The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-04
An Inspector who saw Too Eiuch-R obcson
OHsndcd-Patching Old Huiks

There is not perfect harmony among the
members OF the naval sub committee that Is in
vestigating the BROOKLYN Navy Yard. While
MIR. John p. Veeder Wa under examination on
Tuesday Mr.. Harris, the Republican member.
objected strenuously TO the admission OF any
evidence Of irregularities that did not como
der the personal observation of the witness.
Chairman Willis as strenuouslv maintained that
the committee was sonrching for fraud, and the
only way TO get at It was to give the widest lati-
tuds TO the witnesses. majority OF the COM
mittee supported this view, aud Mr.. Veeder
detailed ut length his discoveries while act
ing as Inspector OF Navy Yards from
1894 until 1870. Il his duty to
visit every navy yard from Norfolk to Ports
mouth at least once IN two months, and to
make monthly reports of any Irregularities dts
covered by him. and tho names OF dehnquents.
tie found manifold corruptions III al thr yards.
Contractors apd merchants OF whom goods
were purchased paid regular percentages TO
many Of the heads OF bureaus or to the chief
clerks. By such bribery Doth the quantity and
Wherever good reason was found to believe any
uficer OF clerk guilty Of such practices. they
OF Mes-ts. W-es anu Borie. Soon after Secor
liobesOn became Secretary OF the Navy Mr.
Needer began an Investigation OF the coal
agency In PLiladeiphia, where II was more than
suspected that gio II frauds were perpetratsd.
the Secretary that by manipulation OF contracts
one or two irms enjoyed monopoly Of furnish
ing that station WITH coal, and instead OF tho
cal being Of the quality Hni IN tho guam
tity specified In tno contract. very iu-
ferior coal was furnished, aud in de-
fault Of any system OF verifying quantity
tine contractors own estimates were accepted
IA correct. lie had succeeded In tracing the
bribes Of these contractors into the LossessiOn
OF cert In clerks OF the department holding In
huentiui po itions. Ihis report Mr Veeder for
warued TO Washington ON saturday, and the
following Wednesday he received notice OF hts
dismissal from ON =.
EX X.Secrstary liorie interested himself very
warmly IN having the decree OF dismissal re-
| yoked, but Mr.. RUoesOn was so uilatorv In COM
plying that MIR. Vcecer became persuaded that
ne uiu not intend TO subject himself to inspec-
| tion any longer. he CLERKS named in Mr. Weed
eT's report arc stlll lnnuentiI clerks In the de-
partmenr. MIR. Needer also gave the names Of
| nauy ersons whose tosiimony relative TO SINH
lar irroguiaii tiles In the Booklfn Yard the COM
mlttee might desire.
Assistant Naval Constructor Montanye's testi-
| mony. and that uf q instructor feester referred
| prnciUslly To the possibility tnat the rot ing
| YORK Can ever Do turned " aCcouns except as
old humber.
| J. n. Feeney was ship oarpen er who worked
| upon the fiig.to tennessee when Constructor
MOntauye was prosecuting tue costly eNper
ment Ul making sound sniT out OF that un-
| scaworihv hulA IN 1873. Foeney swore that
ei eat catches were Inserted into the ship's sides
| Ia d been Iursed ~ long a. possible phtchwork
| boilers wers Iut Ia before toe snip had been
| caiied. "NeIy uuworkmanllke business I'D
| the Witness This mass OF patchwork was put
| ON tne ~ dock again In 1874, and last Year q
| uatches were taken out ana f.esh ones put IN -
the hulk at Tor little else than lrewoOd after
| M ~. Al