The New York herald., 1876-03-08
ROBESON'S NEMESIS.
THE PHILADELPHIA NAVY YARD-THE NAVAL
INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE ANxIoUsLY


AWAITED.
PHILADELPHIA March 7. 1875
The Committee Of the House oil Representatives on
the Expenditures in the Navy Department have been
anxiously expected here oday Washington dispatches
having announced their ntended depart little
OF investigation into the inside history Of the old
navy yard In this city. The committee consists
OF Messrs. Beebe, or New York, Chairman
Mills OF Texas Sheakley, OF Pennsylvania;
Burleigh, Of Name; and Baker, OF New York. The
lobby of the Continental thronged with crowd,
among whom were many federal oliceb odcrs and
local politicians who from time TO time approached the
clerks desk and asked In ievcrish manner, whether
the committee had arrived yet The answer
always the negative, but the crowd held all day,
only TO remain unsatished. There was ru-
NOR in the afternoon whispered about among
tho favored few that the committee had ar
rived, and then secretly work at League
Island, at the new navy yard down the League
Island is good miles from the centre of the city
and a drive down and back in q carriage IS somewhat
tresome but HERALD reporter made the trip meeting
on the way several OF those who had been the most
nquircrs the hotel Nothing had heard
OF the committee at the island and Commodore Preble
said he did expect them before the 10th INST
THE TESTIMONY
Among the testimony to be presented to tho CON-
mittee curing its session IN this city
Etrx-IhAL IN the removal Oi The old yard
from this point to League Island most or the
had been awarded 10 Bostonian, Nathaniel Mckay,
regardless the fact that In case wne bid
x35 0O0 those OF William simpson aud Charles Martin,
old Phlladelphans, were eacn x2S,O ,OOO for the
work. and tnat In other cases ne either bought At
tempted 10 buy of competitors and indeed he secured
the contract or all lhc work excepting the removal or
tho navy yard walls.
Second-That among other transactions scow loads
OF valuable material, including copper, &C. taken
ostensibly to the League Island Navy Yard but amer
lhcy were carried down the river suorI distance the
cargoes takcn on shore Grcenwicn oil
wnarves, and Ia the storehouse OF the Ware
housing Company At Queen street wharf the shop
OF shpsmith near Penn and Lombard streets Among
these matorials II - charged, there a copper
boiler valued at $l3 000 but this subsequently re-
turned the size oi the piece threatening exposure.
Third-That raft q: valuable timber was also
started TO be moved and was brought back
same reason and placed In close to the yard OF A. s.
Simpson * Brothers, Christian street wharf; but
Commander Prebe, OF the yard having been informed
Of the fact by Mr. simpson, he detailed body men
to take charge OF 1t anu remove IT to Leage island
FourLt--Inat while only thirty tons OF iron were
purchased wagons were employed Tor weeks IN haul.
ing material TO different Places and that barges bound
League Island were stopped at the Point House aud
uploaded OF iron and other material, which were
hauled by back road up into the city.
DEFIANCE.
The following telegram, sent hence to-day explains
ITSELF
PnILADnLPmA, March . 1S7d
Hon W. {. WHIrraoRSE, Chairman House Naya! Com
mIttee, Washington, ID. C. -
False and scurrilous articles have appeared IN the
papers OF New York and Philadelphia OF to-day, affect
Ing the integrity OF my business relations with the
Navy Department. | desire your committee 10 make
the fullest investigation all my business transac-
my books and pay rolls, containing tho names OF all
my employees, for this purpose. w. MCKAY.