Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1872-04-04

rHE NAVY pEPARTnEHr INVESTIGATION.
Three witnesses were examlued last even
ipg. The hrst was Admiral Porter, who tes-
tlaed that tho board that cxnmlnsd and APP
proved the secor claim wcrs collected by him
self, and with reference 10 their special ht-
ncss for the duty assiguod them. The ueSt
was Mr.. Abraham 8. Hewitt, n sachem OF
Tainmany hall, a Democratic partisan and
rival iron manufacturer. To long cxaml-
nation by the counsel Of Dana, an attempt
was made 10 show that In he Judgment Of
the witness, the price paid for the iron for
the torpedo-boats was largely in excess Of
the market rates ut the time Of making
the contract. Upon the ccross-examlnatlon Of
the Secretary, and according TO tho figures Of
the witness himself, based upon his Judgment
OF the value Of the best Iron, which no did
not deny that furnished to be, the price paid,
under the contract, was $4,000 less than Il
should be, and the Secretary had saved the
Government that amount. Tho third witness
was Mr.. Shock, chief engineer Of the navy. lie
testified that the contract FOR the euginosot the
Tennessee was drawn by himself; that II was
advantageous TO tho Government that the
price paid was low. Tho original offer Of
Mr.. Roach was S4OO, 900. The contract gave
him the old engines and 100000. The Wit
ness valued the old engines Mt s65, 900, which,
together with tho s9Oo, 900, made the pur-
chase money only sS65, 200, a saving Of s35,-
OOO Il stated on good authority that the
old engines arc only worth about s35, 900, 90
that the price paid was only s3S5, 900, saw
Ing OF eos, 200. When Mr.. Shocks exAmina.
| a.
made the following statements - ..
He said his attention had been called to-
day TO a telegraphle communication In one
last, assuming to state what was supposed 70
have been established In this case. Upon
this point he would say that he presumed
that no rcsponslble person would undertake
| 10 say what had been established at this stage
Of the proceedlngs. But the communication
also assumed 70 say that the Secretary ex-
cused what Is called his delinquency In the
| Secor matter, upon the ground Of q mlsun-
deIstanding Of the law Of 1868.
The Secretary desired TO say that he had
made no such statement, but that he had
paid the Secor clalm because ho had reason
70 believe, and did believe, that Ii was Just
and equitable claim for work actually done,
which the Department was bound TO pay as q
debt unless barred by the restrictions
OF some law, and that, In his opinion, as a
| lawyer ana as an administrative Offccr,
the law Of 1903 did not bar the payment
of this claim either In spirit OF letter, and
that those who thought II did were, In hlt
opinion, either not Informed OF the clrcum.
stances OF the case, or misunderstood the
effect of the law.
Several evenings ago a witness named
Baker was placed upon the stand to prov,
that the coal on board the Worcester wa
bad, and the impression was attempted to be
made that the coal was purchased by the
Navy Department. 1t appeared In evidence
last night that all the coal on board th,
Worcester during her late cruise, excep
thirty tons, or ono days supply, was pur
chased previous 10 1868, and, Of course, prio
10 the administration Of President Grant
The following Ia the telegram from tb,
comm andant Of the Boston navy yard, whei
the vessel was coaled, The coal supplIet
the Worcester was from a lot shipped by th,
bureau In 1868 and previous. No coal wa
left In her after trial trip. She was coalc,
September 8, 1870. Before sailing thirty ton
we're put on board. This was from q carg
received per Sarah Watson, November IL
1870" Signed, Charles steadmAn, command
ling.