr, Stone & Co. Il appea.s that wheney-
er hr gets requsitIon toE coal he hands it o.
Yer 10 them, and they superintend the whole bu- |
s:ness oi procuring the coal, shipping II, sc. |
The Committee coademn The cours. Of Dr. |
Hunter and his partner, Mr.. Smth, bu! say
that he has always been gentleman OF stan !
ding and character; that he lived in The |
neighboFhood ofthe coal region, and bad been
engaged in the iron business, which tended 10
make bin acquainted with the different kinds /
of coal that be was recommended to this /
Office by leading members OF the Pennsylvania .
Legislature and other influential citizens OF !
Reading and Philadelphia that since he has /
been in Office there has been nothing to call Tie
attention OF the Department to his neglect OF
duty. No complaint has been made by any
body to the Secretary fthe Navy on toe sub
ject. The coal is OF the very best qualify,
and has been furnished regularly for the use Of
the Government by the firm Of Tyler, Stone * /
Co., and, 1t appears, at 40 cents per ton iess
than the Government had obtained it for up TO I
the spring Of 1913.
In 1897 the royprnneni hourht coal af 81 /