The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-24
Shall Robson BE Impeachedf

Government has been more Systematically
administered in the interest of jobbery,
yenality, and fraud than the navy. BEL
KNAP shines by comparison, for In spite Of
his corrupt practices, the War Office was
administered in its NJ. ttary functions
strictly, while the navy is rotten through
out, with the exception Of class of gal
liant and honorable officers Of all ranks.
II RoBEsoN has not been caught in the
very act of stealing, all his dealings with
the CATTELLs, JOHN ROACH, MATTHEWS,
mud other contractors. prove, beyond the
shadow of q doubt, aud in spite Of mon
strous perjury and mutilated accounts,
that he was silent partner in their black
mailing operations and frauds. He went
to Washington poor, and after living there
in extravagant style for seven years, he is
now rIoh, the owner of q large property
I'm his own name, aud of other property
concealed under various names, aud of
coupon bonds transferable like bank
notes. He paid many thousands of dollars
I'm the hope of carrying the Legislature of
New Jersey, and of being elected TO the
Senate. Where did all this money come
from
The condition of the navy, the open
jobbery which has disgraced every branch
of IL, the barter and exchange of old ma
terials IN defiance of law, the scandalous
contracts, and the collision with favor
ites, throw flood OF light on the sudden
wealth OF robson ana his confederates.
The millions voted to build new ships
three years ago were squandered and
stolen, and then the Virginius excitement
was gotten up deliberately, rs a means of
procuring more appropriations from Con-
gress TO I'll up this gap.
1t Is in proof that appropriations
specifically granted for certain objects
have been constantly diverted, as if the
law was football, to be kicked about at
the will of a reckless Secretary, and that
contracts for vast amounts have been
made in direct defiance of the statute
Debts aggregating about five millions
have been discovered, but there Is no
means of ascertainiDg the outstanding
indebtedness which has been illegally con-
fracted.
Congress has regularly voted, and until
this session on RoBEsoSs estimates the
money necessary to maintain the navy on
foreign stations. Heretofore the usage
was to send that money to the BARISGs,
10 be drawn against by the paymasters at
the different stations. A new system has
been put in practice by robson and his
tool, Paymaster BRADFoRD, who was sta
tened in London to carry it out. This
fund has been kept IN the United States
aud applied to other uses, and instead Of
paying the drafts at the agency IN Lon
don, as was always done by the EARRINGS.
who frequently advanced the funds, kit
lng bills are drawn which pay a round
profit to the favored bankers and their
friends.
A paymaster in China draws upon the
london agency. There is no money to
pay the draft, although the appropriation
was regularly made. BRADFORD then
makes draft on RoBEsoS at sixty days 10
cover the other. That draft is sold in
market, and perhaps is bought by SELIG-
MANS house, the very agency which should
have paid the paymaster's draft. 1t is
sent to New York and then TO Washing
ton, and in the end robson sorapes the
money together and pays the draft. And
so the public credit is hawked about and
stained, because RoBEsoN has misapplied
the appropriation.
The transaction with JAY COOKE & Co.,
Wnlcu Is now TtNlNeu, WIS lOuI upO eA-
posed by THE Sun as one Of the boldest
and most daring of RoBEsoN's many def
ances of law, and a venal misuse Of the
public money. Several months before
their failure, the tottering condition of
the house was known at the Treasury.
RICHARDSON, then Secretary, made large
loans 10 prop up the First National Bank.
without securing any protection, and in
open disregard of the law.
Under pretence of providing funds for
the navy in London, robson made draft
on the Treasury for million of dollars in
July, 1873, in favor of JAY COOKE McCuL-
LoCH s. Co., which became payable on the
22d of September. In Ave days after this
money was drawn at the Treasury by JAY
Cooke s. Co., thus showing that it was not
sent TO London ut ALL but was used here to
bolster up the falling credit OF the rotten
concern TO whom it was given for that pur-
pose. Four days before the draft became
due COOKE failed, and of course it was not
paid.
COOKE went into bankruptcy, but no
notice was taken of this dishonored draft
until McCULLocH came over from England,
and made new negotiation with RoBE-
dollars more were advanced, and then the
hrst1nillion was assumed. In other words,
tho money appropriated by Congress for
the navy was diverted to the use of these
spectators, with whom CATTELL and
RoBEsoN were mixed up in various
schemes. We have reason to believe that
before the break down another million
was promised to COOKE, and would have
been paid over but for the positive resist
nnoa OF Treasurer SPINNER, who had in
vain protested against the other.
A public officer who would put his hand
into the Treasury, under these circumstan-
oes, would not be restrained in any other
case involving his interests. The immu-
nifty which ltoDEsoS received from the
President, who sanctioned these out ageous
acts, and from Republican Congress
which covered them up and whitewashed
them, made him utterly defiant of legal
restraint. lie went on as IL there was no
check, and the law had no terrors for evil