Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-07-26
The Investigation Of Secretary Robe.
SON.
MAJORITY REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE on
NAVAL AFFAIRS.

MAJORITY REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE on
NAVAL AFFAIRS.
The majority report Of the Committee on
Naval Affairs, with reference to Secret AIRY
Robeson's administration of the affairs OF
the Navy department., sets forth that rings
are formed to control sales made by the
Navy department, aud there is reason to
believe that in frequent cases they include
officers and employees In the navy yard. Tnis
is notably true at the Norfolk navy yard,
where proof shows that Assertion, the civil
engineer, and w. III. Lyons, master macliu-
LIST, are or have been members OF such rings.
The immortality and illegality OF suca CO n
binatlons are not to be doubted, and IL is
difficult TO suppress or provide against tn "a;
but surely the department should protect
shown TO be In the naval service by tn cir
prompt dismissal.
GOVERNMENT MATERIAL FOR PRIVATE
The use of material. etc. owned bv the
government for private purposes. The chief
offender In this regard Is the Secretary OF the
Navy himself, who procured a subordin ate
employe at the washington navy yard to
make cert ain household furniture, consist
Ing OF sldeboard, dining table, b at stand
DC; also baptlsmal font for some church
In New Jersey. 1t Is said and 10 is gran ted
that the Secretary paid for the lumber aud
labor used and employed in the making OF
these articles, but he seems to forget that no
one had tight to sell the lumber or to divert
the labor. The government of tue United
states is not dealer In lumber or the pro-
cufer OF labor. But the raukness of the
offense OF the Secretary in this regard lies In
the TACT That his work was done and ais
materials procured without the knowledge
OF the commandment of the yari or the ci vii
engineer whose subordinate was employed
10 90 the jobs, and who took the lumb Dor from
the stock on hand at the yard beIon cling to
the government, and 1t is evident from the
proof, that this employ g, one Guilds either
imposed upon the government or the Sscre-
nffppon iS md in,
the testimony OF William p. Ferguson, IL
z. Mccoy, Gordon. Clarence Barton and
Childs himself The testimony OF these Wit
nesses taken altogether makes it very patent
mat the government was detrauded 10 this
transaction. When the chief of the NAVY
department so acts, the House will not be
surprised that similar practices are indu ged
In by lesser officials. In evidence wbsraof
your committee refer to the use of govern.
ment material In the making Of small cannon
and gun carriage for the benefit OF q political
club at Norfolk, Va; the use OF government
material In the manufacture of fLrnitare for
Constructor w: l.. Hanscom, at Brooklyn
navy yard; the hiring or letting NJ q dredge
by the civil engineer at tbs Boston navy
yard 10 privaAe parties and similar in
stance Of use of a dredging machine by w.
ID. Lyons, master mechanic at Norfolk navy
yard.
ALLEGED FRAUDS AT NAVY YARDS:
Under the head OF retention In Office of uu-
worthy parties by the Secretary OF the
Navy, the committee say that gross aud
fraudulent management exists in some de-
rartments OF the Brooklyn navy yard. One
transaction drawn out by your committee
y large amount OF iron chain is advertised
for sale a. the yard; Ii is sold and purchased
by one Wslton. The amount OF his bill
shows 40 $50 pounds of old chain. purch ased
by him at ~ cents per pound, making
81 OH Is, which he contracted for and sod to
tie United States light house department
at 80 cents, making S5,2i3. This Is bad
that Hall q Lackey, junk dealers, got $50
tons OF this chain from Walton under al
agreement to stop bidding against him IL is
left a matter OF doubt whether Walton was
charged at all with the whole amount that
he bid OF, and becomes quite evident that
your committee do not speak of the traUsac-
lion more severely than IL deserves. An
other instance of fraudulent conduct is
shown On the part of certain officers 10 the
Boston navy yard Dy the testimony of Com
mander George Brown. The committee say
navy yard 1t seemed to be regarded that by
disposing OF IL the new one at League Islaad
could be built without much, If any, idi-
tional cost to the government. And that
The proof before them is abundant In
showing mat no adequate provision
was made al League Island for storing
supplies, material. &C.. belonging to
he Navy department at the old yard.
That the proof is abundant before them that
said sale was made without giving su fficient
time 10 effect proper and Judicious removal
OF said proof; that proof is abundant that, In
consequence OF the short time allowed by
ings, remove property and material, very
great damage and loss occurred to the gov
eminent. In fact, evidence Of waste and de-
struction or government property following
haste and reckless confusion attendant upon
the execution OF orders efiecting this removal
as presented by numerous witnesses, and as
Quoted the investigation at that yard, was
inculpatory of almost every officer connected
with the yard In q total forgetfulness OF his
duty TO the government. Large numbers OF
buildings, immense quantity OF machinery,
stores and supplies, whose careful and proper
removal ought to have taken from six TO
in from one to two months-in the major por-
t1on OF contracts the shortest time appar-
emily being taken.
THE WIZARD PAYMENT.
The committee say the 9ttempt OF the Sec
Ietary of the Navy to justify his action in
giving more than 500, 900 10 Mr.. Wizard for
ordnance experiments Is a failure. His &C.
tion IN this matter cannot be defended or
Justified. Wizard was an adventurer and q
pretender, and If the Secretary did not know
1t he could easily have found It out.
THE SHIP KNEKs CONTRACT.
The report says: Your committee calls at
tentfOn to but one more instance, from
among the number of cases before IL, show
Ing the abuses and fraud growing out of the
disregard Of the law, which contemplated
fair dealing and economy In the public SER
vice; and that is the connection OF Orville
Grant with the delivery of ship knees. Grant
& Rippy obtain from j. l.. Savage 50 900 for
bureau of construction for 500 ship knees,
which they hand over to said Savage at his
place OF business. Grant obtains an order to
deliver q large lot OF ship knees at Philaiei-
phia, where, according 10 1.-THE commandment
of the yard Commodore Preble, they are not
wanted. He also obtains similar ORDER to
deliver q large lot at Brooklyn navy yard.
This favor is procured by Grant, when. ac-
cording TO Judge Fisher, citizens of Della
ware, who were anxious to secure such or
ders, were being refused. These citizens,
who would have delivered them for less
money than Grant was receiving, being re-
fused by the department, witness the fact
that nom their very midst Grant ts filling
his order. The pront made by Grant and his
partners In this regard is readily to be esti-
mated when 1t is seen that Savage pays
% 900 for the privilege Of delivering 500.
"REJKCTED" CLAIMS PAID BIZ robson.
The committee report that the large
amount OF $3.50 ,590.5 has been paid upon
claims. one-half Of which had been rejected
by the Secretary's immediate predecessor,
and large number Of which are "put
through" by parties who are not regular at
torneys or agents, but who simply claim TO
possess influence. The committee says that
due regard TO the interests OF the govern
ment should have induced the reference OF
these claims either to Congress or the ac-