The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-30
WHITEWASHING robson.
RADICAL CONoREssMEN PUTTING
THEMsELVEs ON RECORD.
Defending the Fraud and Jobbery In tho
Navy ring that Robeson's
Navy IL the best the Country Ever saw.

WARRINGTON, July 29-The House to-
day proceeded to the discussion Of the report Of
the Committee on Naval Affairs, the Speaker
pro tenn. holding that the question pending at
the previous adjournment took precedence Of
the business OF the morning hour. which is the
consideration OF the bill to utilize the products
OF gold aud silver mining
MIR. Danford Qtep., Ohio, member OF the
committee, spoke In favor OF the minority re-
port. After explaining the report, he said that
he knew that the Democratic party was hard
pressed, and Congress had almost for eight
months been in session trying to make party
capital but still the great questions Of revenue,
currency and transportation were lust left whsre
they had been. In order to secure the election
Of Tilden and Hendricks, II mad become neces-
sary to strike at the bureau officers OF the Navy
Department, and to cast stigma on the Score
tary OF the Navy. This was not a political ques-
ton, but one Involving the good name and honor
Of man, and he asked that 1t should be treated
In that hsht.
labor the Committee on Naval Ar,irs had laid
an ceg, which 1t labelled "a doubt" The result
Of all Its work was that II was IN doubt whether
the Secretary OF the Navy had done anything
Improbable or not. SO 1t turned the egg over
TO another committee 20 DO set 90 during. the
summer, and " possible to he Matched. II the
Secretary had done ANYTHING impeachaoe, the
articles should he presented' and the House
should be permitted TO crop.
Mr.. Mills (Dem., loxD member OF the COM
mittee, spoke In favor OF the majority report,
and quoted from the testimony to show how
rapidly Secretary Robeson's income tax had In
creased since he had become Secretary Of the
Navy. lie would be glad IL he could think that
such high officer OF the Government had re-
msined untouched by fraud, but the testimony
connecting the Secretary with the Cattells was
so convincing that he could not fail to be im-
pressed with II.
Mr.. Willis U.ib., N W. also a member Of the
committee, criticised the minority report, and
denied that the committee had, a. Is alleged in
that report, conducted the Investigation with
/ closed doors In the very face OF the secretary.
1t had not done AS soon any testimony
was taken damaging to any officer OF the navy
that officer had been Immediately informed OF
II. In answer to MIR. Danford's inquiry as To
what the House had done In its eight months
session. he said that villainy h ad been unm asked
and the public conscience quickened. IL had
also been shown where millions and millions
could be saved, and II the majority report OF
the Naval Committee were adopted millions
more could be saved.
robson MARTYR SAINT.
Mr.. Hale (Rep., MeJ protested against the par
tisan attempt TO break down an honest and
utilizing the last DAYS OF the session preceding
a Presidential election by raising new rallying
cry for.the canvass on the alleged corruUtion on
the part OF man who. when he was appointed
Secretary found poor navy and who made Of
II the best the country ever had. The signin-
cant event which the committee wanted to hold
up before the country In the coming election
was the fact that a Cabinet onhcer had an I'M
peachment hanging over his mead, and that
which should he an honest investigation had
been turned into partisan investigation,
Mr. FRYE rep. Me- said tnlt before this in
vesfigation he mad known the Secret Try Of tho
Navy, and held him to Toe man OF int gritty and
honor, and after examining the testimony he
saw no reason to change his opinion. There
were not "A score OF gentlemen on this floor who,
II they knew the history ~ this session was to bc
| repealed. would not declare that never again
would thev represent their constituency In an
Americ N Congress. II hal been bitter. 1t had
| been full OF recfimination. All social inter
course had been emoittered by II. Aud why 2
Because a great party OF the country, huDgerlne
| and thirsting for power, thought that II could
see the heshpots Of Egypt and was bound TO
| taste thereof. An gentlemen he said, you
promised land. but you nave cut on your pros
poet Of reaching IL by too fondly INDUCING in
the seeking OF It. Why is It that committees Of
| this House have sat with closed doors aud have
| sent suop9nas into the lanes and alleys Of u
| great city and brought In drunkards and insane
men and disgraced employees aud have taken
| from them that nlth which they were willing TO
| discharge anu from time to time have scattered
| that Alta broadcast through a partisan press /?
