The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-19
TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1860.
The Navy Yard Investigations.

mAde speech IN the HOUSE Vi hepIesentsbNeS
denounoipg in no measured terms the Engineer
Corps Of the Navy, and especially the Chief
Engineer of the Philadelphia Navy Yard. This
officer was charged with having purchased
marine engine tools for the Navy Yard ma
ohine shop of New York manufacturer, when
as good or better articles could have been OBJ
tanned in Philadelphia for less money; and
also with having purchased in New York
n lot Of second hand, worn-out, and
worthless tools for more money than new ones
would have cost in this city. Judge Kelley init
mated that the Chief Engineer patronized the
New York firm in his own interest. A report
m ,de by board of naval engineers, appointed
by the Secretary of the Navy to investigate the
matter, which exonerated the Chief Engineer
of the Philadelphia Navy Yard from blame,
and gave ii as their opinion that the pur-
chase of the tools was judicious and in the
best interests Of the Government was made
the occasion of a violent attack upon the entire
Engineer Corps Of the navy. Judge Kelley
charged the investigating board with having
prepared a "whitewashed" report, aud stated
that the esprit de corps among the engineers
of the navy was such that they were always
ready to sustain enc another, right or wrong,
and that they were aiming to obtain the entire
control Of the navy. Judge Kelley stated that
he had ample evidence to prove his points.
This evidence he ought to produce.
Our Washington correspondent on Satur-
day gave Judge Kelley's version of this affair,
using stronger language, however, than that
gentleman did in his speech and explicitly
charging the Chief Engineer of the Navy Yard
and his subordinates with having 'forged'
bids to sustain themselves and cover their
guilt. 1t is hard TO believe such a charge as
this without substantial proof. The substance
of Judge Kelley's version of this affair is given
by our Washington correspondent as follows:
"Judge Kelley's attention was first called TO
this matter by a friend in Philadelphia who
takes deep interest Ia everything relating to
iron and machinery, and who upon a casual
visit TO the Navy Yard. observed large boxes OF
Sp1s pied d up er tbe e" aRiReeP haS
been appointed, Mr.. lsherwood, Chief Engineer
Of the Navy, came TO Judge Kelley and obli-
gingly offered TO sail a number of engineers to
Investigate the mater and report to the sub.
committee. He was quietly Informed that the
committee could make its own in vestigatton, as
1t would be compelled 10 make It's own report to
the House. Isnerwood, however, seem ed deter
should have some part IN the investiga ion.
Accordingly, when the COMMITTEES reached
ment. the engineers a charge of the Boston
and Brooklyn Navy Iards,w VINO reported them
wood) TO assist the com mmittee in their investi-
CATION. The committee, however, possessing
full powers from the House to examine Wit
nesses and to send tor persons and papers, went
quickly To work. Judge Kolley giving the on
gineerB 10 understand that when They were
wanted they would be called for. A disposition
was manifested to throw every obstacle possts
BILE In the way OF the committee, with a view to
prevent O thorough investigations. This proving
Unsuccessful. less honorable means we're resorted
to by Engineer -ller and his subordinates to
were produced pur porting to come from Messrs.
Sellers & Co. and Messrs. Bement Il (ugnerty.
firms by Judge Kelley, chsirman of the COM
mittee, were pronounced forgeries. All tois
upon the committee that the bids of Messrs
Roach & Son OF New York for the tools aud
amy Phiiaseipsia G rMs. '' Most Most Of % these sools
and this machinery were proved by competent
% use In ali III wei weil-resuiaied estsbi issments, by
reason Of their being superseded by more
The whole affair seems TO have been what may
be termed a setup job between the Eugineer
@ net arae sne amoSnt aS of esey ou OF tb
Government for old tools and ancient ma
ohinery that cSrls command m n0 market
of tbe committee, the enterprising gentlemen
Of the Engineer Engineer Is Department ne H. ippSl,r1dng. Of
Navy Yard, have organized a little lobby here
for the double purpose of throwing discredit on
authorizing the President to appoint a civilian
to the position OF Chief Engineer of the Navy"
There are always two sides to every ques-
tion, and 1t is nothing more than fair that the
Engineers side of this story should be heard
by the public. The Engineer Corps is one of
the most accomplished bodies of officers con-
neeted with the navy, and we have always
been under the impression that, like all other
officers both In the military and naval service,
they were anxious to keep their corps up to
the highest standard in every respect, and
that their esprit de corps would induce them
to discard the black sheep rather than to en-
courage any practices that would tend to
bring their body into disrepute. Chief Engineer
Zeller, against whom Judge Kelley's charges
have been directed, is known as one of the
most skilful and experienced engineers in the
navy, and he has always borne an unblem-
ished reputation as an officer and as gentle
man. His version of the tool-purchasing
transactions, which is supported by docu-
mentary evidence and the sworn testi-
mony of experts, indicates that an
attempt is being made to compel the purchase
Of tools for the Navy Yard in this city,
whether they can be obtained at less cost in
bther places or not. Some time ago, when the
question of purchasing new pump for the
Water Works was under consideration, many
Of our principal engine builders publicly repu
-.