The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-30
TEE ROBSON IsQUIRY.
About Bad Coal and misunderstanding for
Contracts Woods Testimony-1hs
Three Scoundrel Story.

~ ~--'''-' ': =.x4z.zS
WASHINGTON, March %, 1872.
The committee to investigate the alleged !E!esn'
larities In the Navy Department met at noon. All
the members were present. Secretary Robson
produced and read his original order directing the
payment Of
THE sEcoR CLAIM,
in accordance with the report OF the Board OF /
Examination thereon, which report was also put In
evidence.
Mr.. Bartlett counsel for Mr. Dana, then examined
John Lentha. the witness who testified last night.
He verified the order just read as the one on which
he had acted; was not surprised when he received
it; such orders were not uncommon during his
term OF ofice; suggested to the Secretary Of the
Navy the advisabity OF purchasing certain lots OF
live oak TIMBER for which Congress had made an
appropriation proposals were invited and bids re-
ceived, after due advertisements by direction OF
the Secretary Of the Navy notified Mr.. Swift and q
firm named Brown OF the acceptance OF their bids.
BY Secretary Jacksonville bids were made as
usual, and the contracts were awarded to the lowest
BIDDERS.
BY Mr.. Notwithstanding to the usage OF the de-
parsment charges for patent rights must be paid
by contractors and not by the government. The
item OF this kind In the second bill. however, was
paid to Ericsson, who had peculiar rights In regard
to the monitors FIRST constructed, and the allowance
Of this item was properly made.
CHARLES II. BAKER,
Chief Engineer In the Navy, was sworn. Was on
duty on the United States steamship Worcester on
her cruise In March last year, on her voyage from
Boston to Plymouth, England; the quality Of her
coal was ascerrained by him TO be bad; 1t left
refuse Of from thirty 10 forty per cent; the usual
amount OF refuse Ia from sixteen to twenty-five per
cent; his quarterly report, In what is called the
steam log, he gave
THE PERCENTAGE OF THE REFUSE
left by this coal: such percentages are given In
the engineers report as part OF the regular official
Information; the coal was taken on board at
Charlestown Mass; did not know who furnished
it; part OF 1t was as bad anthracite as witness ever
saw, but the coal from the bunkers OF the ship
that was last used was good; did not know whether
this was part Of the lot whether the vender
had put In his best coal first; bad coal tended to
clog the fues, but did not inJure the machinery.
h J. w. KING,
Chief OF the Bureau OF Steam Engineering, was
sworn and examined by Mr.. Bartlett-Has been
CHER of the Bureau OF Steam Engineering since
March 10, 1905 Is prepared 70 produce stateme mt
showing the purchases for the Bureau during tho
two years preceding the date OF this last report,
80 ordered by the committees; the purchases
OF iron, &C.. referred to were made by the
commandments Of the navy yards under his orders
based on acquisitions. These purchases were made
sometimes in the open market and some times by
means or advertisements and proposals: know OF
the law Of March 2, 1851, which requires contracts
for supplies and services for departments Of the
government to be made by advertisements; this law
applies to witness department. as well as to others,
but makes an exception In regard to personal SER
aa IS about 'ao to ana
supplies Immediately; purchases have always been
GREArER OR LESSER EXTENT WITHOUT ADVERTISE
not only for ships about to sail but also for the
quirements of the navy pards; witness could not
say without examining the books whether such
purchases without advertisement had been to
than under his predecessor Mr.. sherwood, and
others before the war; very small appropriations
were made for his bureau during the two years re.
ferred to, and the purchases were correspondngly
small; the government saved money by emitting
purchases exceeding $1,000 In amount, however,
are always preceded by advertisement, not annual
advertisements by schedule but
SPECIAL ADVERTISEMENT BY THE PAyMAsTERs
who make the purchases: this Is required by the
..exisencies,'' he has had nothing to 40 with the
preparation or plans for or the construction OF en-
especial about the patent Of Fowler's propeller no
examination In regard to 1t had Leen made under
By Secretary Robeson-witness was appointed
oy the President ana confirmed by the senate,
WHILE MIR. BoRIE WAS SECRETARY
OF the Navy; the omission OF advertising by sche-
due for the first year referred TO- therefore occurred
under ms predecessor; these annual schedules are
for large amounts; many articles used in witness
bureau are OF peri Unable nature ana cannot prop.
large proportion OF the purchases OF his bureau are
for repairs &C., ana as no one can tell at the begin
ming OF tine ca wa Tor pa nuya DC
they must be kept in hand and not vested in articles
that may not be needed; local paymasters make the
purchases after their acquisitions receive tho ap
prevail OF the cOnmandants OF the navy yards and
the Chief OF the Bureau of steam Engineering, and
If TIE AMOUNTS EXCEED 81, 900
advertisement Is made, as previously stated; the
total amount OF coal purchased by witness bureau
s36,7l2 IL was all bought by local paymasters,
part OF It in California for use OF the navy yard
intlmation OF any KIND from secretary Robson in
structing MIN or having q tendency 10 influence
advertising by schedule or otherwise; witness Is
solely responsible Tor all the acts OF ms bureau;
oe sn sot aopesr as BUYER or seller of any coal
BY Secretary Robeson-Mr. Cottel has never been
made purchasing agent for anything whatever IN
BY Mr. Archer Witness bureau ls not RESPONSE
bic for the Inspection OF the coal used by vessels.
MR.. 7. WOOD
was sworn, and testified he knew the late Simeon
Johnson, OF Washington.
Mr. Bartlett In response to inquiry stated he pro-
posed TO show that Johnson was an agent OF the
Secors for the collection OF the claim, which was
employed and paid Wood money to go to New York,
and with the secors devise means to prevent the
disclosure OF the character of this claim, which
Johnson admitted to Wood was1raudulent.
Mr. Sargent opposed the Introduction OF
MERE HEARSAY TESTIMONY
as contrary to all rules OF evidences and unprecc-
denled and UNJUST
Mr.. Archer suggested that the Investigating Com
mttec OF the House had extended the limits oil tes
timony very widely, but did not know whether evil
dence ike this had ever been admitted in regard 10
the alleged statement OF O man now dead.
Mr.. Peters thought The offered testimony was
plainly inadmissabe. The object OF the investga.
ton was to ascertain facts. Moreover 1t appeared
that If Johnson made the statement at all IL was
after the clan had been paid, and 1t was a we'll
known rule OF evidence that declaration OF that
kind could not be received evidence II made alter
the agents functions had ceased. Mr.. Peters be-
lieved also that
If JOHNSON WERE LIVING
he would repe slicn o statement as totally false.
Mr. Blair suggested that proof was wanting Of the
fact that Johnson was really Secor's attorney.
Mr. BARTLETT REPLIED that he could aadure uOcu.