The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-01
The Proof Against secor Robson.

The Congressional Record and the journal
of the House Of Representatives contradict
fatty the statement of the Associated Press
from Washington, made on behalf Of SECOR
RoBEsoS. after alleged careful inquiry and
examination" To the effect that the paper
recently read in the House by MIR. WHIT
THoRNE OF Tennessee, out Of which the mis-
apprehension arose, was not authorized by
the Committee" We have already shown,
from the official minutes of the Naval Com
mittee, that seven Of the eleven members
signed the report recommending to the
executive department OF the Government,
the arraignmcnt and trial OF the parties
herein named before the naval and criminal
tribunals OF the country, to the end that If
upon such trial they are found guilty they
may be punished
The four Republican members Of the com
mittee, HARRIS of Massachusetts,, HAN
MA OF Indiana, HAMMER Of Pennsylvania,
and DASFoRD Of Ohio, who had previously
thrown every possible obstruction in the
way OF exposing ROBEsoNs malfeasance in
office, refused 10 attend the meeting OF the
Committee when this action was taken. But
that factious abseuteeism did not and could
not affect it in any way. On Monday, the 18th
OF June, as appears by the regular proceed
ings Of the House, Mr.. WHITTHoRNE said
wish 10 make report from the Committee on Naval
Affairs concerning the administration the Navy De.
pArtment under secretary RoBsoS and to move that 1t
be printed and reconmtied
Mr. HALL object
Mr. HASNi "a member Of the committee)-I object 10
the gentleman's making report
Mr. wnir1HoKNE-l hope the gentleman from Indiana
will not object to my Reporting from the committee on
Naval Andrs the testimony. IN order that u may be
printed and recommittfd.
Mr. HASSA-I DO not. II 1t is accompanied with the
that the evidence is finished do object
" printing AM report
Mr. wHiuHoRSE-l make the proposition, then, that
The testimony taken by the Committee Naval Affairs
In reference To the administration Of the Navy Depart
ment under Secretary Robson be printed and recon-
United.
Mr. HANSA-Accompanicd with the statement that the
testimony i not yet through lido not object to that
There was no objection, and It was so ordered.
Mr. iIALE-No report.
Mr wHuTHoRSE-I shall AfterwArd move to suspend
the rules whenever get the floor for the purpose Of
making report
Mr. HAsSA-I state now that no report has been made
and report submitted 10 the committee.
Mr. wHIrrnoRNL-The report has been submitted 10 tho
committee, and agreed to By majority VI the com
uee,
Mr.. HALE was tho right-hand man OF ROBE
BON In the House while he was in office, and
HANNA seems to be ambitious Of being one
OF his most active partisans now. 1t re
quired some degree Of ellrontory for tn,
latter, after having purposely stayed away
from the Committee, TO declare in presence
Of the House that mo report had been sub
mitted to it. But he took the prompt anC
absolute contradiction Of Nj. WHITrHoRSI
very meekly, and subsidized.
II Is seen from these proceedings that MI
WHTTTHoRSE read no paper to the House
az alleged in the Associated Press, and thu
statement that the report was not author
lied by the Committee" was wholly un
founded. These are common tricks Of ROB-
EsON and his conicderatcs TO deceive TIM
public, but they become gross imposition
when spread broadcast over the land
through an organization supposed TO be i'm
partial and truthful.
1t is not the mere report that nov
troubles robson and the pluudcrers VIII
thrived with him and under him, hut the con
denscd results Of the investigation which
embodos. There is hardly Il harsh word i
that document, but the collection Of cyl
dencc and its candid presentation are abso
lutnly crushing. In the last Congress- tn
chiefs Of bureaus holding their places at tn
Will Of corrupt and yiudctiye Secretary
bworo before the WHrrHOkNE investigated
that RoDEsoE had never inter!ered wit
their functions, and the responsibility {
violating tho law and making disgracefI
contracts therefore lay at tholr door
Conspicuous among these swift wLnesso
was ISAIAH HANSCOM, who Tor six years ha
stood close in the confidence OF robson n
Chief Of the Bureau of Construction and II
pair, who was connected with much OF iii
iobhery Of the Department; who knew III
fraudulent system that prevailed there: al