The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-22

nave never uOn6 IN elR0J years OF OOnL L,J9bSlOnH
llfe-tske two or three minutes for a personal
explanation.
Mr.. Rsndall-I shall object unless 1 can have
Mr.. Kelley-I shall have no objection to my
colleague having the length Of time that oc-
Mr.. Randall-Then 1 make no objection.
Mr.. Covode-Before my colleague proceeds, ]
wish TO say that it is my intention to let debate
upon this bill run for reasonable length of
time, so as TO allow It's friends and opponents
to be heard, and then l shall demand the pre-
Mr.. Reiley-Mr. Speaker, near the close Of the
last session the House adope0 resolution in
inquire into the legality and regularity Of the
purchase of certain tools by Chief Engineer
Ieller, Of the Philadelphia Navy Yard The
Naval Committee, under the instruction of that
resolution, appointed sub. committee of three
of its members to proceed to Philadelphia and
make the examination, which they did, coftect-
ing a large amount of testimony, and making
personal examination of the tools. The ad-
journment was too near to permit the prepara-
tiOn and presentation of report. but when
Congress reassembled the sub committeee was
ready with it's report, or nearly so, and sub
mitted it to the Committee, together with the
voluminous testimony. The Naval Committee
Instructed the chairman of the sub committee,
myself, to make the report TO the House. and
\ ask that IL be recommltted and printed, so
Shat each member OF the Naval Committee
could examine it during the recess, that we
might, be prepared to act upon IT. at
the clos OF the recess. Accordingly, Nyas
recognizecs, by the Speaker, and made the
from the First Sistrlct (Mr. Randal) objected.
holidays Waiting until the Friday before the
recess, renewed the request for leave TO re-
port under the instructions of the comm tee,
and my colleague from the Berks district (Mr
Getz) in behalf of an absent colleague-I sup
pose my colleague from the first distrlct-Ub-
iected. Thus, the report and evidence could
not be printed. l find in q paper yesterday,
THE EVENING TELEGRAPH of fPhiladelphia, an
elaboTately pTepal ed article, evidently written
by somebody familiar with all the facts
connected with the purchases in question,
in which the passage occurs which will ask
to have read at the Q Jerks desk. 1t cnarges
the committee with falsely aspersing the
character OF the Engineer Corps of tue
navy, but with Withholding the evidence in
the case from the public while acting thus un
worthily. l make this statement simply to call
attention TO the fact that the committee have
been diligent In their efforts to get the VIII Ile
matter before Congress, and to the further fact
that the committee is now meeting from day
TO day, listening to the arguments of two able
counsel employed by Chief Engineer Zeler
again offer the report until the ngi1eer, VINO
is in that article said TO be injured by our with
holding the evidence, and the contractor, from
whom he bought the tools, withdraw their
counsel, or they conclude their very protracted
Arguments. now ask the Clerk to read the
The Clerk read as follows-
Without taking any sides In this quarrel We
as II stands II Chief Engine Zaler is guilty OF the
asSsf StHSdi sa nsR a the hS hS Rs
and is endeayorng TO manage the affairs Of hs de;
The Government. he is entitled 10 a complete and
Having stirred up this matter Cougrelsmen
owe 1t to themselves and tbeir iluens make
good tn cir accusations to the letter. The stands
thus: judge Kelley has brought Ger ain charges
pFToduesd no eSidence to support his ststemens The
engineers are supported by a lerse mass OF sworn
ia the n alter II now remains for The Commit ee on
Naval Affairs to exhibit what evidence ihey nave In
Mr. Keney-It Will be perceived that the
reason the whole matter is not before the coun.
| try is that MIR. Ieller and Mr. II zach, of whom
he bought the tools. are preventing IT,. Tnat is
all desire 10 say; and now, in uf!ment OF
my agreement, l yield to my colleague tMr'
MIR. Randall have for the first time heard
this article read, and 1 have never seen ii.
desire to reply simply 70 one point in my col
Leagues remarks, and that is to the point as TO
Where my eae 10; dnr w5 say ir ~
cumstances, l would do the same thing again.
l viii tell him why. The resolution TO which
he has referred was q resolution OF inquiry got
up by himself, as l believe, for no oJner pur-
poses than those of q political character, to
bear upon the recent election. Having utterly
Jailed, as / believe, in his endGavors iu that
respect, he comes before his House, and brings
in what am led to believe is q most unfair
and unjust report-a report not in any manner
approved by the committee Ga the contrary,
the committee are now considering the facts
which he has represented. JhinK in q partisan
manner. ! am told, end really believe, that the
investigation has been unfair. L have been
told by men who nave been examined before
that committee that they were not allowed 10
give full answers to the questions propounded
TO them. but were stopped in the middle of
sentences and not allowed to go on.
That is the reason that L objected, | want
| both sides to be heard before any mans cnarac-
| ter is taken away TO suit the wnims and
| caprices of any one.
| Mr. Stevens-Will the gentleman allow me
| to ini errupt him q moment?
MIR. Randall-Certainly
| Mr.. Stevens-I desire 10 say that the state
| ments the gentleman has made-fOun led un.
| doubtedly upon Information he has received
outside OF this House-have no foundation In
| fact.
MIR. Randall can give the gentleman my
authority.
| MIR, Stevens-No witness has been stopped In
| his answers before the committee.
| Mr.. Randall can produce, In print, the
| statement OF q witness that he was not allowed
| to fully answer the questions put TO him. Tha'
| is the reason, and the only reason, why OBJ
| iected AS that article says, II this man Iellei
| uas been guilty of any misdemeanor, let hin
| be court. martIaled and cashiered. But have
| no idea that the character of man VINO ma
| served long years in the navy shall be takei
| from him by any politician, be he high one o
| q low one. -,
| understand why the evidence is not before TN
| House.
# will be observed from the above that Mr.
Stevens OF New Hampshire, who is member o
the Naval Committee aud was also member o
| the subcommittee charged with the inyestiga
! ton, denies the statements of Mr.. Randall.