New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-01-23


considered incidentally in the Cabinet meeting
to-day. Secretary Sherman told the Cabinet that he
thought the prospect good for the of his plan
of selling the per cent bonds to the people.
MR.. WILLIS'S RUMMAGING.
lie FINDS THAT THE ENGINEERING BUREAU OF THE
NAVY IS IN DEBT $3.163, 900.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUsE.l
WASHINGTON, Jan. 22.--The House Committee on
Expenditures of the Navy Department, OF which
Mr. b. A. Willis, of New-YOrs, is chairman, has be-
gun its investigation by calling for statement of
the Indebtedness of each Bureau of the Department
on the 1st of March, 1877; of the new liabilities
contracted between March and 10. 1877; the
total indebtedness of each Bureau on the last
named date, and the total indebtedness contracted
between March 10 and July 1.
The first of these reports received is from the
Bureau of Steam Engineering. The tabular state
ment is divided under four heads: LIST, Approved
bills; I'd, Bills not yet approved; 3d. Balances I'M
der outstanding contracts 4th Suspended contracts
for engines and boilers. The total amount of ap
proved bills on the LIST Of March, 1877, was as fol-
lows:
For machinery and boilers $3.50 00i IL
oia on S' the 10th Of March Is
Indebtedness contracted between March 10 and oo
July o,'1' so
Total Of approved bills July j, lo77..-. lo5o4oo "
large portion Of this sum, Mr.. Willis says, ought
to have been paid by Secretary Robson. The con-
tractors to whom 1t is due took the work in good
faith and on the assurance from the Secretary OF
the Navy that he had available funds to pay them
when their work was completed. This was true at
the time the contracts made but subsequently.
and before the bills approved the Secretary of
the Navy used the money for other purposes. Mr..
Willis, IN his report to the House, will recommend
that all these just claims against the Navy Depart
ment be provided for before any appropriation for
new work is made. This. he thinks is only Just
treatment of contractors who have already suffered
great loss by having to get their approved bills
discounted at high rates of interest.
Under the second head-claims for which bills
have not get been approved-there was due on the
LIST of March. 1877, for machinery and boilers. 49,,
21S Ga; for material stores, S42,l46 II. making
the total Indebtedness on March 10, 1877, $57,-
364 rs. No debts were contracted between March
10 and July l for which bills have not yet been
approved.
Under the third head of balances under existing
contracts there was due March l. 1877, for
machinery and boilers, 1858 AZ -, and that sum
remained due at the end of the fiscal year.
The following is a list of the contracts suspended
by Secretary Thompson after he entered the Depart
mcnt with the debts on which they Were made,
the character of the work provided for, and the
amount of money which they called for:
Names Of Con- Dat Of Con- ,
Rhines Burgess......Mar 3, II. Engurs etc. for ~ IN
VIM Cramp Sons Mar B. II Engines. etc. for ~
the TTfor-.-.-.- 230,OoO %
HARLAN & Iolings
worth Co......-Mar g. II. Engines etc. for oo o m
John Roach Mar. 3, II. Engines exc. for m
s. Boston Iron Co.Mar. 7. II Boilers for the 20, ~
IuscafOfl!...- 1871
Iron Co. Mar. 7, ~ Boilers for the - nor oo
s. Boston Iron Mar T. IT. Boilers for the ..
s. Boston Iron Co... Mar 1877. Boilers for the o,
Dictator.......-. 174,40i 81
Total .....................Sl49 1864 90
Payments upon the first four OF these contracts
we're made conditional upon appropriations being
made therefor. But those the last four were
given without conditions. The recapitulaton shows
that the total indebtedness of the Bureau Of Steam
Engineering was as follows:
March l. 1877 machinery, boilers, 80
f fSf contracted March s. and 10 se2 90
Total Indebtedness. March 10. sJl5slGs II
l. . 57i7 90
Total indebtedness at beginning Of fiscal year 50 6955 40
The contracts made by Secretary Robeson, March
3. 7. and 10 were based upon recommendations con
tanned IN a report dated February Il, 1877, and
signed by Chief Engineer Alexander Henderson
and Naval Constructors F. :. Fernald and X. w.
steele. The following is the order OF Secretary
Robson in regard to the contracts which Secretary
Thompson has since suspended, with the opinion of
the Attorney General in regard to the legality and
expediency of the work:
BUREAU OF STEAM ENGIERERISG,}
NAVY DEPARTMENT, March g. 1877.
This is a true py OF the gna file in Bureau
1s,pnedt - W. H. II. SMITH,
Chief Clerk Bureau Steam Engineering.
NAVY DEPARTMENT, March 9, 1877.
81 ffpnn rtaur. In Inc lint
these iron-cad ships should be completed, at least
that repairs should proceed TO such point that
they could DC rapidly fitted for service II required, and
they, IN the meantime, cease To be an ex
ana tbc oyenmen that '" the work ' q"
their repair should progress regularly on continuous
and consistent 2n nGer e and .ne M
creased exp nse OF pursuing the concurrent and mu
tua y dependent parts OF the work interfering ana
perhaps clashng contracts; and ii is oclcarly terof
common justice to the contractors who have entered
mon tins work and who have employ their property
and advanced their money in it trusting to the Justice OF
the Government Tor reimbursement, that they should
Gf they choose to advance their and incur the
further risk and expense necessary TO complete the
ships at least 10 point where they cam without injury
operations) have the opportunity and facilities for 10
dong; that the Department feels bound to direct that
yarous the ships the WINGS
specifications details for their completion. and that
sch as willing do at their risk, he allowed
10 proceed with the work under proper spulaons and
contracts for that purpose and that means FOR paying
for the same taken 10 the extent that the means
at the command OF the Bureau ayaable therefor
will Justify IL being expressly understood however, that
the Government is not To be involved In liability by rca
such sctOn and that the several contractors are
10 do their work,f they do it, waiting for and accepting
for their pay such appropriations as may be made by
Congress therefor.
GEO N. robson, Secretary Of the Navy
The above copy OF OF orders Is referred to the
Chief Of Bureau E. for his instruction and guidance.
GEO ~ robson, Secretary.
WASHINGTON, ID. C.
The foregoing order having been submitted 10 me by
the Secretary of the Navy state that perceive no legal
objection To IL, and IL ~ me 1udlciOus ana ex-
pedient, as well as just.
(sgned) ALPHoSso TAFT, Attorney General