Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-04-02
HE SALE CT ARMS INvEsTlG a.
Tv0E

The special committee Of the Senate 10 inquire
into the sale of arms TO the French government
during the FrancO-Prussian war met this morn
ing.
SECRETARY RoREsoN WAS swoRN
and testified to he same effect as he did before
the House Committee on this subject pab-
lisbeG in The STAR at that time. He detailed
the Gil cumstances under which 10000 Eeming-
tonIiiies manufactured at the Springfield a-m0ry
were sold TO Trimble, Poultney x Co, OF Balti-
more; he knew Ot no law re- uiring advertise
ments to be published preliminary 10 the sale OF
war material on hand: with the money received
frt m Trimtle, Poultney II Co. for the 1900
rifles, l2.NtG new ones were CONSTRUCTED Tor the
government; the contract for the sale Na> con-
CluGCd on the I'd q: March, ISL.
IN answer 10 questions OF Mr.. SchurZ the Sec
Rotary testified that they paid the ltemingtons a
royalty o!sl for each gun manufactured; the
department wanted il reduced, bat the keIniHg-
tons refused TO do 30. General Dyer said il
would be % advantage to have the rifles i>p0Se0
Of. A. new ones could I've constructed Al the
Springfield aTmOry, and skilled workmen re-
tanned; 40 arms were delivered before the 2l>
OF March; witness gave no instructions what
ever in regard 10 the shlrnent the ale WAS
conducted by Commodore Case, chief OF the
Bureau OF ordnance; witness knew Ot no am
mUnt:on being SOLD with the arms; a royalty Of
81 for each gun was paid 30 the RemiEgtOn's Ton
guns Of their patent manufactured by the gov
cTnment: one reason for selling the rifles wa
that small detect in them was discovered; =
large portion of the arms were unfinished when
Sold had received no information that thu Pres
idcnt suspended all sales of arms on January
sd, 80 I; did not know that the President: Wa
aware of the fact that the Navy Department
had any arms fer sale; small arms were con
stantiy being sold at various yards.
COMMODORE A. /. CASE.
chief of the Bureau of Ordnance OF The NAVY
Department, also reiterated his testimony before
the House committee. The defect in the arm
aliuded 10 by the Secretary was III the breech
sight; the department had several propositions
Tor the arms sold 10 POultnCy * Trimble; Lieu
tenant Commanders Pierson and Robson wer,
experimenting the construction Of the arin>
and they probably discovered the defect in the
sight; fhc transaction with Poultney * Triinbl.
was not regarded as a sale, but more a. an eX
change. rather: the government ut received enough
from the IN for ten thousand arms To have twelve
thousand made; arms were sold al all the ward.
in 1870 and ISL.
iAEEZ ". GILL,
foreman at the Frankfort Pa arsenal, sworn.
Saw Gen. Dyer al the Fran kfOTt arsenal in de
ctmher, 1870; had no recollection OF RGmin. Oh
OF Squires being there with him, nor OF any con
Scgsation which occurred; told SIR. Edward.
nothing about ammunition; never saw Squire,
or Samuel Remington.
By nr. Schurz:-Heard that Remington vas
there OF the same day with Gen. Over; that wa,
the morning after witness saw Edwards there.
the general report al the arsenal was that Rem
ingtOn desired to manufacture cartridges, anc
was at the arsenal for the purpose OF seeing
experiments being made.
coll TREADwELL,
commandaut at the Frankfort arsenal, testified
'h"I ih Ptt' nio'i, ic'', "th. oyer Ni>ittu iut
arsenal; witness knew nothing of Remington
being there TO purchase ammunlton; Rem ny
ton and Smoot were there at the same time a.
Gen. Dyer, but witness did not know if they
were there to purchase ammunition.
by Mr.. Schui Some ammunition was tried
tie day Dyer and Remington were there in then
presence; received orders TO increase ihe fore,
at the Arsenal between the middle and last o.
December, 1870: manufactured then from ten &c
Twelve thousand daily; decreased the manufac-
ture OF the large number OF cartridges about the
Isl OF April; saw Gen. Dyer, Remington ana
SmOot together.
BY MIR. Carpenter:-Was not astonished to SEE
Smoot and Remington there; visitors were fire.
quently there inspec ing machinery.
Adjourned until to morrow morning at hall
last ten o'clock.