The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-08
SPECIMEN NAVAL FRAUDS.
NOW SECOR RoBEsov REPAIRs |Es-
SELLS ON THE PACIFIC.
A Mnn-of-War Built TN from n Knot Hole
s35O,OOO for an $4,000 Job. and This
Only n stnrter-A Mine rs Good rs silver.

mHn-of-Wnr Built Up from Knot Hole
S25O,OOO for an $4,000 Job. and This
Only n stnrter-A Mine rs Good rs silver.
From me san Ftdncfsco Ioa.
The last report of the Secretary Of the
Navy snys that there are on this coast two Iron
clads, the Comanche and the Monadnock. Tue
former is ready to receive her engines. and could
be put IN condition for service In less than n
week. She Is Of the monitor pattern. has one
turret, and mounts two nfteen-inch guns Of tho
smooth-bOre pattern. The Monadnock Is much
larger vessel, and possesses two turrets, with
two nIteen Inch smooth-bore guns Ia each tur-
ret But with al the working force thai could
now be put upon her. she could not be got ready
for dutv IN day less than eight months.
A suspicious history surrounds all that has
been done concerning these vessels for the last
eighteen months. Previous to June, 1874, both
OF them were moored on the Mare Island NAVY
Yard. survey was held. and both were pro-
nounced unit for any kind Of service; the iron
was rusted, riyets and bolts were loosened. and
accordance with naval rules, was forwarded to
WASHINGTON, and as We have on this coast large
building and repairing such vessels, IL was
naturally supposed that orders to proceed with
the necessary work would be at once received.
Probably everybody but the Secretary of tho
Navy supposed that the works on Mare Island,
built al AN enormous expense to the country,
were erected 20 do such Government work, aud
that, except In time Of war, or the inability Of
the Government from some other cause TO per-
form such work, II would not be- farmed out to
indvidualf, either under contract or otherwise.
:. Hut IN the month OF June 1874, Mr. Phineas
Burgess came here from the East with Govern
was not speck Of war on the horizon, and there
could have been but one defensibe motive for
sending him here charged with such duty, and
that was, economy to the Government. Now,
there had not been. as the law requires, adver-
tisements for any lowest or competent bidder
There seems To have been private understand
ing between the Secretary Of the Navy and Mr.
burgess, or perhaps II was with an Eastern Ring,
that the sum OF f2JO,0OO should be paid for the
repair OF the Comanche. Experts who have
seen the Comanche since she was turned over
to the Government are ready to declare that the
hava haa Ia
for less than one-third the price agreed to be
paid by the GOvernmsnt. Thus more than $780,
OOO clear profit must have gone iuto the poc kets
OF MIR. Bursess-or Of somebody else whom he
represents.
menced on the C2panche, she was about a
month OF the Mare Island side. Her turret was
removed by Government machinery Govern
ment tools Of every description were at the con-
tractors service-scows. tackle. men. everything
were at hts beck aud call-so that several thou
sand dollars more were put in the pockets Of
some Ring, having been 4 ken out OF those Of
the people for that purpose, aud for the glory Of
the American navy.
The contractors were not treated discourte-
ously IN any respect After the Comanohe was
removed to the Vallejo side, perhaps for the
sake OF appearances, aud to give the matter an
outside colorinR OF legitimate business, the
bounty OF the Government followed the con-
tractors. Not merely small and large tools
could be procured al the navy yard, but an en-
CINE also, and boilers, were sent over. with
other things, to run the machinery, and they are
he second chapter Ia equally interestins
Toe Co nanche was turned over to the Govern
ment In December, 1875, but before she left her
position at the Vallejo wharf, tho contract ors
began TO make preparations, by naulipg timber
and otherwise, to build ways Tor the Monadnock.
Mr. Burgess was again to the fore, and not only
by his statements. but by hts acts also, pro-
elaine that he was going to repair, or rather
rebuild, tins vessel too.
In the mean time the press had begun 10 COM
ment uuon the extraordinary conduct OF Mr..
Robson in giving out work IN an illegal form.
aud at prices that set all previous contracts In
forgotten class. STILL the fat job was not shorn
OF It's juicy proportions. Somebody must be-
come rich at the peoples expense. But show
Of fair dealing was required to be made and
accordingly some dust was thrown In the eyes
Of the public by an advertisements In a San
Francisco and In a country paper inviting bids,
Tor labor only. in the repairing OF the Mouad-
mock. Neither the Commandant nor Constructor
at Mare Island were provided with regulate
plans and specifications, nor could they give
any Information on the subject. The ground
work seems to have been laid for Ring TO get
the JOB anyhow. From such information as
could be mad at Washington, two or three
Dly blinds. As rule a Ring can afford TO bid
lower than ANYBODY else, and at the same time
make the most money. On opening the hids,
the oner OF Mr. Burgess to furnish the necessary
labor Tor S2jO,OCO was accepted, that being $50,
w less than the next bid above. This appeare d
to satisfy bidders ali around, particularly Roach
and Hansconi. whose relations with the Govsru-
ment are too welt known 10 need comment.
These cases look like frauds perpetrated on
the people. We have Government works on tn :
coast, but they seem to he used to enable indi-
ylduas 10 pocket money which should be spent
/
vessels repaired at Mare Island2 why was the
repairing OF the Comauche gwen out for S2500OO
when $SO,OOO was "a good price for the WORK
In the case OF the Comanche, what little ma
rial was required WAS supplied by the contractor.
Inc old Tame was useu and the vessel WAS
never taken out OF the water. In the case OF the
Monadnock, the Old vessel still lies over "A mud
Il II. Tue new one has frame up on the Vallejo
side the Governnent-that Is to saw, the pee u
liar form OF Its representation here-suppiies
the material from the East. The sum Of $25O,0D
for WORK WAS merely starter. Men competent
to judge saw that she will cost the Government
al least $l2O,OO0 although the turrets of the old
vessel VIII be placed on the new one. This Is
what Is called repairing" ayessel. By law no
new vessel can be built except by act of Con
gress.
The wooden vessel, the Mohican. being now
contracted at Mare Island, Is another example
OF eyading the law. She Is said to have been
commenced on n knot hole. This is the craft
that the Secretary In hts report stated was near
" ready for launching, although she Is not a
third constructed vet, ana could not be got
ready for work within six months.
Last summer n Mr. Secor was sent out here to
perform the duties Of chief bsokkeeper and gen
eral overseer Of the Monadnock. lie Is of the
secor contracting family Of New York. The Sec
Rotary of the Navy Is familiar with the name,
a -