The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-27
THE ROBSON INQUIRY.

The Committee and tho Production Of Com
tracts and Doruments-The Mode Of In
Quiry.
WASHINGTON, March 20, 1872.
The select committee to Investigate the charges
against the Secretary Of the Navy met this evening
at seven O'Clock. All were present except Mr..
voorhees,, who has not yet, as he yesterday IN
formed the committee ne would do, formally de-
cned serving as q member, In order to enable the
Speaker to appoint one in his place.
Mr.. Sargent thought the committee should be
full before they proceeded to the investigation In
order that all should have the benefit Of the testi-
mony from the beginning, and, therefore, he moved
the committee adjourn.
Mr.. Bartlett, counsel for DANA IN response to
question by Mr. Blair, the chairman. said they
could not 90 on until they obtained the papers they
had called for and 1t made no difference whether
the committee adjourned one or two days II that
time was necessary In which TO procure them.
Secretary Robson said he had been called on by
letter to produce before the the contracts
between the Bureau of Construction and Repairs
nal contracts made with the Navy Department are
IN the Treasury Department., ana therefore the call
Bartlett said ne had simply requested that copies Of
the contracts, with names OF certain persons be
furnished. secretary Robson remarked before ne
was at the request or the committee ana not at the
request OF any particular person. He naa ., also
on contracts from March 2 1867, covering
all the transactions for the last five years. He
should prefer bring copies OF the papers II the
originals were brought here he must be sure into
whose hands they would go. Blair said
he understood the committee directed him
to receive the names OF witnesses, and
the character OF the evidence desired by
MIR. Dana. On that supposiuon he had written
Letters requesting the production OF the papers.
That was all ne supposed he was authorized by the
committee to do
Secretary robson remarked that It was impossl.
bic 10 have them here tonight.
MIR. Bartlett said that In asking for copies OF
contracts, &C., he did not think he would be met
aid not know the precise source they were 10 come
from. He had asked for the papers In general
way, and should ike TO know how soon they could
be procured.
Secretary robson asked whether the com.
mttee considered hls remarks us technical.
Mr. BARTLBTT-YOu understood me to say so.
Mr.. Sargent moved that tne Chairman call Tor
the originals copies OF documents bearing on the
articles OF the New York SVn from February l6 TO
March To-
Mr. Bartlett said II any action was to be taken to
restrict inquiry other thah provided for In the reso-
luton heretofore adopte they should consider IL AZ
an attempt TO recede from that resolution. They
Mr.. sargent ala Not press his motion, ana the
committee adjourne until Thursday night.
There were pre- sent besides those above men
TONED Elk or q ght witnesses including william
FaXon. eX-AS ,stant Secretary OF lne Navy,
who arrived from Connecticut to-day. Elk
senator ~ uell was also present.. WI
liam p. God, formerly head Of the Treasury
Detective Sureau was among the spectators, ant
may ne sV .mmoned as witness.
AmonP the papers-Aaled Tor by Danas counse
are tnf contracts with Secor X Corllss, Sec0r d
PERM and Zenas Secer.