The Portland daily press., 1876-06-02
THE NAVAL INVETIGATION.
Secretary RObesOn's Explanation.
WASHINGTON, June 2.-Secretary
annaared hafnra the House Gnm mitta

WASHINGTON, June 2.-Secretary
appeared before the House Committe
al Affairs today and explained at leng
count with A.G. Cattell & Co, which he
was fully settled on the, 18th of o
He paid them in money value. The wrong
done him was in the publication of detached
portions OF the testimony. The committee
would see by a fair analysis that he had tnrned
from one account back to another covering
hundred pages in order to give this explana-
ton.
The Secretary also referred to the testimony
of Mr. Lewis receiver of the late firm of Jay
Cooke & Co. AT the time the firm failed he
owed it $4,000 in two amounts, $4,000 and
$SoOo. Inis latter amount was mentioned in
the testimony seven times, making it appear to
be $56, 900. The Secretary circumstantially re-
lated his business transactions with A.\G. Cat
tell q Co., at that period from which it ap-
peared he had loaned them 25.600, or 81, 500
more than he had to pay. The CattelPs began
to pay him back as was convenient, and the ac-
cou1t was closed by their giving him check
for $1,000. The Secretary produced all the
notes and checks.
The Indebtedness to the firm of JAY Cooke &
Co. was settled
The Secretary also explained the item of
$4,000 which appeared on Cattelps books as
amount owing by him for building lot and
cottage at Long Branch The property was
not at Long Branch but two miles off at Mon
mouth Beach. In 1871 lumber of gentlemen
oAhOu q Souhpohy auu CutcIcu !ubO SptCuld-
tion by buying farm on credit dividing it into
building lots He went into the speculation
believing with the gentlemen that they could
sell enough of the property to pay them all
back what they had advanced and make good
deal of money besides.
1t was not, however, convenient for him at
that time to 90 into the speculation and spend
money A. G. Cattell covered his shares as
had been done for severala other subscribers.
The Secretary never had any agreement with
the firm aboutiths business. 1t was withA G.
Cattell himself for deed of one-half of piece
of property on 10th street, which was worth
about $4,000. As much had been said about
A. g. Cattefs receiving commissions on con.
tracts the Secretary desired to say that such
transaction ons Cattell's part were in all re-
spects unknown and Unauthorized by him.
He said his relations with A. G. Cattell & Co
were such that if in legitimate way and busi-
ness as other people they could by contracts in
Cheir line make money he should not be sorry,
althSIIh he would prefer that they should not
have cos.racts. He had no personal knowl-
edge of the Callells receiving commissions on
contracts. Information, howevsr reached him
Is months ago that E. G. Cattell had applied
to certain persons to be employed by them in
connection with their contracts He recollect-
ed hearing of John Roach, Cromp Swift live
oak contractor, and Quintard being approach
ed. He did not remember who informed him
about this matter When he spoke to anybody
he was perfectly certain that in every instance
he said that Mr.. Cattell must have nothing to
do with the contracts of the Navy Department
other than in the line of their lie gitimate busi-