The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-05
The Remarkable Literature Developed
at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
PLEASANT READING FOR TAXPAYERS.
How Furnishings Were Bought and Sold
at Our Naval Depot.
NORMAN WARD SKETCHED MASTERLY.

navy yard in the country II was not until the country
was on the very eve Of a Spanish war that the public
becnmc alive the fact that IL collision with Spain
preciptated should, in the OF many OF the
vessels commissioned be simply sending brave sailors
to certain death. The consequence feel
ing Of general and profound alarm at the
condition OF our navy. People asked themselves
how II that, with second those no
country in the world, were 50 miscrably behind
hand Ia naval preparations Added to this, rumor
had been Tor a very long time busily pointing her
finger at the Navy Department at Washington
OF tho main seats Of administrative corruption. Later
revelations in the War Department predisposed the
public mind to belief In the possibility OF similar
Irregularities in the Navy Department The charges
made gradually assumed greater consistency, and at
last induced Congress TO appoint a committee OF
inquiry into tho conduct Of the various navy yards
The Brooklyn Navy Yard handed to the gen.
tlcinen named below. The following is the resolution
under which the inquiry made by the committee was
undertaken:-
Zee Of this House on Naval Affairs to dis harge tho duties
them By the hHss,
the different yards Of the United States, and the mia
ssht vessels e sqs9oasa b Congress
apponed that
pose consisting q Messrs Willis, Lewis Harris Hays and
und In the cities Of New ork and Brooklyn
Tho evidence taken by the committee is voIumnous
and makes about 800 large octave pages The differ.
noticeable in the character OF the evidence be-
the various classes of officials is very great and
is really instructive As might have been expected
from bearing the high character for honor and in
egrity universally conceded naval less than
to military officers, tho evidence OF the former
this inquiry is
PLAIN, STRAIGHTFORWARD oUrsroKES AND MAxLY
There is no shufng away IRON questions, no subtcr-
fugc, no equvocation. The color and quality OF the
evidence departs widely from this standard when We
get to those officials who, in many cases, had the man
agement" Of things. The closest mouthcd OF all and
those OF most convenient memory are those who
ccved the public money either for goods delivered
work The discretion displayed by people
little short OF wonderful Ono of tho choicest spcc-
Of downrigh,ness comes from simple carter,
whose logged truhfuness really provokes laughter,
and who while examined by OF the COM
mttee and extensively badgercd, holds his unterrihed
head and shouts his defiance to thieves 1t
quito clear from the bulk of the evidence given tho
report that indefinitely greater quantity OF facts
might have been ELECTED had the committee only
known precisely what questions ask II looks as IT.
In all these cases. the way would be offer sub
stant,al prizc the OF the place who would sug-
gcs the committee the greatest number questions
delivered seated, like any tender for supplies,
and to be treated "conndentiay by tho committee
II wool were really wanted this would be tho way to
get at tho fleece. II is impossible in the scope OF
single article do than glance cursorily at the
testimony given. But in the evidence itself there
number OF familiar faceE Secretary Robeson the
Cattells, Norman Ward, Raymond, Sicklcs and
small army Of others conured up under the ques
OF tho committee, and left to infer what an
indefinite quantity OF Information these gentlemen
could furnish II only tho right questions were asked
and the right answers given
The first witness examined Vice Admiral Stephen
q. Rowan The majority of tho Admrals evidence
touched upon the scope Of his authority in the Brook
Ign Navy Yard, aid portions OF it very entertain
ing When asked whether the scope OF his authority
extended all officers in the city OF New York he
answ ercd s.Only the rendezvous" Outside hc
said he had nonc-none the pay master, over
the hospital report reached him that there was an
trcgularity in the muster rolls OF the Civil Engineers
Office. The Admiral ordered board to investigate il
Found Irregularities requiring Court OF Inquiry.
Asked for such Court which examined matters two
months ago and reported 10 Washington They did
not know the yard what had been reported but tho
officer still on duty. The Admiral states the Java
and Colossus to both rotten and on a repetition Of
the question: pointcdiy informs the members Of the
committee that they, too. will say II they will only
examine the vessels The Colorado could not 90 to
he knew that TIMBER dealers were taking away great
deal oil timber from our public forests and selling II, he
rcpllcs:-"I have no knowledge beyond the TACT that
that timber here and IL very often cd away
here ana sold 10 the government when opportunity
offers and also to the merchant servce.n When asked
whether tho bureau system, IN far the yards
concerned. could be dispensed with, ard II that
done whether IL would promote the interests OF the
government, he says
do think the bureau system would work in time OF
at all 20 not see remedy unless could up
shah be and steady head those iRnss
hsc now S m%, r. sws hook and one docs
The following answers OF the Admiral are both pointed
and signlncant:-
ta,e whether you being the head Of tho yard here
charge and have various bureaus their work
tainng the bureaus II Washington as they are.
Perhaps 80 YOU can cut the bureaus Of in WASHINGTON
want know whether the whole system.
aud which Injury to governmen,s
transfer Of four or Ave bureaus from Washington
All subj, Ct 10 the commandant ~
MOI they so through certain form Of passing letters
they really derive shcr authority fror headquar-
YES; l am kind OF head postmaster. I pass the
orders way and am here rs Kind Of balance wheel In
Fir bureau in Washington should send you
order the hca 81 bureau here would
the rde. bn. you wc"a not exercise any authority In the
NO. When hrst came here order would mo.
and would i Write out hs Of and send = a. com
and was ordered 70 ~ @ those orders direct
noting their cont nts and returning them % for filing
could all the bureaus the yard be
under general head. and have suoordinaes.
pcrts various departments attend the various
the business being tue all authority
Ia the department and the responsible head ~
THAT could done 10 advantayen
The Admiral asked several questions touching
the Civil Engineer and his possible relations with the
Paymas,er. The most pointed OF all we're the follow
ing
III he the Civil Enginecr and The raymaser have
understanding there no end TO the amount Of swnong
witch IN rht be done ~
of they have that understanding there be
millions In it, :"
Have you looked that the Psymaer here has pur.
chased with economy ~
Il think he YER, upright think he Is oil right
Brt then there millions In that II he wanted be
crooked ~ ia
When asked what, going now, adding to
the efficiency OF our navy, the Admiral replied 1--WE
are not adding anything, am sorry TO say You gave
rs money build some vessels The Congress before
last; and cot good ship out OF it--lhc Trenton"
Various other questions were answered by the Admiral
relative TO important general matters, the discussion
OF which Is impossible here
Captain Temples evidence, as far as fraud or irrcgu
larit les arc concerned, rs unimporanL