New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-04-08
THE NAVAL INVESTIGATION
MR.. DANA UNABLE TO SUSTAIN HIS CHARGES
EXPLANATION on THE IRON AND COAL CON
TRACTs-ADMIRIL BOGGs AND CHEF EN-
GINEER LORING EXAMINED.


TRACTS-ADMIEiL BOGGs AND CHEF EN-
GINEER LORTNG EXAMINED.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNI1
WASHINGTON, April 7-Whatever nav be
the result of the RObcon investigations and these seems
10 be little doubt that the secretary viii completely
vindcate himself from every accusation made there is
but opinion expressed I'm Washington by ublic men
OF every shade of politics in regard 10 the course Of
Chas. A. Dana, Who lately appeared IL the role
Of public prosecutor. Ho has admitted, ia his
testimony, that on the responsibility OF
person whose name he decled to give and whose
means OF information he did investigate lie asserted
positively IN The Sun that +. Cattel a shp-chandler
in Philadelphia purchased all he supplies fox the navy;
that the Secretary Of the Ney interested in the
Chester Iron Works. that C.tell and Robson made a
contract for iron, whereby 100000 realized upon
that single item; that brclNgere bought at Phiade
phia and shipped around thdIorn to California; that
Cattcll has been empowered obeson his associate in
robbery 70 buy for the Navy Department all the coal
that Is required for the nav steamships that Cattoll
buys this coal not by public empeOn, but privately,
paying such prices he chooses and that he doubtless
divides with Robson the moey OF which they thus rob
the Government; that he nys'on The average 50 tun
for this coal in Philadqlia. and receives s. q
tun from the Navy Departments that the amount OF coal
to be consumed by the nav in the year 1872 il est.
mateda 100000 tuns the ,rOlt on which 10 Cael and
Robson viii bc IN round jguc s. 100000 all pure rob-
berry; that Robson and Cattcl have made private
contract for some 1900 tuns iron plates, to be
used III building two torpedo oats, which Congress
has authorized, and that thy pay for this iron
1924 atm, when its market values only $50 that
this piece Of robbery will net I'll robbers a profit o.
abou. S111O)0; that this moneys robbed from tue
people and that Robson is using is official power as
member OF the Executive Government to put this vast
sum OF money IL bis own polct, and that. with
IL be took the highway witt blunderbuss and
and bowie knife and pundcre1 rapcr OF their watches
and purses All OF these accusations were repeated in
Tie Sun again andagain, with the der 10 prove each
one II given an opportunity; and yt, when put upon
the stand Mr.. nua was not only unwilling give the
name of his informant, but also unlblo 70 name
single witness ws could testify h regard TO
the alleged facts, and went home yester.
day with his council, leaving the Committee 10
clue 10 OF he bels against the Secretary and
Others which dlily printed for "a month. The ex-
cuse given by NJ Dlna for refusing 20 on, that the
Chairman of theCdnmittee absent, is considered
fmsy, and is beeled to have been merely pretense.
The accusations apparently made in the most
reckless manner and without good ground for suspicion
even. The Ony one Of all the charges made
in regard to TIC Secretary, on which any
testimony tending throw doubt the legality Of the
payment OF mOng las been introduced is that IN rela
ton 10 the secor dams At the session Of the Commit
tee last evening GeSecetary introduced half dozen
witnesses to show Int there was nothing wrong or IT.
REGULAR about the Iasmat Of these claims. Il seems
that when the vessels butt by the construct
ing the Government tild to furnish the drawings and
specifications as rapidly they were needed aud
when il did furnish theu some OF them differed from
those on which the origin contract made in such
manner as to cause incread expense 10 the contractors
beside that occasoned byhe rise in the price OF labor
and material, which took lace during the delay. Be-
side this there were nnges that were made after
the work was done, sub raising the boilers,
&c Claims arising out the construction OF these
vessels were therefore dived into two casses Claims
under the contract, that for work required by the
contract, but which daycd or modified after the
contract was made andlaims outside OF the CON
tract for extra work orded by the Department, and
not included IN the contfaf The secretary OF me Navy
holds, and he has bee sustained ny the law
officers OF the Treasu Department, that the
second class OF clans can be paid by
the Navy Department out the proper appropriation,
being in the nature OF DANCES TO the contractor grow
ing out of the delay and of the government could
the Navy welles) thefore convened tOard,
and referred TO IL i the claims or the
second class. If any iaims OF the first class
were presented they ruled out. This
board made awards in far OF several contractors and
their claims paid, hi before the secor claim was
reached the President Othe Board died. and il was
authorizing the Secrear"o ascertain the amount Of the
claims in the first class and he did IT, This Board ex-
pay without lw, and awarded $1,000
TO the Secors. 0nrcss passed another law n
1863 authorizing th sun TO be paid Later stn new
board was convenedO 0nplee the work left unfinished
hy tbe first that ITO consider the claim OF the
outside of the contact, ard the Secretary ordered 1t
the secors theirs whose similar claims mad ben
he Sg2 eS last pai Tbs explanation is thought TO
satisfactory by thee bet able 10 judge.