National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1876-07-27
SECRETARY ROBEsoNs CASE.

Inc report OF tne minority OF Ine house
Committee on Naval Affairs has been pre-
sented to the House. 1t is signed by
Messrs. Harris, Danford and Hayes. This
report, though brief in comparison with
that made by the majority of the commit
tee, is a very able and exhaustive review
of the investigation which has occupied
the Naval Committee for the last six
months, and is a very candid and complete
vindication of the Secretary Of the Navy
from the charges made against him. This
report concludes with a resolution declar-
ing that there is no evidence to sustain
any charge that Secretary Robson has
been guilty Of any official malleasance or
corruption or willful violation of any law.
In reaching this conclusion the minority
have taken up in detail and reviewed all
the topics included in the report of the
majority, making clear and candid state
ment of the most essential portions of
the testimony, and have furnished
a very conclusive answer to the fallacious
statements and unjust conclusions of the
majority. We cannot, in the space of this
article, notice all the points made by the
minority of the committee, but will note
some of the most significant and important.
The minority .criticises with severity the
manner in which the majority have con-
Quoted the Investigation, the major part of
which was carried on in secret and CT
parte and star chamber method, with little
or no opportunities afforded the minority
or to the persons accused of ross-examin-
ing the witnesses. The minority allege
that the majority were evidently controlled
in their action by partisan spirit, if not by
sinister motives; that everything which
could be sought after or adduced tending
TO the injury of the Navy Depar.m ent was
seized upon with eager avldity, while
everything that had a tendency in the op-
posite direction was ignored by the ma
jority of the committee whenever possible.
The action of the majority is characterized
as grossly unfair, and their report is pro-
nouDced as inaccurate in its statements of
fact in all most essential points, and IN
supported and erroneous in its conclusions.
Corning to the consideration of some
say in reference to the present condition of
the navy that the report of the majority is
tissue of gross misrepresentation. The
statement that the average expenditure of
the Department under its present admiuis-
tration has been SIS, 900, 600 per annum
for keeping up the material Of the navy is
proved TO be erroneous, the annual expend-
iture for that purpose not having been
$4,000, COO. The statement that the navy
has deteriorated in efficiency since 1869 is
completely dsproved, the evidence being
conclusive that the United States navy has
now more serviceable vessels of war than
it has had at any time since the conclusion
of the rebellion; that they are of improved
model, greater efficiency, and in better
condition generally than at any previous
period. 1t also appears that this improve
ment has been effected by the present Sec.
rotary of the Navy without involving any
extraordinary appropriation or expenditure
except in single instance, and that was
authorized by special act Of Congress.
The gross injustice of comparing our
navy with those Of other great naval Pc W
ers as to its extent and efficiency, and
drawing therefrom conclusions .derogatory
to our naval service, is ably exposed by
the minority report. 1t is clearly shown
that upon Congress, and not upon the
Navy Department, rests the responsibility
for the comparative weakness of our navy
as compared with the navies of foreign
Powers, and that our navy to-day, as COM