The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-09
JOHN ROACH ON HESTAND
THE STORY NE TELLS or HIS CON-
TRACTS WITH THE NAVY.

The stern.Post Of the Trenton and the Bis
| Floating Bcrrfck -Sii, pbuildinR az Cbes.
| ter, Pa, mud shipbuiIding on the Clyde.
| The sub committee that Is searching foI
| IRREGULARITIES In the navy yard resumed It's ses.
| sions In the Aston House yesterday. The wit.
nesses were II. Il. E,lia, of Babcock L. Co.; Harry
| Roscoe, q. II. Creed. Devlin d. Carr, OF Carr &
Co., 81 Pearl street, Walton, Of Walton Bro hers
| Charles A. Jones, James Boland, n. Kane and
Isaac I. Wilson, all Of whom are Interested IN
come shape In furnishing supplies to the navy,
| either by contract or by open market purchases.
Frederick c. Smith, a shipbuilder, was also ex-
amined touching his dealings with the Navy De
psrtnent.
John Roach entered the committee room at
about noon. The committee were prepared
with a set OF written interroRations with which
they hoped to arrive ct the bottom facts. Mr..
Roach said at the outset that hts business for
the past ten years has amounted to s1b,00o,000
or this sum only s3,0OO,0O0 worth was done for
the navy. He did not consider himself a CON-
tractor In the general occupation OF the word.
His work for the department was usually OF the
emergency kind, although he had occasionally
bid iof contracts and sometimes been the lowest
bidder. lie was asked whether he ever paid
clerks OF purchasing Officers to read out hts Did
for proposals as the lowest. He gave decided
negative.
The fitting Of the shaft OF the Trenton was
next taken up by the com mittee. She Is one Of
was on the stocks In the BROOKLYN Yard for over
two years. Those who built her woodwork
thought that she would be one Of the stanchest
and fastest ships In the navy. Her machinery
outfit was let to John Roach at s18J,00) contract
price. IL had been alleged that the machinery
put In by the contractor was largely revanped
from that OF the frieate Java, which Mr.. Roaoh
had bought as old iron at a navy ward sale u
short time before. IL was also alleged That the
shaft fitted into the Trenton was larger by two
or three inches than those who built the hull
been cut " away SO FAR to modate The shaft
that the frigate was greatly weakened. Mr.
kosch explained that he gave bond In 10000
conditioned upon hitting up the Trenton's ma
cblnery as It ought to be done. That bond IL
still In force, and is ample security that tho
work was well done. so Tar from his weakening
tho stern OF the vessel, ne had put on check
plates and straps OF great strength, making her
IN the navy. He denied that the mac hinery was
old or revanped. IL was all new, and he thought
u the best work that has yet been turned out OF
the Morgan Iron Works.
The committee next touched upon the $751;
derrick. and that U 'nsaction Mr. Roach ex-
property turned over as belonging TO the Nor
gan Iron Works wnen be bought them twelve
years ago. IL was entered on the schedule at
$4,000 and was carried on his books at that
dgure as long a. he owned IT.. Several years ago
deal oil heavy machinery was being landed at
the navy yard wharf. and as there was only "A
stationary derrick IN the yard, much time was
lost aud heavy expense was Incurred in moving
the machinery To Its place. Mr. Roach sent b IL
floating derrick over as loan to the command
ant of tue yard, VINO used II, and was so pleased
with Its performance that he would have bouRh
| II without authority from the Secretary OF the
Navy II Mr.. Roach had consented. As IL was,
Secretary Rooeson appointed "A board consisting
OF Admiral Godon and two engineers to pdf.
chase the derrick II they thought II needed In
| the yard. They appraised IL at $1,000, ana MIR.
| Roach sold IL at that price.
The committee touched uDon the allegation
| that saddle plate belonging TO new machinery
got mixed up with pile OF old iron bought 10y
| Mr.. Roach, and was carted OF To his works. Mr..
| Roach admitted that such was the fact, but ne
added that as soon az the mistake was discov-
cred he sent the saddle plate back. lie denied
IN toto that any Babbitt metal OF other compost
| ton metal had ever been taken To bis works
| from the navy yard. Mr. Roach also offered tes-
timony relative TO the comp trative cost OF ship
building on the clyde and on the L st river. In
| his testimony before two previous com mittees
| Mr.. Roach showed that he was doing work for
the navy at almost as cheap rate as 1t could nc
done for on the Clyde. The present committee
obtained through the British Legation a seized.
| Vie Of prices ON the Clyde for the past four
| years. They are given as about forty per cent
less than Mr.: Roach alleged. The committee
did not question Mr. Roach further.
| Messrs. Weeks, cashier. and Herrick, receiving
| clerk Of the Morgan Iron Works, were ques-
toned relative to the old iron invoices received
from the navy yard and other points touched
upon In the examination Of Mr. och. Their
| testimony merely corroDorated what mir. Roach
had said,