New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-04-03
WASHINGTON.
THE, FRENCH ARMS SALES.

lbr hINCn hhmC NhiJ>N
SHARP PRACTICE BY THE NAVY DEPARTMENT
SELLING ARMS IN DEFIANCE OF THE PREsI-
DENTS ORDER-THF UNITED STATES ARSE
MAILS PUT TO PRIVATE USES.
lBY TELEGRAPH To THB TRIBuNEl
WASHINGTON. April 2.-Secretary Robeson
and Commodore Case. chief OF the Naval Ordnance Blu
reau. having been examined by the House Committee
about weeks ago regard 10 the sale of Remington
navy res gave very little information on the sub
jeet at the session'o the Senate Committee, this morn
ing Both OF these gentlemen seemed 20 think that they
lad done very sharp thing IN making bargain by wheh
they got twelve thousand rifles for ten thousand
Neither Of them had heard Of the order of the Pres
dent dated Jan. %. 1871, suspending the safe OF
arms. and no warning was ever given thcm
to he careful not 10 sell either Of the beligerents
This sale made during this suspenson the hrst aP
plicaton from Poutney Tumble for the arms beihg
made jan 90 and the margin OF $40 oo upon them having
been put ND about the middle Of February. II also ap-
peared that Dyer advised this sale at the very time
that by orders from the President his own bureau was
from selling OF all This transaction OF
the Navy Department never mentioned In any re-
port either Of the Secretary Of the Chief OF Ordnance
The last Two witnesses supplied some Of the missing
Of the chain of evidence connecting Gen. Dyer ana
Samuel Remington with the manufacture Of cartridges
Tor the ehloading Springfield rifles sold to Thomas
Richardson Jabez H. Gill, master mechanic al the
Frankord Arsenal and Col. Treadwen, the comnahdaht
az the same arsenal remember seeing Gen. Dyer
Samuel Remington, and Mr.. smoot, whom hichaI"
.on has testified conducted tho business for
him, at Frankfort together. There the manuac
ture OF cartridges discussed, and Col ireadweh
thinks IL probable that inquiries were made as TO inc
number Of cartridges which could be made there "lth
q given time. At about that same time, written
orders received at the Frankford Arsenal from the
Ordnance Office directing an increase Of the produc
ton and this done fast new machines couiu
lie set mp and PUT into operation All Of this happened
in December 1870 two months after Secretary Bclkhap
had ordered that OF ordnance stores be
cold 70 the RemingtOns.
Tc-days testimony does not prove conclnsively that
when Dyer and Remington at Frankiord together
with SmOot ordnance officer on leave OF ABSENCE Du'
who was then VIGOROUSLY in Remngton's employ, ana
when smOot arranging for the manufacture OF lh
Hons OF cartridges which involved great increase 10 Tue
knew that Remington was the real purchaser but the
circumstances give strong grounds Tor suspicion h' he
did. Some OF these circumstances are: - 49, -
FIRST: That Remington was known 10 Dyer as the
agent Of tho French, from the telegram showed hun ny
SeeSnd: II was commonly known among the arms
dealers shippers and probably at the ordnance agency
states for the purpose Of purchasing arms $780,.
Third: snoo VINO acted MS Richardson's agent, was
known TO be in the employ Of the Remingt0ns.
fourth Remington and Dyer Went 10 Frankfort TO-
YORK, and smoot at the arsenal at the same time
FVh During or lmmedlately aiteI that Nrl', oioeiS
srth Remington. on his return TO New-lork wrote
II Cesne that ne had with difficulty arranged for the
manufacture Of the cartridges.
Secretary Robeson's testimony caused considerable
discussion among the critics OF the Administration
They say that the unwugncss of the Ordnance Bureau
Ia allow any private work 10 he done al the Springfield
ArluOry even when IL can De done with pron 60 the
Government proverbia II is not many wears since
officer OF The Army, who had been ordered from
distant post place which he had invented in
ronreticn with others was refused permission TO make
some slight alteration in IT, without expense incOnVe
urnCe 10 the Government The ground that no private
VIOLA could be done in public arlnOry. Now pre-
scdcnt has been established by which, IN future,
Whenever guns can he manufactured with profit
IA the Government, Springfield, the armOry may be
tet work the product sold private persons, the
money paid OF the agmOr', and used
Ia the Manufacture of 10 he sold the same
way, aud I'D iilfiHttHW. without cent or the
money OF il passing through the hands OF
the accounting officers OF either Department, or any
mention OF the transaction appearing III the annual re-
ports Congress That the hole TRANSACTION these
centieiuen say, illegal there be no doubt. Hay
M rod The first 10000 musR,tS the Secretary clearly had
night 10 use the money for any purpose whatever,
eui should have paid 1t into the Treasury