The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-03-28
BOSTON NAVY YARD FRAUDS.
CoRRUPTIoNIsTs CoRNERED by CONGRESS
SIGNAL OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF STOLEN
LUMBER AND MACHINERY.

SIGNAL OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF STOLEN
LUMBER AND MACHINERY.
CHARLIsrowS, Mass, March 20. 1876
That subcommittee OF tho Congressional Naval
Committee, which recently appointed to examine
into the alleged frauds and abuses at OF the
Eastern naval stations has been making matters do
cldcdly lively at the Portsmouth and Boston yards.
The reported abuses which tue committee was com
missioned TO investigate have formed standard sub
jcct for gossip and criticism for several years, but
never until has there been manifested anything
like an earnest disposition to thoroughly and Impair
TALLY investigate the charges There many cir
connected with tho Investigations just con-
cluded to afford belief that the committee has
made very free Of whitewash, and therefore
tho report which it will shortly submit to Congress
VIII be anticipated with considerable anxiety and in
terest
INVESTIGATION NoS-PARTIsAS ONE.
II is undoubtedly that the alleged frauds would
not have suddenly made the subject OF inquiry
III had not been for the democratic which many
the Congressional elections took year ago last fall
and also equally that in these particular
vestgatons there seems to be an absence of party
anlmus and presence OF righteous determination.
which in these times is absolutely refreshing In
political sense the committee Is evenly divided
sistlng OF Messrs Burlegh, of Name, and Harris OF
Massachusetts, republican, and Messrs. Jones, of New
Hampshire, and Mills OF Texas tdcmocrap. 1t
manly through Mr.. Burcigh, OF the republican
members that the inquiries were instituted so far as
the Portsmouth yard is concerned and since the in
vestgatlon concluded he has given 1t out that all
of the supposed frauds found to actually exist
While he declines disclose In detail what the COM
mtee discovered he has not hestacd 10 declare that
cHIKY CONSTRUCTORS HASscoMs INTEGRITY IS INVOLVED,
and he even goes stl further he ntimates that
Al
the veteran politician renowned Senator from the
Pine Tree State This ''Portsmouih yard. as It is
called is in fact located in Kittery In the State OF
Maine ana as a means OF political advancement In
times OF elections made the purposes Of
corruption for both New Hampshire and Maine But
the
COLOSSAL FRAUDS
which the committee discovered found TO exist
in the CharIcstown Tor Boston, yard The sessions
have been continued day and evening for week and
were concluded tonight and probably their report
viii be submitted to Congress in the course OF week.
Among the witnesses VINO were subjected TO
thorough and protracted examinations were
Commodore Nichols, commandant OF the yard Captain
Brown, the ordnance officer; hr Bartlemann. the
chief engineer; Mr. Easily the constructor; Mr..
Granger the civil engineer; Charles Sprague aud Ben
jamin II. Sampson, OF the construction department;
Samuel Dwight, foreman OF the backsmiths; Naval
Constructor Philip Hlchborn OF Portsmouth; f. h.
McAlichac, who submitted estimates 10 the depart
mont building the Enterprise and Jailed TO receive
mT.
builder: Captain Pope of the Marine Corps; j. A. q.
Gedds, foreman ship carpenter at tho yard Master
Joiner William Hchborn Donald Mckay OF East Bos-
ton, and humorous others
TTK REVELATIONS
which have been disclosed show that the reports
about the management OF the yard were well founded
II has boon shown that there has been startling
amount OF over-measuring Of timber In the
interest OF contractors and those IN COLLISION
with them also wholesale acceptance OF articles
never contracted Tor, and Tor which the government
had TO pay roundy. 1t has also been proved, prob
hcvo nd n
appointments OF men TO lucrative positions without
the slightest regard 70 integrity or ability and IN some
convicted OF crimes against the government An
series OF irregularities developed has been the tn
driscrimn mate ISSUING OF supplies and materials on
fraudulent acquisitions and In quantities largely IN
Of what the bogus documents called for. Tho
OF the storckecpcrs and the parties combining
with them TO thus deiraud the government arc, OF
course kept profound secret circumstance which
indicates That they are likely TO be arrested
A A MILLION AND HALF DOLLARS.
One OF the biggest swIndlcs pcrpelrated through the
influence Of corrupt officials as shown up by the In
vestigat0n WAS the purchase OF worthless machine
calculated tor timber bending purposes Ii pur
chased a cost OF upward OF 81 800, 900, aud has
proved itself only utterly worthless but has been
the means OF running hundreds OF thousands OF dol
lars worth OF STOCK. A careful record kept during
three months IN 1873 after book containing a record
of SIX months work had been stolen from cmpoye
Of the bending mil. shows that out OF hiiy-two pieces
which II was attempted to bend IN that time orytwo
broken and rendered utterly useless IL was also
further disclosed by another record that out Of 400
pieces only from the machine scrviceaLle
condition.
BAD FOR DONALD h'KAY
Othcr Developments alleged to have been made be-
fore the committee look bad Tor tho integrity OF Dom
aid Mckay the East Boston shipbuilder, and John
Roach the well known builder IN Pennsylvania. Gov
eminent timber and other materials u seems
supplied Mckay at the time he was building ship
Tor tho government by private contract, and large
quantities have been found by the committee
HIDDEN ~ EAST BOSTON sToREuousEs
The amount value OF the plumber ! an not in
formed but u Is believed be- cOnsdc rabieproDably
ngurng Up among the tens OF thousands Of dollars.
About If 900 worth OF navy yard tools and machinery
were found sccretsd in East Boston and II has also
turned that the OF shipments OF large guam
titles OF old iron boilers, &c Philadelphia were alb
soluie and that the profits accruing from this
alleged plunder may have been realized BY Chief Con-
struciOr Hanscom and John Roach.
THE YARD ~ THE INTEREST OF POLITICS.
Evidence concerning the employment OF unneces
sary, unskllcd and Incompetent wOrKmeD IN the yard
pcndng existing pontcal campaigns was secured In
abundance.