The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-29

TIE alleged Frauds in the Pur-
cbase of TOOls-RepOrt Of the
Sub. Committee of the
House Of Repre-
sentatives.

Oeeded In obtaining copy Oh Iue iePVi'N VI WV
Neval Committee appointed TO investigate the
alleged frauds in the purchase OF tools ana
machinery for the Philadelphia Navy Yard ~
is as lollows;- =.
GOur readers should bear in mind that this IS
ahe report OF the sub committee, Oh Wnicu JuusJ
Kelley was chairman, appointed by the Nayal
Committee. Chief Engineer Zeller Is now ouGl- TT
ing additional evidence on his elde Ol VnNs AZ
question to the Naval Commlttee ltselI' ~ ~ S iS
thought that the committee VIII make Una nnSi
report in the whole matter before many uays,
and we Will lay 1t before our readers as soOn 9 ~
it is published. The report turnishe9 gy .Iat Iat
correspondent reached us at such ae W desait
we are unable to give all the testimony ~ I ue,"s3
so we merely give the substance'-GD' EFLNAN'
Mr.. Kelley. from the Committee on Naval
Affairs, made the following
REPORT.
The Naval Committee beg to submit the fol-
lowing report on the purchase OF tools by
Theodore Zeller, Chief Engineer OF the Phlla-
deIDhia Navy Yard. The committee, in the
performance of the duty committed to them,
appointed a sub committee to proceed to Phila-
deiphia and examine tho tools recently pur.
chased, and take such testimony as would
enable the House to judge of the regularity and
legality Of the purchases OF the tools ~ question.
That committee, having performed its duties,
presented the following report, which is respect
fully submited;-
To the Naval Committee OF the House of Re
s-Gentlemen:-The subcommittee
appointed by you to proceed TO Phiadelphia,
under the resolution of the House of Represen-
tatives instructing the Naval committee to
inquire into the regularity and legality OF the
purchase of planning and riYeting machines,
Cameron pumps, and tools and machinery gene
rally, by Theodore Zeller Chief Engineer of the
Navy Yard at Philadelphia, respectfully report
that they proceeded to Philadelphia, and,
attended by Theodore Zeler, Chief Engineer,
and John Rowbotham, master machinist OF the
yard, made personal examination of the tools,
riveting machine, and pumps IN question, to-
gether with the buildings III which they were
placed, or intended to be placed. They also
examined the following named persons as wit
nesses:-Emil Godsteiu, draughtsman of the
department of steam engineering; John Row"
botham, master machinst; James p Mum,
clerk of the department. of steam engineering;
George R. johnson, chief engineer United
States Navy, on duty as inspector of ma
terIal, or inspecting engineer; David
Hennessy, late quartermau of the machine shop:
William A. Palmer, present quarterman of the
machine shop; Edward Ball. Charles Henry,
John Dorsey, and Joseph f. Connor, machinists
employed In the yard who had had experience
in the use of the tools; j. Shields Wilson and
John Birkbeck, superintendents of large esta-
bllshments for the manufacture of s.eam en-
gnes, boilers etc.; William B. Bement, Of the
Zeller, chief engineer of the yard; John Roop,
his assistant engineer, and William W. Wood
and Alexander Henderson, chief engineers in
the navy, who, at the suggestion of Mr.. Isher-
wood engine er-inchief United States navy
were detailed for that purpose. The committee
also examined John Roach, OF the Etua Iron
Works, who craVed hearing. They also com.
municated with William Sellers & Co., tool
manufacturers, from whom they received such
papers and information as they required.
THE ORIGIN F THE INQUIRY.
The purchases which led to this investigation,
and upon which the inquiry is based were Ii
tools purchased Of John Roach & Sons, of the
Etna Iron Works, New York, at q cost Of S42, ,425.
The condition OF the tools had attracted the
attention of citizens Of Philadelphia in no wise
connected with the manufacture of tools or
machinery, or the furnishing OF materials there
for, but who had throughout the war taken
patriotic interest in the success of our navy and
the reputation of Philadelphia in connection
Herewith, and who felt themselves impelled by
conscientious motives to bring the matter to the
attention of the Navy Department. In con.
plance with their suggestion, as your committee
learned in the course OF the inquiry, board of
engineers had been designated TO investigate the
matter, and had reported au approval of the
purchase as the result of their Investigation |;
Whereupon an appeal was made by the citizens
referred to to their representatives for further
investigation OF the matter. In response to that
appeal the House adopted the resolution under
which the committee is acting.
THE oHARAcIGR OF THE TOOLS.
Mr. ]. Shields Wilson testified that he was a
mechanical engineer and machinist OF sixteen
wears, experience; had been employed as q
draughtsman with ]. p. Morris d Co., and was
at present superintendent OF the Penn Works
large planning machine hrst-class tool, but the
worse for wear, and 1t would require consider
able expense to put 1t In order; the brake-athe
was not frst'clssss and had not modern
facilities; it was fully fifteen years behind the
times, but was in reasonably good order for q
second hand machine. Mr.. Wilson explained II
detail his reasons for considering this too
Inferior and incapable of the work that 1t ough
10 do. He thought that the best tools were
always the cheapest. The double headed lathe
ne considered pretty well worn out: an old
style tool. With regard TO the other second
hand tools Mr.. Wilson testified that they were
In tolerably good order, but old'tashioned anC
not capable of the same work as the new
large shops, like that of Morris 4 Co., they
allow five per cent. per annum for the deprecla
tion of the value of tools. There had beer
great Improvements in lathes within the las
fifteen years, and the one under consideration
was not only old-iashioned but it was defective
in MANY respects. III htliug up a shop fo
himself he W W)uld rather buy tools OF Bement 4
Dougherty or William Sellers Co., at al
additional cost of 544 per cent, than tn
second hand ones at the Navy Yard
Mr.. Rowbotham, the machinist of the yard
confirmed the testimony OF MIR. Wilson. Mr.
Hennessy and Mr.. William A, Palmer, qua.ee
men in the yard, testified that the tools fur
nished by Roach & Sous were not OF the
approved styles, that they did defective work
and that the WorRmen complained that the
could not do 6rst-class work on them.
Charles Henry, John DoreY, James Il. Con
nor, and Edward Ball, maChinsts employed II
the yard, testified that the double headed lath
was fifteen or twenty years old that it neve
was hrstclass tool; that 1t was out OF order
recurring to be adjusted before use, and tha
they could not do hrst-class WORK upon 1t;
Mr.. John Birkbeck testified that the lare
lathe never was, In reality, double headed; tina
IL was not modern in style, and was not in hl
opjnior, a first class tool; he would not give
shop-room il furnishing an establishment