The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-03-05
sECOR ROBEsOS's DEPARTMENT.

lu0 WHbuupbou SI*SeAti ol tut ItHtto
yesterday morning states that u House
committee has commenced investiga-
ting the affairs Of the Navy Department,
and that Its developments Of corrup-
ton will exceed those OF the army Ave
fold. We have no doubt the informa-
tion given Is literally correct. The
Navy Department UNDER the admiDis.
tration of Secor Robson has long been
a subject both Of SCANDAL and ridicule,
Vast sums OF money have been expend-
cd In building inefficient vessels; and
the loose manner In which requisitions
have been signed and contracts made
has given an easy opportunity for cor
rupt practices, and there has been moth
ing In tho administration of the govern
ment TO lead us to suppose the oppor-
tunity has been overlooked by the bum
mers and thieves who throng the pub
lie service. PayInaster Spaldipg recent
ly., at Mare Island Navy Yard, was in
the constant habit of signing requisi-
tions, contracts, surveys and reports ta
blank; that is, certifying to the correct
ness OF Official documents before they
were made out. Senator Sargent, OF
California, was some time since charged
with boing In collision with the Pay
masters Department Of the Navy iii
this sort OF business, and is reported to
have realized large sums as his part Of
the profits. thb f.< h'
Some months since the New York
Suns Washington correspondent
charged that Isaiah Hanscom, Chief of
the Bureau OF Construction, made a
contract with his. brother by which q
number OF portable forges were sup
piled Mt the Navy Yard at San Francisco
at cost of $500 a piece, though manu-
facturers expressed their ability to sell !
the same FORCES for less than $780, and
make fair profit. BY this operation
the Government was swindled out OF I
over twenty thousand dollars.
Recently large Quantities Of inferior
-four were shipped to Philadelphia for
the, Navy alta charge from one-third to
one-half greater than the best brands
were selling for ut the same time in the
same markets. ...5, s.J .,F.taI
Secretary Robson called for an extra
appropriation OF $4,0o0,OOo at the time
of the virginius excitement Two ves-
sells, the Colorado and the franklin,
were refltted with all their old rigging,
and provisioned with condemned stores
then on hand at various depots. The
greater part OF the coal used had also
been paid . for Nothing. could be
charged against the remainder Of the
vessels, because they were drafted from
for, the support Of which
due appropriation had been made pre-
viously. Yet after the trouble had [
blown over the officers OF several YES y
sells ordered to the Mediterranean, .uu- Il
able to get a cent Of pay, were obliged +,
to leave due bills with their creditors 1
that their families might not suffer. 1t {
is affirmed, and can probably be proved, /,
that the actual expense OF fitting out 1
the vessels referred to was not over
S1O0, 600. aa. .5 MtfaN l.t 4tr
An iron vessel built only year or two
ago was sent out last summer. and {
although she experienced no bad '
weather, there was such starting of a
bolts that she was hurried into port. i
where the entire iron work had to be +
overhauled. Another vessel Of the same &
class proved so unseaworthy on her first b
trip that, to prevent an exposure, her Q
name was given to wooden ship then I
Just built, and it Is affirmed that the I
cost OF the worthless iron ship was a
char Ged tc the construction of the n
wooden vessel a .,f a
Recently, two Of the vessels under Or Y
iers and reported sound by Secretary 0
Robson were, VIGOROUSLY so dry rot Il
ted, that it was difficult to get sailors to |,
serve In them. -il lT
p For months past the provisions SUM- f
Piled for the sailors have been Of such $
Inferior quality that at least one-fourth =
Of them have been condemned and 4
thrown overheard. And yet, for these n
rotten supplies, the highest market v
prices are paid by the Department. il
These are mere straws. When the d
House Committee gets to work, no G
doubt, we shall have mass Of corrup- I
flon revealed which will startle the /
country. T