The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-03

20 award the contract 10 Brown as the lowest bidder
under the department advertisement although he did
not believe Brown would ulhi u Subsequent events
justified his Judgment and the government had 10 pay
a price twice high as Browns bid. At the time he
proposed TO annul the contract, however, Mr. Griffin
declined TO furnish The granite Al less than the price
subsequently, paid.
In reply to a question put by Secretary Robson
witness stated that Robson had never directed him,
suggested limited to him to favor any one and had
interered in any manner TO prices the pur
of supplies for the Bureau Yards and Docks
or for the Naval Academy Witness knew nothing
about any transfer of $75UO0 from his bureau 10 pay
the Hunerord claim, nor about an order 70 the pay
master at Pensacola draw draft for $1,000 so a. 10
prevent an Appropriation from lapsng into the Treas
ury
In reply the question OF the Chairman whether ne
had not assumed unauthorized power in his manage
ment OF his bureau and violaiedthe law which rc-
CURES all naval appropriations TO be expended under
abe direction OF the Secretary OF the Navy, Admiral
Rodgers said he did not think so, and explained that
except in regard TO matters outside of the usual
routine II was not necessary customary TO receive
special orders from tho Secretary.
Admiral Howell, who succeeded him rs Chief OF this
Bureau gave testimony to the same purport his
freedom from any attempted iavoring influence or
interference in contracts, &c, on the part OF Secretary
Robson.
Bureau OF Medicine and Surgery, also testified that
Secretary Robson has intercrcd in regard to
persons prices in his bureau
Chief Engineer William II. shock who has acted as
Chief OF Bureau oil Steam Engineering at intervals dur
ing Mr. Robesons administration, was next examined
He testified that the secretary never suggested per-
sons prices TO him or dictated any contract
made by him except the contract with John Roach 4
Sons, OF New York. for the machinery OF the Tonnes
se,. This contract was, however recommended by
him Shock being for tho interest OF the govern.
ment and had turned out we'll This witness mad
gone the Mediterranean the Tennessee, and her
machinery was great success She was steaming at
last thirteen and onehalf knots per hour and
beating everything IN those waters. No advei sement
published and proposals invited Tor this contract
1t made on private offer and his favorable report
thereon. The witness was examined at considerable
length concerning certain departures from the contract
specifications that allowed and especially IN re-
gard the diminished space provided for coal bunkcrs
He testified that these changes were sanctioned by
board consisting OF the Chief OF tho Bureau OF Con-
siruction, the Chief OF the Bureau of Steam Engineer
ing and the Naval Constructor IN charge and that they
tor the interests OF the He stated that
the produce certain results as 10 speed
umption OF COAL &c and that these results
satisfactorily obtained The ship had done her work with
less coal consumpton than was contemplated by the
contract He could not state how much the
saved by the changes OF plan, but he believed
much They were paid the iull contract price.
Commodore William ". Jciiers, Chief OF the Bureau
of Ordnance, testified that Secretary Robson bad
dictated suggested or limited TO him to favor any
person. and had III tact, intsrierred less in the man
agement Of the Bureau than any Secretary he had
ever known The Secretary had been kept uly posted
10 Its general operations but he Jenersl had con-
troed all routine matter. The Secretary had once
directed him to pay certain bill He JeTers) made
ono contract with Norman Ward q very plausible
person who had captured the Admiral OF the Navy
and the two naval committees OF Congress for
ordnance experiments He himself did not believe
Wards theories but in Wow OF Wards large follow
ing he thought ii wise to give MIN this contract in
ordcr to demonstrate tho righteousness believing II
this not done greater amounts would be
expended thereafter and tho safety of the navy
perhaps endangered.
In reply to question by Secretary Robson witness
said thatrhc ultimate success usually the result Of
many failures and stated that it costs $50 600 to sub
jcct fifteen inch gun to the extreme test OF fracture
In response to the ChaIrmap witness explained that
some remarks OF his derogaiSy Mr.. Wizard
out by Secretary Robcson not from his Official
bureau report. but from sketch OF It's operations &c,
which he furnished the Secretary for in the lat
ter's annual report
George f. Cutler, purchasing paymaster at New
York, and A. W. Russell, purchasing paymaster at
Philadelphia, testified that Secretary Robson has
attempted in any way whatever to influence the
respective purchases made bythem in open market,
and has otherwise attempted to favor any person
through them.