The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-23
WASHINGTON.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,

WASHINGTON, May %, 1874
SECRETARY robson AND THE DEVELOPMENTS
OF THE NAVAL INvEsrIoATIoS-TH THE DE-
PENCE BY BIS FRIENDS NOT CONSISTENT
WITH THE TEsrIMoNy-A POSSIBLE IMPEAcH-
MENr AT HAND
The OF Secretary Robson has been much dis
cussed to-day many persons having read the testimony
OF f. u. cattc others carefully and compared IL
with some statements put out within week.
'aathorita.ively,n by Mr.. Robeson's friends One OF
these statements asscrts:--
y can further be said. authoritativsly, that Mr..
Robson never know of contract being gwen 10 any
one At the instance Of Mr.. CaltelL
Unfortunately the examination OF E G. Cattel drew
out some admissions from him which fatally contra
dict this statement Catel asserted that xr. Robson
did not know OF his contracts and agreements with
other parties hike Matthew'S but no had previously
said that Mr.. Robson was ssorcnded with him" and
being askcd-
Then you were not doing navy business In your own
name. and Robson did not know you dong u In
the name Of others, Why did he get sores
cattcli made tho significant answcr:--s'Hc did not
know how was dong It, where dong II, but
no knew was doing It," Hc was asked:-"Did you
ask your brother to interfere with tho Secretary
In your behalf In any Way" and replied
~ have. Again, "Dd you not tell your
aud these other parties ~ which Ca,tels repcs:-
~ did not tell him Interested with them; he
knew was interested with some one"
Finally being asked, "Did you not tell him TO use
whatever influence no had for tho purpose Of getting
these contractsf" he replied, ~ cannot remember
that
These answers show clearly that Mr.. Robson knew
What Cattc was doing, aud to knock away tho
excuse OF ignorance.
The attempt of Mr. Robeson's friends to lay all the
blame Of the Cattcl plumber upon the officers
tho Navy Department exctes some Indignation hcre.
Il Is asserted in defence OF the Secretary that
nj the Caitcs used their influence in sobtuin
Ing contracts for others that matter for
the bureaus but tho bureau officers claim 70 be honest
men, and some OF them are not Wiling DO madc
scapegoats Those who have scrutnizcd the evidence
remark upon curious coincidence. T. G. Cattel
admits having gaiAed somewhere $500 ooo but It
appears that x-sena,or Catte drew out OF the nrm
about $40 600 previously put In from time TO time, by
his brother out OF these transactions that 4. G. Cat
toll turned in whom no destroyed his memorandum
slips the lump sum OF $lS0,0O0 his
own, and that tho Camden Bank account
Of Secretary Robson shows various Endorsements OF
the CaeIls and checks from them and from their hank
In Philadelphia, 10 the amount Of over $40 900, the
whole making up sum Of nearly $500 600. But II Is
said tonight that the committee satisfied that Cat
tells gains amounted to no less than $500 0O0 1t is
also remarked curious that according to Catcll's
testimony, Robson became offended with him about
the time when the democratic House elected.
Evcry attempt Of the committee to get ex-senator
Cate before them Philadelphia failed the subpGnas
being answered always with DOCTORS certificate thut
Mr.. Cattell too III to be examined There Is ro-
port tonight OF discoveries which will the
impeachment Of Robson unless he resigns, and his
resignation has not been talked Of to-day.