The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-10
Cattell and Robson.

What GRAFT was to corrupt Judge in
mis- city, CATTELL has been to robson In
Washington He has figured as the GO
between In all the naval jobbery, he ar
ranged the percentage to be paid for favor,
he levied the assessments on contracts, and
he practised KEMBLE's thieving rule of
Addition, Division, and Silence. In fact,
be directed the department in everything
by which money was to be made and the
public service degraded to serve the pur-
pose of gang of public plunderers.
In fraudulent claims like that OF the
steamboat Governor, which Mr.. wELLrs
had branded as an imposture. and which
b only a sample of hundreds of others that
we're allowed by RoBEsoN, CATTELL was on
hand TO divide with his confederates. III
contracts like tnnsr OF MArhEws, he had
sAtvl led percentage for securing the
partiality of the department. In the con
truction of new ships, the repairs Of old,
and the transfers of material ut the nav
yards, he was the pivot upon which the ma
bhinery turned. No sales could be made
without his concurrence. He was made an
agent Of the Treasury in placing the Syn
aicate bonds abroad. and the leading bank
srs knew what his influence was worth to
them and to him. He turned up, of course.
IN the JAY COOKE, McCULLocH s. Co. bust
ness on behalf OF robson and himself.
Wherever the Navy appears in the pub
nc business in connection with jobs of any
kind, there is CATTELL as the master spirit.
He has been universally recognized as the
representative Of robson. He is known
70 be one Of the very few aud the most
powerful of the men who constitute the
Navy Ring. When the enormous frauds
are considered. and the barefaced plumber
Of the Treasury is proved beyond all doubt,
the relations OF these parties become i'm
portant, and lead TO but one possible con-
alu,iOn.
1t will perhaps be difficult to prove that
CArTELL turned over to robson, in dol
lars and cents, his share of these rich
spells. Both were too shrewd to pass
hecks OF drafts that could be traced. In
deed, all these transactions in their wide
extent manifest a watchful care and
sharp lawyers concern TO guard against
detection, which might send somebody 10
the penitentary. Still the fact remains
unexplained and incapable Of any satis-
factory explanation, that this one man,
who admitted being partner with ROBE
BON in real estate speculations at Washing
ton, controlled the great patronage Of the
Nav, hawked 1t about, and sold 1t to the
highest bidder. Does anybody believe,
who knows Vhat robson went to Wash
hgton out at the elbows and glad to get
the salary, and has lived there on the fat
Of the land for over six years receiving
The pay of 5000 TO $4,000 year and
spending $4,000, while he has purchased
valuable property and loaned money out
1T interest, did not share in the plumber
with his friend CATTELLi
In RoBEsoS's letter to CLEws, explain
Ing why JAY COOKIES concern was substi-
tuted for the EARRINGS, he admits that
political reasons determined the choice,
because the combination OF banks and
railroads, with which the COOKIES were
connected, controlled Pennsylvania, New
Jersey, and other States. Subsequently,
and after their rottenness was exposed, he
reoklessly used the public money TO prop
them up, and OF his improper advance
three-quarters OF million is yet unpaid.
member Of the Cabinet who would thus
prostitute his trust aud deliberately put
bis hand in the Treasury to aid "a bank
rpt firm Of SPECTATORS would not hest
tate at any ether crime like those charged
against him. 1t is true RoBEsoN has been
sustained by GRANT IN these misdeeds, but
that fact in no way diminishes his respon-
nbility, or excuses his completely with
CATTELL.
Perjury, flight OF witnesses, hiding OF
books and destruction OF papers, are be-
heved to have been freely used as expedi-
ents to cover up this rascality and to
conceal tLs prouts derived FROM Official