The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-03-30
The Robeson IDyes,irn,lon. \,

WAsHtNToN, March 2O.-The Commit.
teo to investigate the alleged irregulari.
tues In the navy department. met al noon.
Secretary RObeson produced and received
his original order directing the payment
OF the Secor's claim, In accordance with
the report Of the Board Of 1lHamination
thereon, which report WAS also put In ey.
idence. t".l. ..l : -
MIR. Bartlett, counsel for Dana, then
examined John Lenthall, the witness who
testified last night lie verified the or.
der just read as ono on which he had
acted, aud was not surprised when he
received Il, as such orders wero not nm.
common during bis term OF Office. .1
Mr.. u. Baker sworn-Was on duty on
the United States steamship Worcester
on her cruise In March Of last year, on her
voyage from Boston TO Plymouth; the
quality ot coal was ascertaincd by him 10
DO bad. ....Il0 - I7'"'''
l.W.. King, Chief Of the Bureau Of
Steam Engineering, Nts sworn and ex.
amined by Mr.. Bartlett. He has been
Chief Of tue Bureau of Steam Engineering
since March 10, 1860; Is prepared to pro.
duce statement showing tho purchases
for the Bureau during tho two years pre-.
ceding the date Of his last report, Il 90
ordered by the Committee. The total
amount Of coal purchased by witness
bureau for the past three years was As, 900
tons, costing $SG,719. It was all bought
by local paymasters; part Of II In Cuba
for the use Of the navy yard there. Wit.
ness had never received an order or inti.
nation Of any kind from Secretary Robe.
son instructlng him, or having tendency
TO influence him, to favor any person
whatever, or to omit any advertising by
schedule or otherwise. Witness Is resDori.
sl6le for all the acts Of his bureau
VIM. P. Wood testified that lie knew
the late Simon johnson Of Washington,
Mr. Bartletlo said he proposed 10 show
that johnson was an agent for Secors for
the collection Of the claim which was
paid by the Navy Department, and that
johnson employed and paid Wood money
logo to New York with 9ecors, To de.
wise means TO prevent tho disclosure Of
tho true character OF this claim, which
johnson intimated to Wood was iraudu
lent.
MIR. satgeant opposed the introduction
ot such testimony as contrary to all the
rules in evidence, and unprecedented and
unjust. ~ .'..s.i hal. ~ .,.l.l-'.
Mr.. Archer suggested that tho Inyesti
eating Committee of the House had ex
tended the limits Of testimony very wide,
but did not know whether this was the
alleged statement Of o dead man or not.
MIR. Peters thought the testimony offer
ed was plainly inadmissable. The oh.
ject Of the investigation was to ascertain
the facts. Moreover, 1t appeared that IL
johnson had made the statement, It was
alter the claim had been plead and well
known. Mr.. Peters believed that If Mr.,
johnson were now living he would repel
such d statement as false.
Mr. Blair suggested that proofs were
wanting that johnson was really Sccors'
attorney. ,.,.. 1.rg--
MIR. Bartlett replied that he could ad.
ducc u document as proof on that point by
Monday evening. ,l..l.G
Mr.. Sargent said the theory on which
this evidence was offered was that
of the declaration OF o scoun.
drel, employed by another scoundrel,
since dead, TO be received as evidence OF
guilt Of theparty having no connection
with either. .
Secretary Robson denounced the at.
tempt to bring such testimony as inla.
nous, and asked Bartlett if he expected
to show that johnson was his (Eobeson's)
agent. ui I. ..E.u
Mr.: Bartlett: l wish to prove by Wood
that the claim was admitted by johnson
to be fraudulent. Alter some further dis.
cussion, no other witnesses being present,
and no decision reached on the question
of admitting Woods testimony, the Com
mittee adjourned until Monday even
Ing. -- ---y M =.