New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-03-30
BRIBES IN THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.

A SERIOUS CHARGE PROVED AGAINST MR. HANscoM
HE ALLOWS ACCESS 70 THE RECORDS To GET
MATERIAL FOR FALSE CLAIM, AND ACCEPTS
$1,000 THEREFOR.
IBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUSR.i
WASHINGTON, March 29.-The naval lnvestl-
cations this Winter have constantly seemed to throw
suspicion upon the chief OF the Bureau OF Construction
of the Navy Department, Isaiah Hansccm. The House
Naval Committee has discovered many facts which make
this suspicion almost a certainty The Investigations OF
the subcommittee at the Portsmouth and Kittery yards
have tended further to confirm this suspicion but the
testimony takoa yesterday and to-day by the House
Committee on Expenditures IN the Navy Department
has almost coDcusvey revealed proof OF dishonest deal
ing in that The testimony by which these facts
are established gwen by gentleman named Alr.
Ripley of Massachusetts, and by Mr. Haney clerk in
the Navy Department The facts disclosed by this
testimony these:
In 1861 Tilton and wheelwrght OF Massachusetts,
were naval contractors. They subsequently failed The
accounts OF the insolveDt firm were settled and the
books sold to Il junk shop. In 1867 Wheewright was
adiudcated bankrupt. In his assets lie did not claim
that the Government owed him anything He did, how
ever owe Ripley. The latter. to secure himself pur-
chased Whcelwrghts assets, and Insisted that wheel
wright should make claim against the Government.
Ripcy saws that Wheelwright Intimate with an OH
contractor in Washington named Savage. The latter
had claim pending before thu department. and
offered to get claim through for Wheelwrght. The old
claim upon which this new wheelwrisht claim was
based was passed upon In 1863 by the ecreary OF the
Navy and only partly allowed. and the amount aiOwed
was raid This claim originally made under the
law OF $685. which made special provision Tor mat CLASS
Of claims In the first year OF the the Navy Depart
ment made very large contracts for supplies In 1863
contractors suffered much that Congress gave the
Secretary OF the Navy discretion for six months to make
extra allowances. The law especially limited TO six
months and Of the claims arising under II cond DO
paid after that date The under Investigation
was originally paid Of these special allowances
cases under the law OF 1863
Tilton the old partner OF wheewright resident OF
Walpoe, Mass, an old friend Of Mr. Hanseom.
Mr. Triton came to Washington and saw Mr.. Hlnscom,
introduced him TO Mr.. Haney, who was an expert In
the Navy Department in the matter OF old claims. MI
Hanscom gave Mr. Hanley introductions 10 look
through the old duplicate bills Of the original adjusted
claim of Tilton wheewright to find materials for the
basis OF the proposed claim. This was In 1874,
eleven wears after tho special allowance claim had been
paid under the law OF 1868 which terminated by lim
ta,ion in six months. Hanley worked fortnight III
preparing this Old rehashed claim. Ripley II APP
pears, was also q friend OF Hanley, ana nan
ley had notified to him privately that some
thing was going which might ahect MS
interest Ripley came to Washington to see about 1t,
when Titon advised him to BIO quiet and not interfere
and that wheelwrghts portion OF the claim should DO
paid to Ripley. Hanley in making up the claim made IL
for $50 900, which paid. OF this sum Ripley re-
coyod So 900 account Of the Wheewright portion ~
represented by the assets Tilton paid Hahey Slo ior
working up the claim. Hanscom made with his own
hand the original draft the report upon this claim to
the Secretary Haney copied this draft ana
preserved the original and presented 1t to the Commit
tee yesterday. Ripley tcstifes that Wheewrisht ana
Ton both told him that they gave Ianscom fo'ooo on
account of the claim and that they also paid Paymastcr
Thornton 81 900 for paying 1t OF money not appo-
pisted for that purpose This Is the substance OF the
testimony OF Ripley and Haney. They were both e1-
amined separately and testimony entirely agreed