The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-01-21

There Is now n prospect that the close ~
sEcoR RoBEsON's management OF the Navy
Department, between the time of the last
investigation and that of his exodus from
"ilicc Including hls brief temporary service
under the Fraudulent President, Will be
thoroughly explored and exposed. The
Naval Committee Of which Mr. WHIT
rHoRNE Is Chairman, has taken the matter In
hand, and that gives assurance of a clean
rigid, and honest scrutiny, without fear or
favor.
Congress voted more than two millions Of
dollars, IN the false name of a deficiency"
for pay and other items to the navy al the
extra session. every dollar Of which had
been regularly and specifically appropriated
~ the last session Of the Forty-fourth Con.
Ercss, OF the 81 of March, 1877. Mr. TnoMp-
sons report on this subject, which accom-
panied the demand for the new grant, gave
no proper explanation of the expenditure
or of the disappearance Of the first appro-
rliaiIon. lie referred in vague and general
terms t. the loose practice Of the depart
Inrnt, by which money appropriated for one
object was diverted to another, In defiance
eli law; and he thi5cxcuscd the acts of RoBr-
roS. by which the fund voted for "pay of
the navy Ia two distinct sections, was ap-
Piled Tor the benefit Of contractors. The
system was accused, and not the corrupt
Secretary who invented it, The language
ard spirit of that report differed very mate
riplly from the sentiments which Mr.
IHOsuTOS uttered when he first entered the
department..
Whom the furloughcd officer, applied for
The difference of pay which Congress had
gran, 81, there was not dime lDf the mill
lien and q half in the Treasury. 1t had all
been drawn out and used by RAssoN, be-
Tween ia" ith and 10th Of March while
he was acting temporarily as Secretary.
THOMPSON was obliged 10 refuse these APP
llicalior-, and in addition, to issue an order
putting the officers ON hn!f pay until relief
rouli Doe obtained from Congress. Al that
time his Indignation found just and strong
expression suited tothe occasion. The mis-
application Of this fund was unquestionable,
ior th' money vas all gone, and no officer
nad hc.nIiid. And this was not all he dis
covered, for in an interview on the subject
he reported to have made the following
lc,iar.tion:
'iloumi o'u.rart, 20 the amount Of s2orno.o which
1at letn inac and cNccuted be- tween March and 10
5nc rN iHric one the iaN hoiore went into on. Nn.
Dte.ff sf. nlHttit h,t.I
Wh'n RoBrsoN was serving in merely II
mlnei"l dl capacity. t. sign Official papers
mtiltheariNul ol his successor hobctraycd
the confidence thus rcposed in him. not only
t'diNcri the pay Of tine navy Illegally, but
h. mako fraudulent contracts to the extent
Of two millions ,fdollars These acts were
Entirely consistent with hi- previous career,
md they illustrate tine whole character Of
lhr man. who converted the Navy Depart
mont into don Of iuthcrs and thieves. de-
norlli"| the service and enriched himself
and his coulcdcrutos.
Inc facts Of this misuse Of the puhlic
money were generally known whom Con-
Er"s- met at the special session in Octohcr
vet no steps were taken to bring Them be-
fore ia" country in an official form or To-
punish RoElSoN. The money was voted
over again without question. ana eimplvnn
The recommendation Of THOMPSON. who said
IT was missing. Cumor in behalf Of "tho
suffering o'llcor7' temporarily deprived Of
4 par, O., , -, - accue, 1nol uyuric-, and
sim drawing pay abundant fu'cyoyy need,
drowned the demand for inquiry. They
could mot wait hul the people. who foot IT,.
ollls oi III thi- extravaganza and Injustice,
.aust wait
il is late, hut mot too late, to investigate
This ,ran-action, and to Jet the puhlic 900
who colIuded with SEoon RoBEsoN. in tho
i0si days of ld- connection with The depart
iuont, to plundrl the Treasury and to com
plrte the Disgrace Of a corrupt career
There are heads Of bureaus now in the con
ud"ncc OF Robson, and directing important