The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-09-07

"A HN~aAN tNN "a Jun |
brethren in the hope of thereby insur>
ing the victory to his party.
NAVAL COMMITTEE.
But the lapse of time compels me to
hasten on more rapidly. 1 will refer to
the work of only one more Committee
of the House-the Committee on naval
affairs. 1t worked most diligently, and
was rewarded accordingly. The Sec
rotary of the Navy deserves impeach
ment more certainly than the Secretary
of War. The history of his conduct,
and the result of his management, are
a GROWING disgrace to the country.
Under his eyes, the navy yards were
filled each year with incompetent and
useless men, just before the election !;
costing the government annually about
one million Of dollars. Political as
sessments were permitted upon
laboring men, in their
nature necessarily compulsory.
Favorite contractors controlled the
furnishing ofnaval stores and supplies ;
aud inferior and insufficient articles
we're frequently received by the ex-
press order of the Secretary. Exam
pie /: See the testimony of Chief En-
gineer Bartleman, page 43.
10. By whose order was that received 2
A. 1 think by the Secretary's.
Q. Was it bad coal2 A. Yes, sir, 1
inspected it. l thought it was bad coal. 1t
looked to me to contain S5 per cent. of
stone and slate. l nm Pretty sure it did"
This coal had been furnished by
Brown, one of the favorites. These
contractors were not compelled to
furnish the bonds and sureties requirs
ed by law ; and when failure took
place, as it frequently did, in no one
instance was a defaulting contractor
pursued. Rings controlled the sales
of old material made by the navy de.
partment. The government property
and labor we're used by the Secretary
and other officials in the manufacture
of articles for their own use and the
use of friends. Improper officers we're
retained I; and inspections were in
most instances a farce-especially
when favored contractors furnished the
articles. Five thousand dollars a
year were annually expended upon
political favorites, who nominally held
Office as timber inspectors f.; but who
performed no duty rendered no ser
vice; and lived at points remote from
the scene of action. Officers who
have been detected in frauds upon the
government, are even yet retained in
Office. This is notably so in the cases Of
Childs, Granger, ,,Asserson, Lyon,
Stahl, ~Henriques-Henriques having
been proved guilty of having received
brides from contractors to violate his
duty. Large sums of money have
been misapplied, and in some cases lost
to the Government. The Secretary
transferred the foreign account of the
Navy Department from the old estab-
lished house of Barring Brothers &
Co., of London, to the new and weak
house, Jay Cooke, McCulloch& Co.,
the reasons for which are found in the
following extract from a private letter
of the Secretary to Henry Clews, un
earthed by the committee, of date
May %, 1871
HThis account transferred about the l5tt
of the present month, to Jay Cookies house
abroad. This I did for the broadcast politca
as well as financial reasons, looking to thu
good of the service abroad, as well a!
- 81 CNgtNcltfHG ne Uu1tq III q
home. The house of Jay Cooke & Co. has
as you know, large and extended interest!
and influence throughout the country. Theil
connection and influence with the nationa
banks; with the Pennsylvania railroad
which controls the State Of Pennsylvania
and which, absorbing the Camden s AmboJ
railroad, now controls New Jersey, anC
stretches from its western terminus across
many of the Western States far towards tn
Pacific; their interest in the Northern Pa,
ci6c and their general interest in the coun
try, make them very powerful friends whei
actively interested in the success of the ad
ministration, and dangerous enemies in vita
localities when ind6Tentor unfriendly."
In two years time Jay Cooke & Co
failed, and the Secretary advanced
contrary to law, a million of dollars tt
sustain the London House, an i'm
peachable offense in itself. What
spectacle for the country The Sec
rotary of the Navy manipulating tina
sacred fund and ~endangering tn
money of the people, in order that HI
might control national banks, enor
nous railway monopolies, and through
them the people Of important ant
doubtful States! We are now ready t,
believe that his association with tn,
Cattells was not innocent. When W,
find E. G.. Cattell, his intimate person
al friend, selling his influence with thu
Department and realizing three hun
dred thousand dollars from this infa:
nous trade; when we find Cattell al
powerful to assist those who emplo,
him, and able to give them valuable
contracts in return for their large sum
of money; when we find another Cat