New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-04-03
allowance was made by the Board organized under tho

allowance made by the Board organiscu unuer '"0
act OF March 2. 1887
This had the effect OF ncutrasng the resolution, No
FAR as any benefit persons urging its passage was
concerned. They succeeded n having the Oil passe"
without this proviso. the 9Th OF July. 1870; II was
passed. on motion Of Mr.. Sherman, in new FORM
provided that "thocais for building vessels o. war
and Steam machinery referred to In the act Tor tne re-
lief Of certain contractors for the constructor ot
of and steam machinery approved March rsS,;
he referred to the Court of Claims, when was heie"
vested with jurisdiction nnder said act anu WHO. uu
u shall he to Investigate nnd detcrnne ,ne ns laid
down in said act. except hereinafter provided anu
the finding Of said Court In the preses nf said
Court claim shall be considered by sara Son
shall be presented within one year a.ter
the massage of this resolution and much OF said act as
provides against considering any allowance III .to
and material unless such advance could not have peSn
avoided by the exercise of ordinary prudence ana an,
gcnce part OF the contractor Is hereby repeaeu
Two or three attempts were made to take the rcsoiu
ton from the Speakers table in the House and pass u
without reference TO the Committee on Claims o"' as
those failed the persons interested 10 se inc
Endorsement Of that Committee. strong LOBBY lhnu
ence was brought 10 bear but the Committee, oy ma
ory OF one refused to recommend the passage OF 'ho
hill Nevertheless on Jan. 80 1871, it was taken from
the table on motion of Mr. Logan and passed by Two
thirds vote. The President, on the 7h OF fepruai!
vetoed the in short message IN when nc saul
1.-THE present iomt resolution transfers me hVesubnt
ton TO the Court of Claims ana repeats 20 ance in
favor of any such parties for any advance
In the price of labor or material unless such hayv
could have been avoided by the exercise y, ~
diligence and prudence ON the part OF tne e1 ~
IL seems TO that the provision thus repeated Is
reasonable IL prevents the contractor rom lhnr
ing any allowance for an ADVANCE jill tho ~. adyanco
and material when he could have avoldeu tna su'
hy the exercise Of ordinary prudence ana dl1gence
effect OF the repeal viii be 10 relieve cOniactoi VI -
consequences of their own imprndence anu who
see no good reason for thus relieving conlactors IN
have not exercised ordinary prudence ana ""s
their business transactions" a.,
II appears that the Sccors hoped to Gct from INC
Court OF Claims about 100000, III addiuoh 10 'e "u
duional nayment made them by Secretary Robson III
Jauuar 1870 if they had got the Presidents approval
of their b They began work at the Navy Department
for nm extra payment as Admiral Porter took
the real control Of The Navy Department. under the
nominal Secretary ship of Mr. Borie 1t Mr.. Borie
who convened the Board which allowed the claims made
unlawful by the act Of 1863 and not Mr. Robeson as has
erroneousy been stated. The Board was, In fact OF
Porter's creation. MI Robson, when he came into
Office found it in existence, and approved It's nndlng,
acting as he says total ignorance OF the law of 1903
The illegal payment made by the Secretary 10 the con-
tractors January, 1870 does not appear 10 nave Deth
known to either the Senate or House Wnen tne OIL was
passed lie ferrng them the Court OF Claims Tor adu
dication of the very claims which the secretary hau
settled year before. 80 -
tract price Tor building vessels for the Government
during the war; them 1868 they got by act of Con-
gress $4,000 extra pay and accepted as In fun OF All
their demands against the United States account OF
the of such vessels. Next 1870 they per
suaded Secretary Robson TO pay them about sl17OO
more. without authority of law, and when he had no
that purpose And finally, i'll 1871 they got JOINT reSo
luton passed through Congress allowing them To 30 10
the Court OF Claims for an indefinite amount ana we're
only stopped in thus last operation by the veto OF the
Pr lf