The New York herald., 1872-04-04
fgg ROBsOs>oH INVESTIGATION
More About the Torpedo Bo> !" Engines and Iron
Valuations Additional on th> Seoor Claims
Secretary Robson On Their l. Santy.

Secretary Robson On 1hsir /, ,sality.
WAsHINoroN, April s. isit.
| The Naval investigating Committee met thla
| evening at quarter before eight O'Clock.
ADMIRAL PORTER
| was sworn aud lnterrogated by Mr.. Bartlett Ho
said that since the ncumbency OF the present Secro-
tary OF the Navy he occupied position In the de-
partment merely temporarily, and performed such
duties as the Secretary assigned him. Hts duties
were advisory. He recolected hearing OF the Secor
claims when Mr.. B0rle was Secretary. lie did nOe
remember having any conversation with the present
Secretary until after the appointment OF the Board
to examine the claims. The witness slgned
tho order for appointment or tue Board,
OF which Commodore Boggs was President.
he spoke to the Secretary, and the conversation
was In relation to tho amount OF money which they
had on hand ut the time; the Secretary informed
him that he nad examined the law and mad righs
to adjust the claims; Witness thought that was In
January and he expressed an opinion, Or was under
the impression, that the bills had been paid; to
John Roach he did not recommend ssm to the Secre-
tary OF the Navy, but wrote letter OF Introduction
TO tho Secretary saying tnas Roach was honest
man and would do as well any one; he did not
designate Roacn as builder os engines.
questioned by Secretary Robson, the witness
said the order or the Board was
SIGNED AUGUST ., 1867
the secretary having M ny been appointed 70 his Office
were referred to secretary Borie; he did thllk
Mr.. BOrle ever saw them.
Admiral Porter, III reply to question by MI,
Archer, said Lenthat informed him ne thought the
claims for extra work were contrary 10 law; wtrless
never knew what the result OF the Boggs Board was.
witness, in response to Secretary kobeson, saio
there was an oruor 0! the Department that business
should come through the Secretary or the navy,
and in reply to u question by MIR. Blair, said Nr;
Lenthall had informed him ne had read
AN ORDER 70 PAY THE SkCoR CLAIMS,
would have 10 reduce the work on some OF the
vessels, as tho money would have TO come OUT oi
the Secretary who said, "very WELL III look ietu
IT, meaning that he would not settle the bill unsll
he had examined into the matter.
ABRAHAM s. HEWITT
was sworn, ana teslilied he Was u manufacturer Of
iron In New jersey and pennsylvania; ho was a0-
quatnted with the various grades 0 iron; he then
gave particulars OF his visit 10 the Brooklyn Yard.
lie there witnessed tests and toe result was they
were not all favorable the plate iron stood the test
very well iron which would have stood the required
@ - COULD nAvE BEEN BOUGHT FOR ss7,asl.
while the contract price was $i30,645.
Secretary RoBEsoN asked witness as to the highest
grade vi charcoal bloom iron, &c, when witness re-
from ten to twelve cents a pound; he did not know
anything about the Eureka IRON; charcoal IRON
ne ea o e II mn 'iH said srs osS
to he st further rests; the Eureka iron might be
good as sligo ont ne ana not know It; some Time
ton OF the Witness. the Secretary suggested cal
clations showing $4,000 more than the boty OF tie
contract.
WILLIAM II. SHOCK,
Chief Engineer OF the Navy, said he held tho posi-
ton of Acting Cnlef OF Tie Bureau or Steam En-
gineering last year he remembered papers being
sent to the bureau about The Secor clam rom the
department.; he had the impression the sending OF
the papers that bureau was error; no told Mr..
Allyn, the clerk TO make out statement so far aS
that bureau was concerned; the papers found thcir
way back to the department; he either sent
turned them himself; the bureau took no Official
In answer TO a question by Mr. Bartlett the wit
ness said as general thing contracts for engines
are accompanied BY specifications, but there are
excepuons Mr.. Ericsson built The Puritan ana Do
taior. taking all the responsibility and building MS
own engines; the contract for the machinery Of the
Tennessee was given without SPECIFICATIONS; the
navy yards are superior In many respects to prlvate
establishments for manufacturing machlncry they
are III no respects Inferior; engines can be built
AS cHEAPLy IN THE YARDS AS OUTSIDE.
Mr.. BARrlErr put in evidence the contract with
said ne gave instructions Tor the drawing OF tho
contract; Roach made q proposition TO tho Secre-
contract: the price was 100000 and the old ma
chlnery. the conti act being made In accordance
yeaars w a d and e %s Sa wor
witness thought the price 0l the new engines waa
Secretary RoBEsoN said hts attention had been
called to a telegram In New York morning paper
OF Monday. which spoke OF what had been proved
III this Investigation. NOw he dld not speak Of
that, for he presumed that no one OF the committee
or others would undertake to say what was estab.
telegram went ON urther to state what was assumed
WHAT WAS CALLED HIS DELINQUENCY
In the payment OF the Secor claims, Saving he OK.
cused himself OH the ground or a misapprehenson
OF the law He desired here to say that he consli. M
department. was bound to pay them, unless debarre0
by the restrictions OF law, amt that It was MS
opinion as q lawyer and az an administrative 0fuccr
that there no law which debarred these claims.
Those who Thought there was We're either not M
formed OF the circumstances or mscOnstru0d the
effect Of the law.
the committee adjourned at half past ton O'Clock.