The Portland daily press., 1872-03-21
WASHINGTON.
THE NAVY ARMS MATTER.
Testimony of Secretary Robson.
The Arms Investigation.
Presidential Appointments, ETC., etc.
SECRETARY ROBE son ON THE STAND.

Presidential Appointments, ETC., etc.
SECRETARY robson ON THE STAND.
WASHINGTON. March 2O-Secretary Robe
son testified before the House Committee on
expenditures in the War Department this
morning, that early in 1871 the Navy Depart
ment made arrangement with the War Depart
ment for the manufacture of 10000 Remington
rifles for the use of the navy. A board of ma
val officers had been appointed for the trial of
breech-loading arms, with view of selecting
the best for naval service. The board expert
mented with all the Unloading arms and
selected Remingtons. After their report the
Navy Department contracted III the War De-
partment for the manufacture of 10000 rifles
it was discovered that there was defect in the
plan. He did not term the defect radical one,
but the arms were not exactly what the navy.
wanted The price the navy was to pay was to
be ascertained by their cost after they were fur
nished. He thought between fourteen and ff
teen dollars piece. The navy was to pay in
addition one dollar on each piece as royalty
on the Remington patent.
While the arms were being manufactured and
before delivery, some arms dealers of Baltimore
applied for the privilege of purchasing the
arms, offering to pay proper price for them,
and that firm had given enough for the 10000
arms to enable the navy to purchase 12,000.-
These Remington arms were manufactured at a
Springfield armory and the contract was con-
cluded on the 21st of March, 1871 when the
Franco-German war was virtually over The
arms were not delivered till April, if he recol-
lected correctly.
The navy made about $4,000 by the agree
ment with the Baltimore firm. The induce
ment for making it was threefold; first, to OBJ
tain Il, 900 stand of arms for the same amount
that 10, 900 would cost; secondly, because the
arms originally manufactured were not perfect
ed; and third, because Gen. Dyer desired to
have the men at the Springfield Armory kept
at work. The Navy Department had always
sold everything not wanted, when it could sell
at any advantage. The custom had been to
sell surplus arms and supplies and even ships,
ever since the organization of the government
under all administrations and at all times.
Commodore Case, Chief or the Ordnance
Bureau of the Navy, was sworn and corrobo-
rated the statement of the Secretary.
Chairman Williams-Have any agents of for
egn governments ever made objections or pro-
test against the sale of these arms.
Com. Case-I never heard of any objection or
protest.
Mr.. Acker-Do you know of any person in
the War or Navy Department personally inter
ested in the sale.
Com. Case-I know nothing whatever
THE PRESIDENTS APPOINTMENTS AS CADETS.
The following appointments as cadets at
large to the Military Academy has been an
nounced. by the PRESIDENT w. F. Wilcox, son
VI GcIl W. d. w llCOA, w ILL., udidDlIu, SOu VI
1t. Col. S. B. Halabird; Frederick II. French,
son of It. Col w. H. French; James Jackson,
of Indiana, son of Brig Gen. jackson, killed
in tue battle of Perryville; Geo. X. Hunter of
Ohio son of It. Col. Hunter of the Ohio volun-
teers; Thomas Rodman of r. l., son of Gen. l.
Rodman, killed at Antietam s. K. Radforth;
P. S. Jenkins, son of Admiral jenkins; HI. p.
Thayer of California; u. Bryant, soldier in the
general mounted service of the army The ap-
pointments will be admitted to the Academy in
the summer of 1873, the appointments for 1879
having been made a year ago.
THE KU KLUx CASES.
The argument on the motion to dismiss
writ of error in the case of United States Vs.
Avery and others on the certificate of division
of opinion from the Circuit Court of South Car
DINA in the Ku Klux cases was resumed to-day
by Henry Stanberry and Reverdy johnson for
the defence and Attorney General Williams for
the United States. The court took the case un-
der advisement till tomorrow morning when,
if they do not decide to grant the motion of the
government to dismiss on the technical ground
reported, the case will be heard on its merits.
LOUISIANA POLITICIANS. a
This afternoon Senator West and Gev. War
moth had an interview with the President. A
delegation of colored men from New Orleans
with Senators Kellogg, Packard, Carter and
others subsequently had an interview with the
President by appointment. The subjects dis
cussed were the political affairs of Louisiana
and the divisions of the Republican party. AL
though grounds of reconciliation were suggest
ed there had been no progress in that direc-
ton.
t.s.-se5 THE CLAIMS COMMISSION.
The United States and British Claims Com
mission resumed their sessions to-day. They
transacted much routine business, but made no
decisions and adjourned till Saturday
Ex-coLLEcToR MURPHY AGAIN.
Before the New York Custom House Investi.
eating Committee to-day, ex-Collector Murphy
made correction of his previous testimony
He had stated that he received a letter from
Gen. Porter about disagreements in the Repub
lican General Committee He now wished to
say that on reflection and after conversation
with Gen. Porter, that Porter never wrote such
letter The letter came from the Secretary OF
the Treasury.
In his reply to Senator Casserly yesterday he
| meant to say Republican, who held political
| relations with Tweed was not fit to hold Office
| He did not wish to be understood as referring
| to merely personal or business relations
On being cross-examined by Senators Bayard
| and Casserly he said the letter from the Secre
| tary of the Treasury was private, in which the
writer enquired-as to the names of certain per
| sons in the custom house. Witness though he
| furnished the required list. He saw Genera
| Porter last night at his hotel in company witt
other gentlemen, and these spoke to him about
having written the letter. Gen. Porter said he
never wrote such letter, and Bliss, who was
one OF the company, said he was certain the
letter was written by Secretary Boutwell, fo
| he had seen it. He was one of those who re
| commended Gen. Arthur to be his successor a!
| Collector Of the Port of New York, and uset
| his influence to obtain the favor of the appoint
| ing power.
TESTIMONY OF COLONEL BLISS
Col. Geo, Bliss, Jr. of New York was sworn
He said he came to the Custom House the day
Horace Greeley was examined, and found hin
&c
of his own knowledge. He knew that Mr.
Greeley made incorrect statements and he stay
ed their the entire day. Many of his Republi
can friends whom he met asked witness to at
tend the examination before the Committee
He assumed to represent members of the Re
publican party. He regarded this investiga
tion an attempt to make, in some measure CAPT
tai against the administration, which he sup
ported and an attack on his personal friends
and therefore he did what he could to protec
them by bringing out the truth. Witness gave
circumstantial statement of the case of tn
trouble in the Republican party in New York
introducing the name of Horace Greeley il
connection and giving various names of Tam
may Republicans who were rewarded wit
office under the municipal government. H
was also examined on other subjects.
On cross-examination by Senator Bayard
the witness said he was subp9ned at his owl
suggestion. He had suggested methods an
lines of the examination of witnesses befor
| the COulIultteo WucH ~ Sdt III NEW IOTk ii
had prepared questions to be asked and hand
ed them to Senators Howe and Pratt He wa
acting in behalf of the Rspnblicans in and OF
of the Custom House. He had been q men
Der eff the bar seventeen years. He was exam
ined at length relative to his arrangement
with the Gridley organization and confirme
the statement of Mr.. Murphy as to the schem
for defeating Horace Greeley as delegate
the State Convention, and the giving of none
Bennett in flrtheranee of the object.
| a n y