New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-03-01

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would be found the last sale TO Mr. Remington was $4,000
sprngfeId muskets They we're not delivered till Oct
90 though purchased time and before the
delivery Of the telegram Cen Belknap repeated over
and over again 70 Gen Dyer that no sales should be
made TO any agent Of the French or Prusstan Govern
ments No arms were sold to any agent OF the french
Government to his knowledge. He haa already stated
the amount realized from the sale OF arms &c II was
s97Is92; OF this sum- 2s so had been deposited In
the Treasury as per certificates on file $4,000 was re-
ported I'm the hands Of depostors the Soh OF june
1871 the balance was expended for preparing stores l0r
the sale, fitting them up, &c.
In reply TO q question by the Chairman as 70 the dls-
crepances between the accounts Of Mr. Ward ana the
Treasury Department Secretary Belknap said he was
aware The close OF the fiscal year OF the war
Department the that Of the Treasury De-
partment namely the 9oh OF June. As the Treasury
book showing the amounts received for the arms, MT
Belknap explained that In almost every case payment
made by cash checks. Margins varying from o 10
20 per cent observed large transactions to secure
the United States and the checks carried as quickly
possible paid into the hands of the Government
agents The full amounts are received by the agents,
principally in NewYork and prior TO the delivery OF
any arms 10 the purchasers The depositng officer re-
ceves from the United States Assistant Treasurer GER
ticate OF deposit The money is turned over from time
to time, and drawn against the Assistant Treasurer IN
favor OF the Treasury; the certificates examined
through the secretary OF war, Uo Ihto
Treasury to the credit OF the receiving officer.
In answer TO question what time the Secretary
OF the Treasury closed his annual report and whether
1t not the 3oh OF June Gen. Belknap could not answer
positively, but presumed co. In the War Department
the rule TO make up the report Of the Secretary to the
end Of the fiscal year but the Secretary Is not required
to have his report ready until the Goth of November He
aimed to inform Congress Of what occurred between the
Of July and the 10th Of November. Although techni
cay the report made up to the 3Oh OF june the nfor
nation contained therein il beyond that date.
The Chairman having asked whether any OF the par
ties designated in executive document No 50 as pur-
chasing during the period named were agents OF
any foreign governments. Mr.. Belknap responded not
to his knowledge and until october did he have any
such intImation through the receipt OF telegram al
ready read TO the Committee, when "a he had already
stated he stopped the sales Remington. Prior TO that
time he did not know Remington was an agent OF the
French Government. In reply to question, Gen.
| Belknap referred 10 letter OF Gen. Dyer dated
Jan. o. 1872, as giving q proper explanation,
namely: At the close OF the OF the Rebellion the
Ordnance Department found itself In possession OF large
quantities Of cannon, small arms, and other ordnance
stores no longer required and which to the inter
est of the United States TO dispose OF because either Of
their pcrshabe character the constant expense Of Their
first the sales made by auction, but subsequently
July 90 passed aT g'InE Tue 1
SALE after due public notice. the old cannon, arms anu
other stores which are damaged or otherwise
unsuitable for United States military service or for the
militia OF the United States and TO cause the net pro:
ceeds OF such sales after paying all proper expenses OF
sale and transportation the place OF SALE to be depos
tied the Treasury Of the United States and since the
of this act ordnance have been disposed
Of 70 iiyduas at private sale, provided by law, eE
cent I'm q few instances, when sales at auction were
deemed preferable ana 10 the interest Of the Govern
Gen Belkpap then read detailed statement to show
the number of the United states arsenas at the
commencement OF the FrancOPrussian War was l0lOeS
the number of servceabe arms at the close OF the war
Question by the Chairman-state to the Committee II
any suitable for military service were .odi
arms in order to adopt better ones About 1000 new
by of to made lh the
Gen Belknap having been asked by Mr.. Acker ms TO
hS ds the ef au he OF the chef of are de-
lined by law he has with the supervision aud dlrec
connected with ordnance aud ordnance stores but Gen
Dyer In matter Of this kind consults With the Secye
tary Of War; who gives his opinion as TO whether he
shall sell or not.
cen. Belknap also presented to the Committee copy
OF his letter. already published addressed to the secre
tary OF State in reply from the latter denying the
allegations in regard to the purchase OF arms made by
Remington TO the President OF the Commission OF Arma
Cen BeEnap, response to a question whether some
of the arms could sold without furnishing
ammunition said the ammunition was made to effect the
sale OF the arms As far as his knowedge went II was
always considered proper to manufacture ammunition tn
effect sales to private parties ana ne st6eF bPSIn
answer to question tnat t9e Ma,us ne Fropn
Charge dAaires, requesting him TO repair 70 the War
Department to make t9e 70 eSotScr Su ve
ZION he said he had seen stated that officers Of the Gov
ernment were intere sted In the sale OF arms.
The interrogatory put, Do you know OF your
own knowledge that any Government officers are inter
ested in the sales OF arms directly or otherwisef
Answer-I do not. very strong statement or intma
tion in connection with this matter was made 10 me by
Marquis dc Chambrun, Jan. 20, last. asked him to
name the persons, and then went together 70 my
uriyate ROOM when again asked him TO name such per-
sons or make statement over his signature, or any
statement by which could convict OF fraud any one OF
these officers other persons connected with the Gov
yerninent He did not do so. 1 kept memorandum OF
the statement that he did make To but contains
nothing from which obtain information relative TO
any officer If the Government begged him 10 give me
snecic information but he had Our conversation
Went further but got nothing bearing on the point.
The Chairman said he had invited Senator sumner TO
and to give any facts he might have 10 Offer but
he had not come forward In order further to arrange
for the examination and TO obtain official statements
which the Secretary indicated bis readiness TO furnish
being DESTROYS that the investigation should be thorough
the Committee adjourned until next tuesday week