New-York tribune., 1876-06-02
p Q S r S c RIP T.
$50 a. m.
MIR. ROBESOA EXPLAINS.

JAY COOKE 4 co. AND THE $4,000 MArTER-A @.
c,ITELL & Co.-MR. robson NOT soERY If
TuEY MAKE MONEY IN A LEGITIMATE WAY.
WASHINGTON, June 1.-Secretary Robson
appealcd before the House Committee on Naval Affairs
to-day aud explained ut length his account with A. G
Cattell S Co.. which he showed was fully settled ON the
18Th Of October, 1871. lie paid them In money
value; tac wrong done 20 him was in the pun
lcation' Of detached portions Of the testimony.
The Secretary also referred TO the testimony
Of Mr. Lewis the receiver OF the late firm Of jay Cooke
& Co. at the time the failed lie owed it $4,000 in
two amouns-SlO,O 900 and 800; this latter amount
was mentioned in tue times. making II
10 appear $4,000. The Secretary crcumstintally re
lated his business transactions with ~ g. Gatteli 70
period from which IL appeared that he had loaned
II So 600, $1,000 more than he had TO pay the
,tt,lls bean to pay him back convenient, and
the account was closed by their giving him check for
s25 900. The Secretary produced all the notes and
checks Tie indeb dnc>s the firm Of jay Cooke Co
was settled The Secretary also explained the item OF
$4,000 which appeared on the Cdtteis'
books as amount owing by HIM for
q building lot and cottage at Long Branch.
rhe property not at Long Branch but two miles oh
at Monmouth Beach. In 1871 number of gentlemen
formed a company and entered into "a speculation 10y
buying a farm credit and dividing it INTO building
lots lie went ino the speculation, believing, with tue
other gentlemen thot they could sell enough Of the
property pay them all back what they had advanced
and make good deal of money besides
II was not, however, convenient for him at that time
20 20 into the speculation and spend money, and A. g.
tatte covered his shares, had been done fo several
utLer subscribers The Secretary had any agree
ment with the firm about this business ii was with A.
g. Cattc himself, for deed Of onehalf OF piece OF
property on SxteeutII-st., which was worth alb ut
$4,000 As much had said about j.. q. Catell
ceyng commissions controcts the Secretary desired
to say that such transactions Cattels part in
all respects unknown aud unauthorized by him. He said
his relations with A. c. Cattel Co. such that II, in
legitimate way and doing business other people, they
could by In their line make money, he should
not sorry although he would prefer that they should
not have contracts. He had personal knowledge o.
the Cattells' receiving commissions on contracts
Mr.. Robeson said however, that information had
reached him Is months ago that f. @. Cattel had APP
pied to several 10 be employed by them in
nectiOn h their contracts He reccOllectel bearing
John Roach, Camp Swift live oak contractor, and Nj.
Quintald being approached. Ne did not remember who
informed him about this matter but when he spoke to
anybody lo perfectly certain that in every instance.
ho sai that Mr. Cattell must have nothing to do with
contracts of the Navy Department, other than in the
line OF his Legitimate business. With regard 10 the prop
erty opposite League Islani In NewJersey, the Sccre
tary desired to say that, siuce he hai been Secre-
tary Of tho Navy. he had never gwen
contract fec supplies And this statement he be-
leycd wodld be verified by gentlemen p eseut,
bureau In the Navy Department since he held the office
OF Secretary had he dictated, orally or In
writng, that favOrtsm should be shown TO any man.
lie had dictated, suggested bnted, spoken
to any for the purpose OF having persons favored
the matter OF contract. There were dozen men now
present OF the highest respecabity In the navy who
could testify TO the truth OF this statement Tue secIe-
tary, however, did not pretend TO lay he was not
sponsbe for the policy OF repairing the roncads. for
the policy of repairing and rebuilding certain shps but
he had directed the Bureau OF Construction aud Repairs
aud the Bureau of Steam Engineering to distribute The
work among tho great firms Of ship-builders Of the
country. He believed that in Is 49, and since there was
not aship-buildne establishment the Atlantic coast
that had had of the patronage OF the Depart
ment
The Chalrman-I should like your statement to be
comprehensive and specific A. never gave dictated,
orally or in writing suggested hned to any
10 give contracts tor supplies anything about
tracts, either to persons prices never dictated
instructions to show fsyortsm to nybody. In response
question by Mr. Willis the Secretary said his impress
sion that the prices fixed by calling on the
great builders Of the country and letting them consult
with the bureau of officers. and then down to he
lowest fair prices.
Mr. wnlis-Do you know whether or not these ship