The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-03
OVERLAPPING THE NAVY.
now SECOR ROBERTSON MTsMAN-
AGES the DEPfRTUENT.


Light from the veteran Commodore Aicck
Muriay-Prnciichi suggestions for saving
tho PEOPLES Moncy-Immunity for All.
WASHINGTON, May 1.-The evidence of
naval officers, who would naturally make the
best showing possible in regard to the e1ic 'ency
OF the service. as taken before the Committee
on Naval Andirs, shows conclusivcly that the
department managed by Secor Robertson Is In a
most dsgraceful condition. and that the oppor-
tunities for fraud and peculatlou are Of the
most varied kind. The committee has had old
Commodore Aleck Murray before them, and his
testimony In some points was quite interesting
After testifying that he had been In the Amcri-
can Navy since lSIj and had sailed in every
known sea, In answer to question about the
marine corps, he said
Ayes. sir know all about that corps. The marines
are generally an encieni set Of AZ regards
OF defence In former tine. wien naval oicers dii
not receive military education before entering tho
rnes 10 CHI ct;, Now, every graduate OF Annaposis
was esisbishcd IN isii. ana now every oncsr under
,hS rapS o. commodore hai receiysd military educi.
SS T%o de %e weSd ese Of se y eqs Of
O s.S Sou speak of useless elias. of people, YOU
mean that there are two classes Of people board
ship who could perform the same duttls? A-Lxacty
marine corps Gen s6ernsn would be very useless On
board ship Wouldn't make either good marine or a
When marine officer gets on board ship he Is en-
mental man. and probaoly only appears in uniform
when the commodore or flag officer or admiral leaves
smokes his " cigar ''1''' "'A' away '"1
After saying there was no end OF thiogs in the
navy and navy yards that needed overhauling,
and a heap OF costly trumpery to be got rid Of
he proceeded:
II my opinion that soldiers OF the army would be
used for duties the marine corps nov perform. They
would also perform tue dutcs OF vatchmcn navy
navy yards ars great picEpcekets. II costs seooOo q
ab- ~ tout times thSt for ali the yards The marine
or military watchman would be there hc whole twenty.
eight hours SO Tar as 9e is concerned the YARD IN
protected for the other sixteen hours He gets two and
would only get siS month ana NJ. ratious.
NOV" a. moro tha a sci rnoSsH w %o
tenn. don't see any KIND OF necessity Tor more than
stead Of chief clerks, passed assistant payasicrs.
think the law VI last Congress WAS passed in tuat
Coud not the ships in ordln'ry he kept nj less
prrs ln', before ,lec,lon Don't nla'teT witch
through iic show " being painted ana cauikcd and
patched ur aud when tue election over tney are sent
James II. watmoueh. Of the rel tive ranl, of
| Captain. testified that he was chief Of the Bu.
| reau Of Provisions and Clothing. and Ac ing
| Paymaster-Geuerai Of ths Navy, having acted
| in the tier caracity two years and half. The
| actual Paymastcr-tieneral Is John A. Bradford,
| financial agent Oi the Government IN relation
| 20 funds held by Jay Cooke Co. In regard to
| the responsibility Of Paymastcrs, Capt. Wat
| moush testified that Assistant Paymasters give
| $4,000 bonds, Past Assistant Paymasters $4,000
bonds, and $500 bonds for all the higher
| grades. Officers frequently bond for each other.
Q-whst Is the amount the Pay Inspectors generally
have IN tneir haadsr A..Mlons. Pay Inspector
tosl2o0OOi ~ three years HIS bond was only 6Ooo
ONE nuSn depends upon ,ne place
| sometimes u 100000 or more. . 49, -
olties are % urs Sc. very much nlghef IneI 20 IL
"a dollars ~ their nand, They pass through tlelr
| length Of time.
PAYNE ster-G eneral watmough defines the du
ties Of a pay agent az follows:
He pays the travelling expenses OF offcers makes al
purchases taat he Is required 10 maze by the depart
nent, and answers rcquistens ron the commandaut o
sometimes inc supplies are o9ugnt oy the bureau 81
Suppose pay agent should be dishonest, and sen,
Govern ent have p A. None at ali.
on inc propost TO invite them IRON few representa-
i've dealers, or from the trade generally? A.-No.
O. WHAT docs me Law require IN rcsar to sdvert.
nat that. ArO tel the truth al" little ignorant ''''
One would suppose this 10 be one NJ the thing
paymastcr-General OF the Navy should be es
| ciaiiy well informed about.
Q.-suppose inc pay agent. gives nye cents . POUND
worth WHO suncfyises his seti Al don't think ther
| sauYro1y 10 supervise re price.
| Q.-Is there not too great indncemcnt to pa
agents 70 eolude With parties who furnish ,terisl
ni..ion Tor lie Would nSt do t6it - Nv ''
@ Then me only ~ protection that NE Govern
above Ihat? .-Ithink that Is tie only protection
Capt. watmough underwent a long examina
| tiOn relating to aefalcdtions by paymasters, II
the course OF which the following questions an'
answers occurred.
o-Do YOU rene noer tAe case Of Paymaster spault
insP Ale IS now under arresi Tor tnat
| Q-How long ago did that defac iipn taFe pace
were made against him aoout two or Ihree months az,
| U -Wss tred In lSJi on similar cnarg-s A
Yes sir ne Was tried once before for The same Ohenc
the 10 . of money at Caro-
AT Gas wa. sIS oo6 Vas me%bcr Of tie CO.
At tried nm. Tue charles were proved, and &c VA
barney, turned out OF the service. lie Is TO tft
now ivt eohpicity WIN ilhn ane vie' elrIh, W.
qui-y. bus have not seen the courts decision.
when asked about spauldlncs previous repu
tston IA Tho -r'incnt he said " never nav
seen an specific churLes against him. III V
heard o. his allOwin: this man TO run his OHIO
too murh. but II me to me casually from out
siders and OF course YOU cannot believe all yo
heur ~ that waV. IT WAS none Of my bushes,
spaulding WIS about to be relieved when PINE
ran on If II was not the Pay uuasteT-CieneIal q
the Navy's business to look alter his suDord
mates, whose vasitf
o.-Aeoat he matter iq 1860, Al ihnk spau
eie IN Consrees from t,evc aud. Ohio
After giving long list OF paymasiers who ha
| been defauiters, but had escaped punishment
, | Cant. Wdtmouan was plumpy asked:
| Q.-nave you ever known any pawn stcr, In your e.
undergo either hne or inprisonn,ntp II 80, IA Nn
According to Acting Paymaster G enoral Wa
mough, the Pay Department of the navy isa sol
of person 4 and very ires ponsible concern.