New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-02-25
THR NAVY DEPARTMENT CORRUP.
TON.

depth has yet been explored thai that which 10
treated 10 the Report Of Messrs. Sherman acd
Ritchie, Of the Nsval Corruption Investigating
Committee, TO which we this morning ts7ote q
large proportion Of our pages. II vii, We think,
BE- seen from tie facts detailed Ia this Report th,.
in making dis charges Of corruption, NJ. Buchanan
need not have gone beyond the recolections Of bis
own personal experience for ample proof OF every
thing that he alleged.
The attention of thu Committee has been chiefly
directed TO four distinct items Of expenditure
|. The purchase CT fuel for the Nsvy. 2. The
purchase Of live-oak trlber. 9. The Management
Of tie ravy yards, aud especially that of Brooklyn.
a. Contracts for steam machinery.
l. The mode OF purchasing the coal, The selection
of the Coal Agent AID bis compensation, arc BY
law left entirely ~ the discretion Of the Secretary
of the Navy. IL May last, benjamin Tyson was
the Coal Agent, with compensation Fixed st FIVE
per cent commission on the total cost Of the coa'
purchased, snd on the cost Of freighting the coal
to the various navy yards. The amount purchased
in 1853 IVES So 900 tgrs. There were several sP-
plicants for the Office held By Mr. Tyson. In May,
1858, some Of these applicants met q: Washington,
and a. a conference with each other and their
frieuds-amopg whom was Clancy Jones, since sp-
pointed By Mr.. Buchanan Minister TO Aus.ris-i:
was agreed that Or. Charles II. Hunter Of Read.
ing, Pa, should be sppointed Coal Agent ani that
the emoluments Of tie Office should be divided
equs.ly between him, John Z. Smith, and j. Law
renee Getz-Warm personal ard political friends Of
President Buchanan, who had contributed largely
to bis election. Hunter and Smith were both ap-
plicants for the Office Of Coal Agent, ADD Getz is
the editor Of that sterling Democratic sheet, The
Reading Gazette
Mr.. Smith testified that he vas in Washington
in May last, and was present when the Arrange
"ment" for the appointment Of Hunter was made;
that the arrangement was communicated to
Clancy Jones, then member Of Congress; and
that the President also understood that the enotu-
mtnts Of The office uere to 60 10 the three, A. tau
point was deemed important BY The Committee.
~ witness was examined and reeIamined BY diff
ferent members of the Committee as to the knowl-
edge Of the President. He repeated that the
President kmp that the three rers to dirIde the
euolumsnts Of the Office, ard that the parties were
satisfied with the decision.
Mr. Getz tea.ifes that he was 81 Washington st
the time, and was informed of the arrangements for
the appointment! of DR.. Hunter, and that be, Getz,
was to have one third of the profits. He cOnversed
with the President about the appointment Of Dr.
Hunter, and the President said TO him: Mr.
"Jones urged me TO appoint you; but you are no
applicant; have made up my mind to appoint
"Dr. Hunter"
In pursuance of the arrangement, DR.. Hunter
was appointed Coal Agent. Smith received the
commission from the Navy Department, took 1t to
DR.. Hunter, at Reading, and narrated to him the
arrsr cement, to which Hunter agreed. Gesz sub
sequently declined to share in the profits, because
as he SAYS, the arrangement" Was distAsteful to
him.
DR.. Hunter had been for years, was then, and
still is, practising physician in Reading. lie had
never purchased coal for sale; he lid not know its
market value took pains to ascertain it did not
purchase any coal for the Government, or do any
act in the performance Of his duty except to sign
formal papers sent to him by Tyler, Stone & Co.
Philadelphia certifying that specific quantity Of
coal Of the best quAlity, had been duly inspected
and weighed By him and shipped on board named
vessel. These papers we're sent to the proper bu-
resu and all parties knew, or out to have known,
that the certificates were false, far relates to
his personal knowledge of the facts certified.
When the Government needed coal requisitiOn was
sent to Dr. Hunter, which by him was sent to
Tyler, Stone & Co., who became at once the pur-
ehssers for and the sellers to the Government.
Tyler, Stone & Co. and Dr. Hunter fixed the price
at So SIS per tun. The testimony ofmany witnesses
establishes, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the
market valae of such coal as was delivered to the
Government would not exceed IS 30 per tun, and
several respectable desler, would haze furnished
the Government st that or less price, and then
made profit. The amount Of emouments re-
ceiyed BY DR.. Hunter and divided by him with Mr..
Smith was Il the rate Of about $4,000 per
annum.
II. Live-oak timber Ike other material for the
Navy, is required by law to be purchased by con-
tract with the lowest bidder; but unlike other ms
teria it is not kept hand in large quantities BY
dealers in timber. II has, therefore been the uni
form custom Of the Government to allow contract
6rs from one to two years to furnish the supply
needed, unless the eIigencie, OF the service de-
mand an immediate supply, in which case it may
be bought in open purchase.
Mr.. ". c. n. Swift, whA'ef e. NswBedf9rd,
Mass, had prior to l3ii, been contractor for the
supply of Lye.Oak and other timber for the Cos.
eminent In 1854, be entered into written agree
ment with George Pitt of Philadelphia, an init
mate friend of President Buchanan, BY which Pitt
agreed to aid Swift all he could in obtaining live