The Portland daily press., 1876-07-19
WASHINGTON.
THE NAVAL INVESTIGATION.
The Democrats Censure Robson and
Several Other Officers of the Navy De-
pnrtment-A Dissenting Report to be
Submitted.

The Democrats Censure Robson and
Several Other Officers of the Navy De-
pnrtment-A Dissenting Report to be
Submitted.
WASHINGTON, July 1S-The majority Of the
House Committee on Naval Affairs have COM
pleted their report. 1t was read today to the
full committee in order that the dissenting
members might have opportunity to prepare
statement of their views from their knowledge
of its contents. The report strongly condemns
the course OF Secretary Robson in transfer
ring funds to Jay Cooke, McCulloch & Co. Of
London on the navy account and charges that
such act was clearly in violation of thu law
which provides that no person shall be employ
ed or continued abroad to receive and pay mon
ey for the use of the naval service in foreign
stations, whether under contract or otherwise,
who has not been or shall not be appointed by
and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
The report further condemns Secretary Robe
son for aiding the above named firm with gov
ernment funds when they were in bankrupt
condition and for sundry other alleged illegal
acts and favortism in the appointments.
The report says it is due to say that there is
ed by any of the alleged frauds and wrong
practices, although his intimate relations with
the Cattels who sold contracts cannot be over
looked.
The majority arraign Paymaster General
Watmough, chief of bureau of provision and
Of construction, N. N. N. Wood, chief of the
bureau of fteam engineering, for Irregularities
in their business transactions, such as making
purchases of supplies without previous adve
tisement; failure to make proper report; the
division of fvnds from the purpose for which
they were appropriated to another and different
object; the expenditure OF money in excess or
the appropriations; the payment of money for
machinery and engines besore reports were
made as to their utility, and the payment of
eXtravagant sums to Norman Wizard for his
experiments in ordnance The majority also
condemn the pervision of the navy yard to po-
litical purposes which they say were clearly
against the statute which provides that DO
officer or employee of Government shall regard
or request any working man in any navy yard
to contribute or pay any money for political
purposes, nor shall any working man be re-
moved or discharged for political opinion, and
any officer or employe of the government who
shall offend against this provision shall be dis
missed from the service of the United States.
The committee also condemn Pay Director
Bradford, late discussing officer in London,
and Naval Constructors Hart and Steele, and
other officers. They do not find fault with
Commodore, chief of the Bureau of Yards and
Docks; Commodore Ammen, chief OF the
the Bureau of Ordnance; Surgeon General
Beal, chief of the Bureau of Medicine and
Surgery; Capt. Shufeldt chief of the Bureau
of Equipment and Recruiting.
The committee recommend amendments to
the present laws SO as to change the system of
purchases, improving the mode of inspection
of vessels and machinery, and suggesting
other reforms in the interest of honesty and
economy.
Commissioner RAFT.
WASHINGTON, July 18.-Commissioner Pratt
has returned to Washington. His resignation
is not yet accepted by the President With
reference to the report that he will be retained
in his present office, Mr.. Pratt says that if he
remains here after the 31st inst. it will be
because he is persuaded against his own in
clinaton, to do SO.