The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-16

does from day to day, and hear not only the
merits Of her claim canvassed, but her character,
her loyalty, her antecedents, and even ber
virtue discussed. Tn ortunately for her,
as well rs for her claim, che ie but the repre-
sentative of a class. To pass her claim s to
open tho hood.ga,es through which would how
similar claims amounting in the aggregate TO
many millions of dollars. THIS is the secret oil
the stubborn resistance made by those who
assume to ACT as the watch.dogs Of tue Treasury.
But still there ~ no occasion for the Senate
wasting 90 much precious time 10 discussing
= matter which could be settled by vote III
few minutes. There is scarcely member OF
the Senate who has not made up bis mind long
ago just how he will vote upon this question,
aud it may be safely asserted that thousand
speeches from rs many different Senator'S would
not change the result.
The Philadelphia Navy Yard LnVestt-
gattOn.
Since Judge Kelley presented tue report OF
the subcommittee OF Naval Affairs on the in
Nestigation Of the fraudulent purchase OF tools
and machinery for the Phils ielphis Navy Yard,
the parties implicated in these frauds have been
indusiriously at work trying 10 get up n white
washing minority report. The history Of this
investigation is interesting as sho wing the
manner in which frauds are sometimes dis
covered, and the efforts Of officials to thwart the
eLds of Justice Judge Kelley's attention was
iIst direc ed 10 this matter by friend in PhiIs-
Jelphia who takes deep interest in everything
relating to iron and machinery, and wbo upon
a casual visit TO the Navy Yard, observed large
toxes OF tools piled up which had been appa-
renuy thrown aside After the subcommittee
had been appointed, Mr.. sherwood, Chief
Engineer Of the Navy, came 10 Judge Kelley
and obligiDgly offered to detail a number OF
engineers TO investigate the matter and report
TO the subcommittee. lie was quietly
informed that the committee could
make its own investigation, as it
would be compelled 10 make its own report TO
the House. lsberwood, however, seemed deter
mined that the engineer department OF the navy
should have some part in the investigation.
Accordingly when the committee reached
Philadelphia, they found, TO heir astonishment,
the engineers in charge of the Boston and
Brook n Navy Y ards who reported themselves,
under the orders OF their chief, sherwood, to
assist the committee in their investigation. The
committee, however, possessing full 90 gers from
the House TO examine witnesses and to send for
persons and papers, went quickly 10 work, Judge
Kelley giving the engineers to understand that
when they were wanted they would be called
for. A disposition was mGuifested 10 throw
every obstacle possible in the way Of the COM
mittee, with view to prevent thorough
investigation. This proving unsuccessful,
less honorable means were resOrted
TO by Engineer Zeller and bis sIbordinates 10
accomplish the same purpose. Fraudulent bids
were produced purporting to come from Messrs.
Sellers & Co. and Messrs. Bemen' Il Dougherty
OF your city, which, being shown 10 these
firms by Judge Kelley, chairman OF the con-
mittee, we're pronounced forgeries, All this
wac done, 1t appears, to produce the impression
| upon the committee that the bids of Messrs
| Roach Il Son OF New York, for the tools and
| machinery required, were lower than those of
any Philadelphia frms. Most OF these tools
| and this machinery were proved by competent
| machinists and engineers to have gone out OF
use in all well-regulated establishments, by
reason Of their being superseded by more
modern improvements and better patterns
! The whole affair seems to have been what may
| be termed 'set-up ioo" between the Engineer
Department Of the Navy and Mes RS.
| Roach h Son, to get q large smonnt
| of money out OF the Government for ola tool,
and ancient machinery that could command a
market no where else. Having failed TO throg y
dust In toe eyes Of the commit zee, the enter
prising gentlemen Of the Engineer de par tment,
including, OF course, Engineer Zelier, OF the
! Philadelphia Navy Yard, have organized a little
lobby here for the double purpose OF thro wing
discredIt on Judge Kelley's report aud of de-
featiug his bin authorizing the President to
apOolnt civilian to the position of Chief
Engineer of the Navy. The latter, should /,
pass the Senate rs it has done the House.
would effectusly dispose Of the immaculate
Isherwood much to the satisfaction, as !
happen TO know, of the great majority of the
officers of the navy. II may be gratifying to
the friends of these parties IN your city to kno
that they have not the slightest cbauce ol
succeeding in their efforts.
SOapInE the TRriR RiH.
An enterprising firm OF your city, Messrs
| McKeOne, Van Hagen d Co., have inauguTated ed
= ueg mode of reaching the Ways aud Means
Committee and the members OF the House on
the Tariff bill. Other interests send delegations
here, who appear before the committee and
nauseate them with argument But your inge-
pious soap manufacturers have hit upon novel
and different plan. One morning this week
each member, upon entering the Hall, found
upou his desk g small box Containing two cakes
! ofIich "fower scented soap" accompanied by 8
| circular This circuiac is an appeal to Congress
to impose duty on kryolue, au article enteriue
largely into the manufacture of fine soaps. Il
appears that q single company located at Pitts
burg has a monopoly of the importation of Ihi.
article, which is found only in Greenland.
McKeone, Van Haagan d Co., in behalf OF tho
soap manufacturers, ask Congressman who
| th.4r ,irc