The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-16

no Introduced me 70 General Dent and said
20 the, the latter that though there seemed 10 be
! should be removed, yet that It was his desire
that should remain; General Dent asked first II II
were political reasons, and subsequently n 1t was
nv opposition to the proposed coalition with the
OBren or Yoang Democracy that were IN question;
! said was opposed 10 That proposed combination;
waited on two three occasions TO see the Presi-
dent, but did not succeed In doing so, and finally
OF It in the Presidents own handwriting s.Refer
MIR. Van Cleft 10 the Secretary OF the Navy;n the
secretary said that the President was determined TO
suspend me- al first he seemed AS though he would
say something about the cause OF my suspension.
our he apparently checked himself; asked INN II
the order might be Kept over day or so, SO that
might decide whether or not to resign; this was
granted, and after consultation with my friends I
decideu not to resign; two three days afterwards
received the order OF suspension, aud lawyer,
Mr. Norman Stratt0n, was put In my stead; the
cnarac'ef OF Tue duties OF this once are TO nave
the Try dock and buildings &C.; most OF the duties
required knowledge OF technical nature; nad no
Q. Then this whole business was transacted by
Mr. Murphy not only In the spirit or party politics,
but in tie spirit Of party politics within q parity
A. Yes. sir; know other cases IN which similarly
Sfen n cr usa was
own district NJ; cssssns from the ,, AZ;
there many years; Mr.. Rlgntmeyer held his ONCE
until some twelve or fifteen days after the County
Convention; In my own district number OF gentle
men who held smaller positions clerks were also
removed: supposed at the time that IN all these
cases the cause OF removal was POLITICAL and have
never heard or any other reason being assigned; /
went to the convention OF 1871; there were great
MANY people there who were IN the Custom House
and who were busily at work In the interest OF the
faction to which they belong; have no doubt that
they controlled the convention; my present ONCE IS
not one with salary; II depends upon fees for &C.
tua performance OF duties; wiCnn the seven or
eight years that have held license OF this kind
my total fees would about three thousand dollars
from che city government.
U. How many men were there employed In the
Navy Yard just before the election OF 1902 A.
About three thousand men; the number increased
rs the election drew near; should think that per-
haps there were, on the LIST November, 500 more
able to speak to whether there was any increase
OF work; there was no increase either OF force or
OF work In my department.; there was a list Of
seventy-nve men sent me from Brooklyn, with
request to me to put these men to work; this was
three days before my removal: did not put them
that the Secretary OF the Navy wished me to do as
they desired; lett the Navy Yard on the Friday
before the Tuesday OF election.
Mr. Howe then took the witness In hand, and
questioned him at tedious length in regard to var
Gus passages In the tribune and the affairs OF the
say very little about this as he had no connection
In any way with that journal. lie explained, how
ever, the nature OF the contest In 1870 between Hall
and Ledwlth, and said that he and others thought
1t not the business OF the republican party TO
consider whether their action would or would not
help Tammany Hall, but to make straight nomina-
tl9as and trust t9 tas noassty and integrity OF the
just before the eecLl0n the Murphy wing were
beaten and bOlted
The Committee then adjourned until ten O'Clock
this morning.