Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-04-06
The Robson Investigation.

Mr.. DANA DESIRES PosTPoNENENT-rHR
SECRETARY WANTS THE INVESTIGATION TO
GO oN-MR. DANA EXANINED-HE WROTE
THE ARTICLES AGAINST SECRETARY ROBE
son, BUT KNEW NO FACTS AGAINST TIKI
SECRETARY, AND DECLINED To GIVE THE
NAMES OF BIS INFoKMANTs.
The special committee of the House to in
quire into the charges in the New York Sun
against Secretary Robson, met again last eve
ming. and Mr.. Bartlett, counsel for Dana, said
in consequence OF a mt mbe. of the committee
Mr.. Biair-being absent, he did not want 10 put
in certain evidence which he had intended 10
introduce, and asked postponement until the
return OF Mr.. Blair, which viii be in about ten
days.
Secretary Robson said the committee was an
impartial one, regularly constituted and clothed
with full power TO proceed The accuser aud his
counsel were present, and the evidence. ii their
assertions were 10 be believed, was in hand. Tn.
country waits, the pubs service waits, and hc
dc manded that the investigation 81 oulG go on.
He Was not willing as public officer,
private citizen, il be could help il by has action
or by bis protest. TO stand ter the Nt ten DAYS
without having this matter at least as far clear
ed up as practicable under all the circum
stances. The interests, public and private, in
yolyed are 80 great that they were not to b.
swayed by the mere idea, opinion or wish of The
other Iarty, and as matter of common righ'
between man and man, he was entitled 10 have
it pioeeed. From the beginning OF this invest.
Sallon TO the end not one minutes delay haG
been oCc3sioncd by him. Leaving every en-
gage ment OF every kind, he had always beer
present at the minute, and had always stayed
until the last. He was not willing that this in
vestigatIoD should terminate until the Charge
had been pushed to the end.
MI. Bartlett intimated that he would rather
abandon the case than go on before the return
of Mr.. Blair. After Further discussion, tn
committee decided TO GO on with the inyestiga-
tion and Mr.. Bartt It notiiie,! that he should
proceed, and every facility would be given him
to examine witnesses, &c, but he declined to
go on. SAVING for reasons above stated he could
further.
The acting chairman suggested to Mr.. Robe
son That the persons mentioned as having MAJ
corrupt bargains with the department, AMI the
officers Of the department with whom the bar
moned.
Mr.. RObeson-I suggest that the committee
need not wait for a witness on the part OF the
prosecution. The accuscr is here-the man who
asserts his knowleGge-and suggest the com
mittee call HIM.
Mr.. Archer suggested that the Secretary could
examine Mr.. Dana.
Mr.. Bartlett said sir. Dana never had any per-
sonal knowledge on the subject, and never
ant 10 assert he had.
Mr.. RObeSOn.-He NAV give tnsthe committee
the people from whom he got his information
The Witnesses whom / shall call will be all the
PEOPLE who know anything about the transac-
ton j shall not be content that this inyestiga-
ucn conclude without calling Mr.. SecOr and Mr.
Roach, and the contractors for the iron and |
shall protest against the closing Of the investi-
gsu0n unless Trey are called.
Charles A. Dana, editor of the New York San
was then sworn, and testified that he wrote the
articles against Secretary RobesOn, but Of his
own personal knowledge he knew no facts
against him. He declined to give tie name of
the person from whom he received his informa-
ton. When cross-examined by Secretary Robe
son, Dana admitted that his statement about
Secretary Robson and ex-senator Cattell pur-
chasing Geo eco tons of coal was a mistake. HIS
testimony throughout was negative in its char
acter
The next witness was 4. ". Gibson, who testi-
fed that he is a Washington correspondent OF
the Sun, has also written for the World and
Herald; wrote the letter in the San signed
"Sappho," but he could not remember the first
names of persons from whom he received his
information: would furnish the committee with
a list to- day.