The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-11
R0BES0N'S ILLEGAL ACTS,
and HIS RECKLEss SQUtNDERIN0 OF
THE PUBLIC MONEY.
The House Committee Charging him with
Estravagance and with Gros- violation OF
Lnw-Contrncts TINT should he Cancelled.

Extravngnnce and with Gross Violation OF
Law-Contracts TINT should he Cancelled.
WASHINGTON, May 10.-Mr. Willis, OF the
Committee on Expenditures OF the Navy De-
partmont. to-day submitted to the House
report severely condcmning Robcson's admin
istration In which, tho committee say. ex-
travagance and disregard OF legal restraints
have been met at almost every step" The total
amount OF the Indebtedness OF the department
is ascertained by the committee to be t70s3.-
503.25. Of which the payment of t3 217, &c
Is recommended In spite OF this enormous
Indebtedness and an expenditure OF $149.-
1883 under Grants Administration. the
committee find that there is nothing to
compensate the vast outlay. save navy
contemplate even in comparison with those Of
third and fourth rate powers" This enormous
Indebtedness Is found to have been incurred
for work done and material furnished. pay
ment OF which has been rendered impossible.
for the reason that tho funds in the Treasury
to the credit Of the various bureaus have boen
recklessly squandered in what are technically
known as open purchases amounting to mil
lions very often without competition or adver-
tiscment. and. ms your committee maintain,
in disregard OF economy and in gross
violation Of law. This violation OF law.
without warrant IN precedent or authority. has
uepic'ou 'hc ircnsurS W 'nc cNent Vi hiilohs
OF dollars and has been the food on when
pampered favoritcs have fattened while 1t has
prevented the payment Of moneys due mer-
torious class of creditors TO such an extent that
many have been involved in bankruptcy and
ali of them subjected 10 irreparable loss. The
amount of open purchases and bureau orders
within the last few years aggregate smore than
twenty millions OF dollars. All the advantages
OF an open market have been ignored. fair com
petition avoided. and both tho letter and spirit
OF the law disregarded."
The first difficulty encountered was In faulty
bookkeeping. The following table gives in the
first column the amount credited on the books
OF the department in several cases, and in the
second the amount actually due:
C,ip,, C,yt.l a,,.,,t, D,,
Charles II Raymond ........... S. 45i 90 ~.
Geo n Creed ..... ............. lsf110O ss2i 80
J. " Grfiihs .................... 5l3li5 3,5ip -
u ,hnusN ..'..'''''''''''.'. ~, ~ ~. ~ 30
ouin,arI iron Wc,k ''''''''''' ,1ts.5r NJ 81 ~
Geo Plave ~ 7Io01
,rAt - 400, a., eo -, ~,
,in,ihls inhls sum sum on s15i JOSS pald 10 crcdit9rs
"iuuu. m .hv n WI ~ pI y cau onitcIr' lhc
bv1iiiis' nnu. W.s paiu ~ - I.''tl hoUsOi
iii H. VI ~ ~ nw III n,i'v. ~ uIvrslon oi
auUtt. Vcy "pptovi im,u ~ i 10, "He purpVse -
"i."..,It. .n lvEniu 70 Mhlcn tne connliu.e II
s,usul"hS ", l@chlcmt @ ia its .onueh,hh'lpn. IL up-
pI"Ntvs@ @ .ne enormous c9htIhcts ior uouole-tHr-
port ~ - onr oi Wii'n w repOtt ol u
b i vi ny S ~ ~ ,ny coinnteo'
stahl tne htttude taksn 10y the computes Ia
fEei,' " ''eso coh'r"cus' Win 'he eNluchcc DC
lo.el ,., u ,.
Aitrr Ieclung hopes9lh ,sl lumber pur,h9srs
Thomnsnn the renort onr ,,onni,,,SS 3D.
w iopVlti pi SnSsi iouI colnnltiee
vunSSiilh @ "irpu. M puallnea'ioh p Surn eN.ehslNe
h Hi7'S. tn'io N"o ~ ~, ,SSs'hk cNlEcnrJ
,n're "a NY, waS no ionry 10 tne creu oi NE bureau