| Only because the necessity Of a p rty seems to
require IL. Why was the Committee on the
| R-al Estate Pool empowered TO iuvesticate
every man everything they desired 2
| In the performance OF that duty II had viol,ted
the sanctity OF private letters aud kilograms,
itself and outraging the American Congress.
| And whyf Because the necessity OF party
| seems to require It. Why Is II that a dignihed
| committee ike the Judiciary COMMITTEES has
parcelled Itself into a system OF detectives COM
PEELED to prowl around among whiskey men
| Treasury Department to find that the President
| has been 0abblng In whiskey frauds2 Why
| would that committee try to bring down the
| great name Of this great Republic In the eyes OF
| the whole world The necessity OF the party
the Naval Committee. 'wny did you sit with
closed doors for months2 Why did you close
tue mouths OF me Me6Hdpean msn S %, 70,
| which had no yindicAton IN evidence from tue
the beginning to the end Z Because the neces-
| stiles OF the party require II.
| sQUIRMINo UNDER wEIGHTY FACTS.
| Mr. Kelly IRAN Pa thOught that the m ator.
ity report in It's bitter. superficial, partisan CHAR
| acter, must be a disappointment To the whole
| country. The country would see the miserable
result Of the eight months work, and would
discard the report 10 mere electioneering doc
| ument.
Mr.. Harris Rep.. Mass), member OF IN,
| Naval Committee, denied that the investigation
had been fair, impartisl, ma Just; The mar
| what TRANSFERRED in the committee room from
tho newspaper press. lhe investigauons at th'
Norfolk, Kittery. Boston New York, and Pnila
delpuia Navy Yards b td oil peen completed anC
summer had come before the Secretary Of th'
@a@ s the
try OF the Navy In regard to the Hungerfort
and other claims, and eulosized his adminlstra
lures upon the Secretary for allowing the ship
OF the navy TO become dsteriorated and contend
| ed that. on the contrary, he had put the navy in
| far better condition than he lad found II In. ii
had rebuilt fifteen iron-clads which. when n
| came into ONCE, could not float. They h ID bee
raised and brought into good asntlng condition
He had pat In good condition all the ships q
| the navy except fourteen. ANY NhtotnC Ut 10 III
| contrary, by whomsoever made. was utterly with
out fouudation. II new ships Of great powe
aud speed had not been built, IL was becaus
| Congress had failed to make appropriations 70
them. In conclusion he said "While the com
| nllttee charged with the duty OF finding htg
| crimes and msdome lnOrs against Mr.. X DbesO
| has spent seven months Ia trying to dc IL,
comes at last to the melancholy confession tina
itIs not able TO find that fact, ana now IL say
perhaps another committee Of the House ma
be able to find IL. II the House does not pass o
this question In one way or other, IL Will be aC
cused of holding Mr.. Robson up to the scorI
coutumely, contempt and Injustice OF polit
clans, ana II will he said that while in the di,
charge OF this great duty you were bound to pr
uuunce AYE or No at once, YOU hay
shown that while you are willing to wound 80
are afraid to strike
RoBEsoN's CRIME Underlined.
Mr. Kasson Otep., Iowa said that the nstinc
Of every man rebelled against an insinuated die
honor against the reputation Of a gentleman {
hts acquaintance as nm act OF cowirdlce. III
Com mittee on Naval Affairs did not say OF wht
MIR Robeson was guilty or for THAT he shout
be punished, but II recommended that anothe
committee should 70 over 100 printed page
and INQUIRE whether II could not nnd some
thiny Tor which that gentleman should b
punished. This was evasion, and II was COZ
duct toward a public official which every gentle
man would scOrn If IL were attempted to b
practised upon himself. He appealed to tn
members AS gentlemen, not as politicians, an
nsked whether this was honorable conduct,
of Mr. X aa