The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-10-11
DISTRICT.
COUNTY.
(Continued,)

RoBEsoN's INCOME AND HOW IT GREW
Mr.. Robson became Secretary Of the
Navy in 1869, and was then very poor.
The income which he testified to under
oath in SO, was 1892; in GA, $685.; in go
the year of his appointment, 8 900. In a
few months he had accounts in FIVE banks,
aggregating $467, $40. The books of
close business intimacy began with Mr.,
Robson when he was appointed. E. G.
Cattell sold his influence with Mr.. Robson
to many naval contractors, demanding as
his price per cent, on the total amount
of the contract The investigating coD
mittee could not discover all such cases,
but they did discover Is cases in which the
contracts amounted to $7.2l1 ,026; from
Of these contractors Cattell received
$4S, 500; made by the Secretary and his
wife, the bills being settled by Cattell
One contractor testified that lie paid
Cattell $37 900. Various witnesses testi
fed that Il beson was we'll informed Of
the payment to the Cattells, and MANY
kilograms and letters placed in evidence
showed that the most cordial intimacy ex
listed between them. SECRETARY Robson
paul WHICH ldu Dttu TS
iscted to Secretary Welles, one Of the
most upright Secretaries, amounting TO
$3.50, $50. Among these was the fam us
Secors had formerly accepted 81 1000, In
full discharge of the claim. These claims
were put through by attorneys. most OF
them intimate with Robson. The failure
of the house of Jay Cooke IL Co. in 1878
ha 60 of ba
in l. Indon. Secretary Robson, in OIL der
to help the Cookies and Cattells, advanced
SLIGO, 900 TO the London house four days
after the failure of the house in New York.
The entire amount went to the firm and
not to pay drafts Of paymasters in foreign
ports, as was claimed. 100000 of this
amount mas never been recovered. The
naval Investigate N showed that Mr. Robe
son expended fully $l,OOO.OOO year foI
political purposes in navy yards. keeping
sometimes as many as IL 900 men on hand
The expenditures of the Navy Department
since ROnesons appointment have beer
$2l0.O37. 4Sl. The result of all this ex
penditure is that, 10 the words of Admira
Porter: Our navy, taken as a whole, i
worth nothing" and in this view thu
testimony of every prominent naval Office
agrees. The House has directed thu
Judiciary Committee to report whethe
Robson should not be impeaLhed, but b,
is still retained in the Cabinet.
HAYEs's MAKERS ON CIVIL SERVICE RE
FORM.
Governor Hayes was nominated at Gin
cinnati chiefly by the supporters Of Morton
and Cameron, aided by the influence o
President Grant, Governor Hayes chic
point in his letter of acceptance was hi
promise of civil service reform. Whethe
he will attempt to fulfill his promise Le
ponds upon the men to whom he owes hi
nomination. All Of them are distinguish,
opponents of civil service reform. Morton
pronounces ours THE best ciyil service o.
the planet" and has declared that the lif
tenure Of Office. now proposed by Governo
Hayes, would form privileged class tina
would revolutionlZe the fundamental prin
ciples Of this government Senator Cau
eron, whose son, the present Secretary @
War, decided Hayes's nomination at Gin
cinnati, said in the Senate, that "thi
government of ours is as well couducte
now as II ever was since its beginning, an
better than any other government ID tn
world" He says: This cry of reform
comes from the party in the minority. |
is ridiculous to suppose that Senators ca
be prevented from acting as citizens
am for leaving this thing as il has been.
Every message and every inaugural speed
OF President Grant, and every Nations
Republican platform since 1868, has prom
ised civil service reform, but no step ha
ever been taken but that of the appoint
ment Of the Board of Civil Service Exam
iners, which was speedily abandoned, an
the only three Secretaries who have dis
tinguished themselves as reformers- Coz
Brstow and Jewell-were ignominiousl
discharged from the Cabinet.
BELKNAp.