The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-07-27
THE NAVAL INVESTIGATION.
Synopsis of the Minority Report.
Secretary Robson Defended.

WASHINGTON, July 26.-The views of the mi.
nority committee on naval affairs, signed by
Represe natives Harris of Massachusetts,, Dan
foId of Ohio, and Hayes of Alabama, was pre-
sented today in the House.
The minority severely crticise the majority
report, alleging it is unfair in its statements,
fallacious in its conclusions, is evidently prompt
ed by partisan spirit, ignores entirely testimony
favorable to the Navy Department. and per-
vers other portions in such a way as to infiict
gross injustice upon the Secretary and other
officers.
In reply to the charge of the majority az to
the alleged deterioration of the navy under the
present administration, the minority show that
the navy is today IN more efficient condition
than il has been at any time since 1869, not
withstanding the limited means placed at the
disposal of the Secretary. The policy of re-
building vessels that would have soon become
useless is defended by the minority as econom-
ical prudent and judicous, and they say that
instead of censure for this as the majority pro-
pose, the Secretary deserves the thanks OF the
entire country. The exchange and utilizing of
old material in the work of rebuilding vessels
is also shown to have been specifically authorz-
ed by Congress, the result being advantageous
to the service.
With regard to contracts aud purchases for
which the majority severely censure the Secre.
tary, implying corrupt action on his part, the
testimony of all the witnesses is entirely con
current, proving that in no single instance has
the Secretary ever endeavored to influe apy
purchase or contract, either directly or Indirect
ly, by intimidation or otherwise. The charge
bS the maiorityithat the Secretary had used gov
eminent materials and labor of employees for
his own private benefit is pronounced frivolous
and unsupported by the testimony
In respect to the speculatiOns of E. G. Cat
tell and his levying per centages on contractors,
the minority shows these operations were car
ried on without the knowledge of the Secretary
n q g 10 ha we n1
ed of such practices he interpOsed vigorously
to check them. Whatever abuses or frauds
exist in connection with contracts for purchases
of the Navy Department are the results of de-
fects inherent in the system long established
and for which the law making power and moi
the department is responsible, and for which
the majority suggest no adequate remedy, al
though they have been engaged in the iuvesti
CATION six months.
The minority say as to the political influence
exercised in navy yard app ointments, that the
evil is one which originated under and was
fostered by all previous Democratic administra
tions, that the only effort to check it has beer
made under the present Republican admins
tration, and that such political appointments
are attributable chiefly TO the opportunities Of
the Secretary and the respective chiefs of bu
reaus The minority enter fully into ar
examination of the foreign navy account ir
London, showing that the action of the Score
tary was entirely legal and its results beneficial
to the government, as not dollar of the fund
has been or can be lost The minority review
generally the positions taken by the majority
in order to show in many respects the wrone
conclusions drawn from the testimony, and il
not the perverson of the testimony of thu
witnesses.
The minority say that the proposal of thu
majority to refer the whole subject to another
committee of the House for final disposition
indicates either disposition to evade the re-
sponsibility imposed upon the Naval Committee
by the House, or a conscious inability to dis
pose of the subject in satisfactory manner
The views of the minority conclude with
resolution declaring that no evidence has beer
adduced during this investigation tending tt
show that Secretary Robson has been guilty
of any official misconduct. or corruption, Of
any wilful violation of the law.