New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-04-04
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT INQUIRY.
SECRETARY ROBEsoN's ExPLANATIoN-ADMiRAL
ToRTLR ON THE sTAND--coNFUsIoN Vi LIZ
GAL QUESTIONS.

SECRETARY ROBEsoN's EXPLANATIoN-ADMiRAL
IORTLR ON THE sTAND--C0NFUsI0N Oh Lk-
GAL QUESTIONS.
10y TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBuSE.l
WASHINGTON, April 3.-Secretary Robson
has pre- rared bet in reply the charges made against
him. whi,h will be presented to the Investigating Com
Intee 20 soon as the prosecution have examined their
witnesses The Secretary in this BRIEF first recites the
history OF the Secor claims. He says that secor CO..
and Perine secor Co.. were contractors for the navy
Department. and built the monitors Teeumseh, Mahopac'
and Maj On the I'd of March, 1867 there still re-
NAMED Cue these contractors large sum, amounting
"a they Gained to several hundred thousand dollars
A portion of this amount was due for work and
materials actually done and furnished by order
of the Department, about which there was no
DISPUTE. Similar debts for much larger
amount for like work. had been paid while this debt re-
mained due aud unpaid. Other contractors having
been paid claims Of entirely different character, for
allowance ON account OF occasiOned by the in
cost of and material by reason OF delays
caused by changes the plans for the vessels made ny
order of the Department, were pressed upon
by the contractors, and Congress- on March = ieo''
passed an act authorizing the Secretary OF the Navy
the claims certain contractors, including
the secors for the purpose of asceranng what amount
should be paid to each for the increased expense IN
cured by Them by Of the alterations in the
plans &c. and the delays consequent thereon This act
stated the subjectmatter to be investigated aud pro-
vided the form in which 1t should be reported 10 Con-
gress.
The Secretary Of Navy, Mr. Bore, in pursuance OF
the act appointed, July 1867 board consisting OF
Marchand Chief Engineer King and Paymas
ter Edmond Foster investigate the claims ana report 10
him. The Board made the investigation and reported
among other things that there was due TO secor Co.,
and Perine Secor Co., on the monitors Mahnatan' IT,
cumseh and Mahopac the sum OF sl16,5SS o. Inc rc-
port was sent by the Secretary OF the Navy
hodx I'm directing
the Secretary Of the Treasury to pay the respective
reported being the amounts found due to each
NJ the persons herein respectively named BY the sec'
Rotary Of the Navy, under an act OF congress
entitled "an act for the relief OF certain
for the construction OF vessels OF war and
steam machinery, approved March 1907 which shall
be I'm full discharge Of oil claims against the United
States on account Of the vessels which the board
made the allowance per their report under tho Act Of
March A. 1907" Under this act the Secors among Others
| were paid by the Treasury the amount allowed
| by the Board. The Messrs. secor did not con-
slider their for work done and accepted by the DO
partment covered by this provision and pressed for
payment When the present Administration came In
they applied to Secretary Bor VITO referred the matter
Ia Admiral Porter who, shory after Secretary Robe
son's appo,ntment, convened Board consisting OF Adj
| mirsl Boggs Chief Engineer Loring ana contractor
Easily with instructions to report on the ciams Ihis
Board reported that about (9soo was due, and recon-
mended It's payment was at this stage OF the pro
ccedng Secretary Rooesons says that the matter wai
rst brought to his attention Mr. secor pressed ior Inc
uavmeut Of the claim tine report OF the Board and
uroducsd letter from Chief Engineer King. who had
been member Of the Marchand Board to the eject thai
this debt had not been considered by that Board 10
making their allowance to the Messrs secor. AZ inc
claim thus appeared to be bona fde debt owing 70 th'
parties on their direct engagement, for which no pay
ment or allowance had been made, although nmi
lar claims had been paid to Others the secretary con
AIMED the ,cport Of the Board and directed that til,
| amount found due should be paid
The secretary says he examined the act OF March
1867 and read the report OF the Board which were amon
the records Of the Navy Department before making h
payment but that the act Of July 49, 1861 being pri
waite net was not 10 the navy compilation. Tho accoin
WIS setlled In tho Treasury, and though nc was avail
IN, tha Of tho report had been paid under al