Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1859-02-10
dence Of The Eyening Post.

4
proceeding aud refused to admit the men,
He was forthwith removed from the station
by Secretar Toucey.
CAPT. Roots was commander of the Brook.
lyn Yard during the "packing" process last
Fall. In the absence of the Commodore.
it was his duty TO be cognizant of the en-
ployment of men, and to exercise the same
power which belongs to that officer. During
portion of the political canvass in New
York last Fall, the exercise of this power
! fell to Capt. Roots. and he followed in :he
footsteps of his illustrious predecessor. and
refused to submit TO the dictation of politi.
clans in the management OF the affairs of
the Yard. whether Mr.. C's, or Custom
, Horse officers in New York, or their official
superiors in Washington. The conse.
quence was that, like his illustrious prede.
cesSor, he was removed from the station
! Capt Roots was before the Committee
| yesterday and the day before. The tes:i-
mony which that officer gave convinced the
Committee tina, the charges upon which the
investigation was founded were strictly
true.
Mr.. William Brady, Master in the Navy.
was examined yesterday as to the political
aspect of affairs, but he knew nothing. His
duties drd not pertain to the civil department
of the Yard.
Mr.. Merrifeld received an early rebuff
yesterday, which slightly cooled his ardor
As sU0u d5- -rTuvruic;Tr aftet his arrival he
sought out Mr.. Sherman, the Chairman of
the Selec, Committee o. Investigation, and,
with an ar of self-assurance, addressed him
thus:
is this Mr.. Sherman of Ohiol''
at is. Sir" replied Mr. s.
"Then | would like to inquire, Sir, if you
have any charges against mer'
PRAY, Sir. who are you, and where do
you beiongt" continued Mr.. Sherman.
MY name is Merrifeld," added The in
quirer, "and am Master Blacksmith of the
Brooklyn Navy Yard, and have been SUBJ
pGneed here by your Sergeant-at-Arms."
Mr.. Sherman-"Now | understand YOU.
In answer to your question, cannot say at
present whether we have any charges against
you, bat there are some serious complaints"
This was sledge hammer blow at the
blacksmith. which caused him to subside
without another question.
This Mr.. Merrifed is the fright bower"
Of a certain Administration member of Con-
gress, to whom he is indebted for his place
in the yard. Speaking of this member of
Congress reminds me to say. right here.
that his brother-in law is one of the firm of
James Murphy & Co steam engine builders
of New York. Tothis firm was awarded
the contract for building the engine FOR the
urge sloop-cf-war building at the Brooklyn
Navy Yard, and the Government agrees to
pay them $3.50 0CO for it-thirty three Mous-
and dollars more than the celebrated Novelty
Iron Works of New York bid to do the
same work for. The latter establishment,
and two others. were jumped over for
higher bidder, who happens to be the COM
mon friend Of Mr.. Toucey and Mr.. Buch,
anln.
The facts came out in evidence yesterday,
and it was also shown what became of q
good share of the S33 600 which was paid
to Murphy & Co. over and above the price
charged for the same work by an establish
ment o: world wide reputation. When the
testimony is reported to the House, il will
mark certain Administration member with
undoubted accuracy.
II also came out in evidence yesterday,
that at the time of the election in New
York last Fall, there were packed ihto the
Brooklyn Navy Yard $500 mechanics and
laborers; that about 200 of them were dis
charged shortly afierward; that at present
there are about LOO in the yard, and with
that number they are now doing more werk,
and d,ing it better than when the yard was
crowded with an unwieldy crew who were
not there as mechanics and loborers, but as
hireling politicians.
The evidence in regard to the Phila del
phia Yard will show still more glaring
record
1t is matter Of frequent comment, ,ha,
when an Administration member of Con-
gress offers resolution Ca ling upon either
of the Secretaries for in'ormlto on, the an
swer is promptly made. Not SO when the
inquiry is made from the Republican side.
The resolution of Senator Wilson. offered
nearly Two weeks since calling for ihforma-
ton concerning certain Live oak" contrne's
has not been responded to yet. The cele-
brared massachusetts man," who has so
richly feathered his nest nut oi the Treas
ury by these contracts, has figured con-
siderably in the Navy Department since the
resolution was introduced by Senator vii
son. II is question with s,me whether
his services have been enisted by either of
the officers of that department in preparing
the answer to the resolution. Yesterday
he was c.oseted for two hours with Mr.
Toncey.
The answer tn Mr.. Kunkel's resolution
relative TO contracts for forthcoming yet
This is n subject which will be investigated
by .he Select Committee now sitting.
bad OCCASION to state few days since that