Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-05-31
Tie RobesOn Casc.

The report OF the House Select Commit
tee on the charges against Secretary Robe
son was presented yesterday. The Repub-
liCan majority report in their usual man
ner, that the Secretary is a much maligncl
man; that the asininist ration ofhis depart
nent reflects great credit upon the govern
ment: that he has been active and faithful.
in his trust. and that the charges against
him are a tissue OF les. The Democratic
minority report is Of a less partisan and
more manly kind. Both NIr. Blair and Mr..
Al cher eXOnernte the Secretary from all
charges OF corruption, and cohtlne them
selves TO the real gist of the accusations
his gross and wantOn violation of law, and
precedent. In the SeCOr case nlnety-thTec
thousand dollars We're paid by the Depart
ment to private individuals on account of
an old claim, about which--to put it in
the most favorable light-there was grave
doubt whether it had not been already paid
i'll full. This was Gone by Illegally taking
the money from the appropriation for the
current expenses of the year. 1t was also
done in violation of wholesome rule OF
the Department that the accounts OF one
administration shall not he re-Opened by
succeeding administrations. In the case Of
the Tennessee the Secretary is proved to
have made a contract with one Roach to
take out the old engines and put in new,
whatever. Mr.. Blair says that he
-'does not know from What source the
Secretary derives his power. II he could
barter the engines and boilers Of the Ten
nessee fer another set, might he not with
equal re asOn have traded the ship itself for
another of which he might think better :?
What has been said in regard to the con-
tract for the repair OF the steamer TonneS-
see applies fully to the contractors for the
torpedo boats. They were made without
advertisement, and much i'll the same
manner. The prices paid are, no doubt,
somewhat higher than they would have
been if competition had been invitcd.'
The upshOt Of the whole matter is that
the administration OF the Navy Depart
ment has become shamefully loose. Laws
are openly disregarGed; strange pIecedents
are made, and although no corruption has
been proved against the Secretary himself
it is very clearly proved that be has done
his best to produce a state OF affairs which
is but one step this side Of corruption.
The history Of the Navy Department.
since Tie election Of General Grant. fur
nshes a striking evidence OF his untitncss
for a position Of which one OF the first
requisites is skill in the selection of subOr-
dinates. 4 purely military department at
least one would have thought General
selection for the position Of Secretary was
Nj. Borie, whose sole qualification was,
that he labored under 10 constitutional or
legal disability; and his second was SecTC-
taTy RObcsOn, who Is generally understood
to have used the office as a political mill.
and is now distinctly proved to have con-
temptuously violated tho laws passed for
the government of the Department. No
wonder that Mr. Blair is able to say that
-. 1t is ali acknowledged fact all over the
country that the United States navy, once
the source OF unmiNcd pride 70 tie people,
has been Of late years rapidly degencTating
into Il cause for fear and apprehension
Sums of money have been expended, and
still the navy shows no signs of improve
ment. It's situation furnishes the most I'M
answorable charge against the admiristra-
ton OF the Secretary. 1t is barnacled all
over, and if its administration is not speed
lily changed for the better the people ofthis
country are likely to be brought to shame
on its account."-N. l. EerPfjRp (Rep)
TOHf.