New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-04-14

In parsuing their policy of investigation
of Republican officials the committees of
the Democratic House of Representatives
occasionally unearth matters not at all
agreeable to their own party. The latest
is detailed in the Philadelphia Times, which
profssses to give all the testimony that will
be produced before the committee, but
5udiciously omits names.
The House Committee on Naval Affairs
has assigned q subcommittee, Messrs.
Wkitshorne, Jones, Harris and Burleigh, to
investigate the contracts awarded to Ma
thaniel Mckay for the removal of the
Ph,ladelpbia navy yard to League island.
No words at the command of the Times are
deemed too severe to apply to Mckay. The
total amount seems to be $e5,000 He Is
. accused of buying up probable bidders, of
breaking these contracts, of using unlawful
Influence with the department to defeat
those he could not buy, of getting $685. 600
contract for $35, 900, of "stealing navy
yard in carrying 'old iron" Of great value to
warehouse instead of League island in the
night bv one set of draymen, and removing
Az W 0uOtAOA PAhOo W oAOVHOA oCs, Va IC-
moving property to his own scows, etc. He
also caused the removal of three faithful
watchmen appointed by Commodore Preble
who could testify to the landing of
valuable material at private places in
stead of at League island. One of them
had to "draw his musket" on Mckay to
prevent destruction of the government
property, but his removal soon followed.
On the question of fraudulent purchases he
is accused of causing the sale of the Antie-
tam to himself for $4,000, when S25, 900 had
been offered for it. Hs was supposed to
Department, more than Commodores Preble
and Wells, and Mr.. Robeson's visit to the
yard is therefore considered evidence of his
intimacy. He is said to have boasted that
he removed Commodore Preble, and that
ha threatened other officers with being
He sent baskets of wine to various officers
and gave Constructor Hartt Q watch. A
story of tire off of wheel. found in lot
of old iron, completes the charges.
Analysed they seem to amount to little.
Mckay had contract and made the most
of it, He certainly fulfilled it's conditions
to the satisfaction Of the authorities, the
people of Philadelphia and the officers of
League Island. If he stole "old iron" he
should be punished, even if it was no more
than a wheel tire or q breech pin. But be-
cause he had a free tongue and Dragged of
his influence officers of the navy ehould not
be accused of helping him pocket them.
And it is hard to fancy an officer listening
in patience to . threat of q contractor to
''send him to sea-"
But the Times says that the opponent of
Speaker Kerr had much to do with all this:
THE PART THAT RANDALL PLAYED.
When Mr.. McCay entered upon his ccn-
force from New York and the East, but. as
he has himself Acknowledged, Congressman
Randall fought him 80 hard that he had to
give it up and employ such men as Randall
recommended. There will he numerous
witnesses before the committee to show
that, while processing not to know Mckay,
or have any influence with him. note
from Randall was invariably an open
sesame to the contractors payroll, and
tina. when an applicant tor work had been
turned away BY his foreman, on stating
to Mckay that Randall had cent him he
was immediately of sred position. Names
and dates will also be furnished the COM
mittee showing the intimacy existing be-
tween the Navy Department and the Dem
ocratic Congressman. and proving his
agency in stocking the yard with extra
hands at election time.
1t must be embarrassing to these pat
riotic committeeman, whenever they find
. chance for sensation in Republican man
agement or evidence of dishonest prac- |
tices by contractor, to discover at the
same time that q Democrat has had not |
only finger but whole hand in the pie.