New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-04-08

SecOrs tho Tippecanoe; the bill in the case OF
tho nppecanoe was sent to the Board to compare by
| the extras not in the bill previously paid
to the Secors oil the work was extra to the contract
BY Mr. Archer.Did not know whether any Of the bills
presented by the Secors marked rejected" by the
former Board or not The Board examined particular
bi to see whether any OF the items could be found on
the bills which had been paid. The member OF the Secor
Company who appeared before the Board not sworn
to his account The Board took declarations other
than those OF the officers who composed IL.
BY Secretary Robeson-And the fact that similar pay
ments we're made on other monitors.
CHIEFESGISEER KING TEsrIFIis.
Chief Engineer King Chief Of the Bureau of steam
Engineering and was examined by Secretary
Robson Ho testified, among other things, that the
Board authorized by Congress, under the direction
Of Secretary Welles the Board considered how much
would be 1ue to contractors under their contract proper
the claims Of the Secors ruled out not coming
within the law; witness TO Europe on his mo-
on he had difficulty in obtaining leave OF absence,
the secretary o. the Navy saying he did not wish him TO
| be absent from he Bureau
Mr. Archer marked it appeared from the report Of
the Marchand oard that s52l95 had been paid 70 the
Secors for work over and above their contract prices
Witness said that he presumed that statement to be
Mr. Arche-And the secors received $4,000 for dam
ages, and SIS 00O beside
SECOND CONTROLLER BRoDHEAD
John NJ 3rodhead, Second Controller OF the Treasury
testified he has control of the arising the War
and Navy Departments and the Pension and Indian
Bureaus he was the officer having the ultimate decision
Of the accounts when the vouchers to him for the
VI 10 Was
tho allowance was a mistake; he took them up to the
Secretary OF the Navy, with whom he had an interview,
and called his attention 10 the law of 1868 he and wit
ness went over the law together and both came 10 the
conclusion that the acts OF 1867 and 1868 completely
IN part motero and must be construed with regard TO
each other and that the award made by the Board desg
mated acted only the claims that could not be allowed
by the Department outside Of the contract being in the
The witness became satisfied with the view taken by
the Secretary and had doubt Of its
The law OF 1868 said the $4,000 should be In full dis
charge Of all claims against the United states
Of these vessels, upOn which the Board made the allow
ance as their report under the act OF March 1867 There
was no need OF intervention OF Congress- as there
large balance due the secors Witness entirely salts
open accounts. II was sometimes done If it was sup
posed the claims were Just.
Mr Broadhead also Intercepted on other points.
TESTIMONY OF PAYMAsTER RUSSELL
Alexander W. Russell, Pay Inspector and Naval Pay
master at Philadelphia, testified that the Secretary of
the Navy said word to him about business until
here tonight did he hold any business cOmmunic4-
ton with him except in official way. The witness
gave account of obtaining supplies, never departing
from the rule of giving contract, when bids made,
TO the lowest bidder; goods are obtained
from merchants, without, to his knowledge.
applied for authority advertise for proposals when the
amount OF merchandise required was over N0O and no
for authority to advertise for 1909 tuns OF coal for the
Tennessee just before she went 70 SANTANA Bay, but he
purchased the coal without ADVERTISING having been or
dered do without delay; he had any direction
from the Secretary OF the Navy to favor nyb0dy but he
received lCLtcf from Iic secretary, th IOllONs.
NAVY DEPARTMENT WAsHiNGTOS May &C. la7
DEAR Mr. william Ingham Of the firm Of shoemaker nghm
coal dealers Of the CITY Of Philadelphia IS the Of personal et II
gentleman character and responsible
shall be glad his fair supply coal
when required purchased the Of the
the subject aud the
best interests Oi the country Very rniy yours
GEORGE VI 4 BEsOS, Secretary Of the SRyy
ALEXANDER W. RUSSELL Purchasing Pamher Phade yMa, P9
There are 10 middlemen who make purchases for the
Navy Department in Philadelphia; there never was an
order gwen TO witness to purchase coal from either OF
the COtells that they should buy coal for him ne
had purchased flour from A. g. Cottell CO., flour and
commission merchants at various times TO send on board
of ships going to for baking bread In the Navy
Yard the whole amount Of purchases being 1913 90 to
date; witness employed anybody to buy coal for
him as TO the letter of secretary Robson to him about
Shoemaker & Ingham the witness said they never sold
him any coal; they made bid, but their bid was not
low enough.
Mr. Archer asked whether he had been approached
directly indirectly by the COttes or by heir friends
10 give them contracts TO which question witness replied
lac had been thus approached. The Committee ali
iOuIucd until Monday evening.