Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-06-19
THE ROBBER robson,
Rich Developments in the House Com
mittee on Naval Anairs-A Chap
ter or Oficial Irregularities
Upon which Prosecutions
Against the Ex-Secre-
tary will be Based.

Washington special to the Cincinnati
Commercial: The report of the house naval
committee, embodying the evidence taken
during the past two years, which contains
the material upon which will be based the
recommendations for the prosecution of
Robson and Hanscom, the former chief of
the bureau of construction, is quite lengthy
document, avoiding all malice and stating
facts and citing the corroborative points Of
the evidence without, however, going into de-
tail. One of the transactions alluded to,
which the committee feel bound to deal with
at some length, is the matter of the
purchase of the Burlington, a steam
ferryboat no lying at League Island.
1t appears that when in the
forty-fourth congress the naval committee
was conducting its investigation into the
management of naval affairs, they had occa
sion to inquire into the cost and use OF this
vessel, alleged then to have been chartered
for the purpose of removing stores, etc, from
the old navy-yard at Philadelphia to League
Island. The charter OF the boat was made
from the New Jersey steam navigation cJm-
pany, which was composed of a firm known
as Wood, Dialogue & Cots principal, If
not sole stockholder-at the rate of one thou
sand dollars per month. One OF the members
of this company, Mr.. Randolph Wood, swore
own the boat. Messrs. Robson and Hans
com, also, before the same committee two
months later, In July, 1876, swore that
the Burlington was not among the YES
sells that had been purchased since
1869, and the committee did not suppose,
when inquiring about her cost, that she be-
longed to the government. No one examined
intimated it, yet every officer of the govern
ment likely to, and some of those who did,
know the lfacts were examined, and did not
disclose the facts. During the recent exami-
nation the committee has ascertained that In
December, 1885, a regular bill of sale for this
vessel had been made to Mr.. RobesoD, the
price agreed to be paid being forty thou
sand dollars. Why this fact should have
been concealed alike from the other officers
of the government as well as from the COM
mttee, by the New Jers y navigation COM
pany, by Mr. Robson and by Mr.. Hanscom,
the committee are at a loss TO understand or
explain. 1t is shown that Mr.. Randolph
Wood had, In the sale OF the vessel, under
taken to pay some one n commission Of
five thousand dollars, and his surviving
partner, Dialogue, states that some such I'M
Outstanding was represented to him by Mr..
Wood, but to whom he does not know. The
whole record shows that Wood did not trade
with anybody but Mr.. Robson. Five years
later, when Wood was examined for the sec
ond time, he swore to a lie. Having sworn
falsely. and fearing that his books would
show the truth. he destroyed the evidence OF
his guilt by cutting from the books the leaves
upon which were recorded the details OF this
transaction, namely the purchase OF the vessel
by Mr.. Robson. Very shortly afterward the
city of Philadelphia was greatly excited by
the news that Mr.. Wood had committed sui
eide, the cause for which, up to this day, has
remained mystery. The truth about that
bill of sale was found after Hanscom was dis
missed by the present Secretary Thompson
when Dialogue & Co. were seeking settle
ment with the department. 1t is also shown
that this same firm purchased floating dock
sold by the government at Philadelphia, and
by the terms of the advertisements, for cash.
The entire sum bid was thirty five thousand
four hundred dollars. All but ten thousand
dollars was paid in cash and turned over to
the treasury. The balance of ten thousand
was represented by note, and instead of be-
ing turned over to the treasury, as by law it |
should have been, was. by the order and di- |
rection of Secretary Robson, agreed to be |
applied to the purchase of the Bur-
liugton-clearly a violation of the |
law. And yet the illegali,y and loose
ness which marked the transaction are not all |
told. 1t appears that in December, 1875, ap- |
proved bills for thirty thousand dollars were |
delivered by Mr.. Hanscom to Mr.. Randolph |
Wood. In June, 1876, they were found in |
one of the banks Of Philadelphia as collateral |
security for note of Wood, Dialogue d Co.,
for twenty-seven thousand dollars. By the /
direction of Mr.. Hanscom the naval pay
master at Philadelphia, A. w. Russell, was
brought to Washington. The necessity of
taking up these bills was explained to him,
and he was directed to make an irregular and
illegal requistion, upon which a requisition
chargeable to the appropriation for
the eight sloops of war was made
by the secretary of the navy upon the
secretary of the treasury for twenty thousand
dollars, with which, and the sum in his hands
Tor o.her purposes, Russell was directed by
Robson and Hanscom to take up the ap-
proved bills issued In December, 1875, and |
held as collateral by the Philadelphia bank,
and was directed and instructed at the same
lime by these parties to hold the bills and
note of Wood, Dialogue d Co. till the ap-
oropriations of the next fiscal year would
become available. In pursuance of these or
iers and directions, all Of which were verbal,
he paymaster took up the note, held it and
Ill the approved bills, without accounting for
he disbursement of public money made in
une, 1876, until December, 1876, six months
alter. This was a violation of law, and sub
ects the officer to trial for such disregard of
ne law. The committee suggest that it may
'e that the orders of his superior officers will
xcuse Paymsster Russell, but it asks, is
ounseled, procured and directed these {
rotations of the law? In the opinion
f the committee there is and should be none
he transaction here mentioned forms
nost remarkable chapter in official conduct, |
nd is regarded by the committee as demon {
llzing and injurious to the public service.
he report will show that Mr.. Robson must
ave been beneficiary of this five thousand
ollars commission, for the reason that it ap-
ears that Wood treated with nobody other
han RobesoD, no clalm-agent Or go between
aving appeared upon the scene. Some 9TH
r episodes of an interesting character will ,
ome out with this report