The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-20
R0TTENNESS IN THE NAVY.
THE IA CTS LAID BARE ny THE RE-
CENT INVESTIG4TION.
The Governments Systematically Robbed bv
secor Robcson's Favorite Contractors-s.
+. Browns Doubie-BarreiIcd business.

T.. Browns sDoubIe-BarrelIed business.
WASHINGTON, May ia great many
facts In regard to the Developments which the
Committee on Naval Affairs have made in It's in
vostieation OF the abuses OF the Navy Depart
ment have leaked out but when the evidence is
all printed and the report thereon submitted
to the House OF Representatives. the country
will be astonished. The fO.tenness and jobbery
which have been laid bare are almost Incredible.
The operations by which the Government was
robbed OF millions OF dollars were conducted
apparently upon n studied system. The ring
proper was not large one, and the central fs-
ures In 1t were A. g. and Il. @. Cattel. There
were, however, two other individuals who stand
out prominently as favorite contractors, and
their relations with the Cattells were very intl-
mate Indeed. These men we're 8. =. Brown OF
Washington and Mr.. Matthews OF New York.
John Roach claims to have managed his i'm
mense dealing with the Navy Department di-
rectly through Rubeson himself but there are
many facts which point to some sort OF u con-
necton wi h the Cattells. Swift. the live oak
contractor. mad to come to terms with the Cat
tells at N early day and pay them a regular
bonus on all his contracts.
Brown did a double e-oarrelled business. He
was both claim agent and "A contractor, Or con-
tract broker, as the eIigencIes Of tue case de-
manded, tie also m.nagei the re i estate in
was sort OF headquarters for the Cattels-
when tney were in Washington and the evil
uenco Is quite clear as 10 their connection In
pushing doubtful claims through the Navy De-
y rtment. In one case, at least, II Is quite con-
clusively proven that they divided a large sum
realized from JOB Of this kind. Occasionally
Brown did business on his own nook. One case
Of this kind Is very rich IN all Its details.
IL seems that Brown was at one time sore
pressed for money, and he went to New York to
raise It. The manner OF dong 1t was unique.
lie went to a broker and & Id him that II he
could und man who wanted contract to
furnish Iron for the Navy Department he could
make the arrangement with the department.
The broker found man named Wallace and
introduced Brown to hun. hey arranged the
business between themselves. Wall ce was to
have acoDtract for a certain quantity OF iron,
have for his trouble ave per cent. on the gross
amount, ana to hand over to Brown the balance
OF the profits. The contract was made with
allace, and the broker who had introduced
him to Brown advanced the amount OF money
Brown wanted. In due time the contract was
nlled, Brown not appearing openly In tho trans
actions. The prOnts, after the Ave per cent was
deducted, amounted to tl210O, which were
handed over to Brown as per agreement. This
is but a sample OF many cases OF similar Job
berry In which Brown and the Cattells figured.
In order to give John Roach plenty Of work
for his yard at Chester. Pa, II was necessary TO
resort to subtsrfugs of thts kind Ships were,
iron and castings belonging to tue machinery
exchanged for new iron, which could be used In
rebuilding or rspsirinR ships. Had the reg uar
and legal course been pursued, the ships and
their machinery would have been condemn cd
by regular board of survey, the material sold
u the highest bidders, and the proceeds there
from covered into the Treasury; but this would
not have furnished the opportunity for joobery,
aud hence tho arrangement ABOVE referred to
was made with Roach.