The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-08

him for that reason; witness did not know how much
be entitled to did he certify 10 the accuracy OF
the accounts was the duty OF the proper officers or
the department examine into that; Bell said he did
noi under the circumstances, want tell Lc Barnes
Chief or the Secret Service OF the Interior Depart
| ment what service no performing; witness had
never been spoken to by the President. Babcock or
| Luckey either sbort the appointment Belps pay;
he had not communicated with either OF them on the
subject of his appointment or pay at any time.
David Webster OF Concord, ~ H., testified that he
Washington about the 18th OF March, 1874,
sell to the War Department moth cxterminator made
| by him. he went with Austin T. Pike, member Of
! Congress from New Hampshire TO General Mcigs
Qaartcrmaster General who refused to have anything
TO do with il; Congress had appropriated $4,000 for
the purpose Of keeping moths out OF cloth and cloth
ing tor the army witness and Pike went second and
third time to General Megs; the third time General
Megs said the government had been swindsd out OF
hundreds and thousands Of 900 last year
and the stuff they using fur
nished by George A. Cowlcs Il Co. after
ward witness got Representatives Parker, Cragin
and Wadleigh 10 write letter TO Mcgs whcreupon
General Megs agreed to test the merits of the thing
the preparation tested and approved by Captain
Rogers OF the Quartcrmasers Department at fhlla-
dephia Arsenal; witness then went back TO General
Megs who told him that he should have the contracts
ment would want; witness said no did not know how
much the government would want, but said he would
not require the department to pay for than was
used; witness aiterward stated the price by letter.
Meigs then decided It. General Melgs thcn asked
him
swhat benefit viii IL be to mes''
Witness answcred-"It will kill your motha"
General Meirs said-"But how much will you give
me II put it IN general use 7"
Witness answercd-"Not damned cent, General"
Witness said General Mcigs gave him to understand
| thai Cowes & Co.. who were furnishing the moth ex-
terminator, were paying him part Of the procseds
| witness said that yesterday no met man near Judi
cary square, who told him he would do better not to
60 before the committce in the mans hand two
500 bills he did not know the man, but told him that
he going to tell the truth 10 the committee, and
that he did not want any money; tho man turned and
walked or rapidly; witness followed the to
| where he went but could not walk fast enough; to-
| day by the name Of Ingham Coryell camc up
1 to him in . Seventh street; Corycll
| is in tho Qusrtermaster's Department at Seventh
street wharf, Corye said that up to thrcc days ago
he believed that Ingalls, and others the moth
ring and that Neigs innocent; shat they had got
| Cowlcs 4 Co. out OF tho country TO prevent them
| giving testimony, but that within three days he had
become convinced that Meigs the corrupt party In
the transaction; witness had not paid money TO any
officer, been asked for any, except Mcgs; witness
presented number OF letters TO corroboratc tes
! mony; hc had received any order from General
Meigs for the moth exterminator except for 500
WORTH witness refused to furnish that amount unless
he could be assured Of larger ORDERS the ground
that 10 oil the order would cost more than II would
come TO- but he offered to furnish for nothing, pro-
vded he be allowed pack Il in the clothing himself
1 Quartermaster General Meigs appeared before the
committee obedience 70 telegraphic summons aud
testified that the statements OF David Webster this
morning to the effect that he sought interest in his
moth extcrminator, by suggestion OF any kind that
| could be tortured into such . suspicion, abso
lutely false; he said he told Webster that the
| government swindled out Of large sums because
! the process then in was worthless that he had
never asked him what benefit tho contract would DO
him. and that no had mover asked him how much hs
would give him (the witness); he had always consid
cred the witness, like many inventors, crazy tho
subject OF his preparation for sxtermlnatng moths;
witness said that Webster had offered furnish 500
worth OF the moth exterminator, provided he be al
lowed to use It himself; witness declined TO permit
him to 60 into tho arsenal and handle the clothing
cause he did know enough about him; he HAD
sidered him honest, but 'rather light in the head"
and had inquired into his character; witness did
not want outsiders IN the arsenal because Il was
dangerous policy to admit thom; wness eorroboraed
record but his charges false every par
ucular-.hs creation OF very active and Imaginative
brain.
/ During the time General MoIgs giving his test
| mony Webster walking around very much excited
leaning the shoulders OF members OF tho commit
tee and proposing questions, much TO the amusement
| OF everybody present The witness asked whether
he was the means OF the adoption OF the George W.
Cowics 4 Co process for exterminatfng moths He
replied that no had opposed its adoption after
board or army officers had recommended its adoption
hut finally yielded to the accumulation Of testimonials
! In Its favor
] when asked by whose influence II had been kept In
use he replied that George W. Brega and Dom Pa,t
| were very active In the matter. Witness SAID tho
Cowcs process not now In use, because at the last
OF Congress It was provided In Appropriation
bill that no money should DO paid for the Of any
patent process for exterminating moths preventing
mildew; they camphor.
SECRETARY robson IN EXPLANATION or THE
ACCOUNTS or THE NAVY DEPARTMENT..
Secretary Robson has formally replied to certain
nterrogatories OF Representative Beebe tho Chairman
OF the Committee on Expenditures In the Navy De-
partment. Ho says that time bills, drans checks
notes. or acccptances have been issued, made given
BY or under tho authority Of the Navy Department
any OF Its bureaus officers, except such drafts
have been given from time to tme drawn by the pay
masters Of the navy foreign stations, order
supply themselves with funds for the purpose paying
the expenses OF the naval service abroad These drafts
are drawn by the pAymasters stationed abroad
either directly upon tho department upon the naval
fiscal agents in London, and drawn at sight de-
mand, or such times As such paymasters may think
bost In OF the OF the place whero they
drawn. the rate or exchange At the tmc the sup
posed convenience Of the department. They are all
in accordance with the established custom, drawn
upon and paid out OF the appropriation for tho pay
Of the navy, though u II not expressed upon
their face. No time bills, drafts, checks. notes or
accepances have been given In anticipation Of 10
advance OF appropriations available TO meet the same
though Il Is possible that tho end or FISCAL year