Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-07-29
Minority Report of the Naval Com
mittee.

The views Of the minority of the committee on
naval affairs, signed by Representatives Harris Of
Massachusetts,, Danford of Ohio and Hayes of
Alabama, were presented Wednesday in the
House. The minority severely critcise the ma
ority report alleging that is unfair in its state
ments fallacious in its conclusions; is evidently
prompted by partisan spirit; ignores entirely
testimony favorable to the Navy department. and
perverts other portions in such ways to infct
gross injustice upon the Secretary and officers. In
reply to the charge of the majority as to the al
legged deterioration of the navy under the present
adm nistration, the minority show that the navy is
to-day in efficient condition than it has been
at any time since 1869. notwithstanding the lin
tied means placed at the disposal of the Secretary.
The policy of rebuilding vessels that would have
soon become useless is defended by the minority
as economical, prudent and judicious, and they
say that instead of censure for this, as the major
ity propose, the Secretary deserves the thanks of
the entire country The exchange and utilizing
of old material in the work of rebuilding vessels
is also shown TO have been specifically authorized
by Congress- the resnlt being advantageous to the
service. With regard to the contracts and pur-
chases, for which the majority severely censure
the Secretary, implying corrupt action on his part
the testimony Of all the witnesses is entirely con-
the Secretary ever endeavored to influence any
purchase contract, either directly indirectly,
by imitation or otherwise The charge by the ma
jorlty that the Secretary had used government
materials and the labor of the employees for his
own private benefit Is pronounced frivolous and un
supported by the testimony. In respect to the
speculations OF f. q. Cattell and his levyng per-
centages on contractors, the minority show that
these operations were carried on without the
knowledge of the Secretary of the Navy, and
hat as as he wa adj Of
he interposed vigorously to check them.
Whatever abuses frauds exist in connection
with contracts for the purchase of the Navy depart
ment, are the results of defects inherent in the
system long established, ans for which the law
making power, and not the department, is respon-
sible, and for which the majority suggest no ade-
quate remedy, although they have been engaged
in the investigation six months. The minority
say as to the political influence exercised in the
navy yard appointments, that the evil is one which
originated under and was fostered by all previous
democratic administrations; that the only effort
to check it has been made under the present re-
publican administration, ana that such political
appointments are attributable chiefly to the mpor-
tunities of members of Congress, and not to the
Secretary and the respective chiefs of bureaus.
The minority enter fully into an examination Of
the foreign navy account in London, showing
that the action of the Secretary wa, entirely le-
gal, and its results beneficial to the government,
as not dollar of the fund has been be
lost. The minority review generally the pos itons
taken by the maj ority in order to show in many
respects the wrong conclusions drawn from,
if not perversions of. the witnesses. The minority
say that the proposal of the ajority to refer the
whole subject to another committee of the house
for final disposition indicates either disposition
10 evade the responsibility imposed upon the ma
val committee by the house, or a conscious inabi-
ity to dispose of the subject committed to them in
a satisfactory manner. The views of the minori-
ty conclude with a resolution declaring that no
evidence has been adduced during this investiga-
ton tending to show that Secretary Robson has
been guilty of any official misconduct of corrup.
ton, any wilful violation of law.
After further comment the minority say the ma
jorty report itself is in perfect consonance with
the investigation, both in manner and spirit
throughout its whole length facts and figures are
perverted and parties misrepresented. Every
hing is assumed against the department and the
Secretary, and nothing in their favor. Adcaptan-
dun statements and assumptions are given as
facts, while the testimony which refutes them is
entirely ignored. The speculations of single wit
nesses who are supposed to establish some wrong
or abuse are quoted while sworn and legal testi-
mony Of many which contradicts and DESTROYS
these speculations il never mentioned The malig-
nant givings out OF malicious enemies are assumed
as true, while the testimony of honest witnesses is
garbled and wrested from its intended meaning.
Throughout the whole report every single thing
which has occurred during the last seven years.
with which the majority think they can find fault
is characterized as great "abuse and fraud" and
every exercise of legal authority, about which
they can find room for doubt and dissent, is de-
clared to be violotion of law
When Mr.. Tarbox came forward to speak in
Tammany Hall on Tuesday night some one shout
ed, "Ptch into Blaine" and we are told that Mr.
Tarbox "smiled deprecatingly," but RETAINED
from following the advice. Wise Mr.. Tarbox.
He tried that little experiment twice at Washing