The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-17

SECRETARY RoBEsoN IN EXPLANATION AND DE
FENCE OF HIS CoNTRACTs-THE SCARE WHICH
GREW OUT OF THE vIRGINIUs AFFAIR-A
CRITICAL MOMENT FOR THE coUNTRY-How
THE APPROPRIATIONS WERE USED.
I WASHINGTON, Jan. 16. 1870.
The House Naval Committee this morning met FOR
the purpose OF hearing statements from ex-secreary
Robson in relation to the testimony heretofore
taken by this committee. All the members were
present except Messrs Harris and Harmer. Mr.
Robson. having been stated that far as he
could gather there appeared be two general points
to the testimony. The first that the appropria
tons had been exceeded and the other was the
charge growing out of the of the old material OF
the navy. 1t seemed to be claimed that certain con-
tracts We're made without proper appropriations to
meet them. This seemed to grow out or the de-
ciency resulting from contracts for completing the
double-turreted monitors. This subject had been
gone over in the Forty-fourth Congress and in the
past summer with the Committee on Expenditures in
the Navy Department.
THE yRGrNIus SCARE.
Mr. Robson went on to explain the circumstances
of the Vrginius excitement. when his attention was
drawn to the weakness of the navy Cor coast de-
fence, and he alarmed to find that the coast was
ut the mercy Of any power, however weak. that had
of iron-cad vessels. During the yirginius excite
ment there happened to be in tho harbor of New
York Spanish iron-cad, which would have been a
very serious matter but for the fortunate circum-
stance of her having been in dry dock, which
gave this government certain control her.
Frightened at this condition of the navy he
made up his mind that it was the duty of
the Secretary to strengthen it to the ex-
tent of his power with iron-clads. At the
time the single turret monitors put in repair
cut of appropriations and on the completion of
these repairs there fourteen fifteen ready for
sprvice-one the Pacific the others the Atlantic
coast. When he came before Congress in regard to
the yrgnius affair he had suggested the propriety of
repairing the double turreted monitors-namely, the
Miant.l omah, Terror Amphitr.tc. Puritan and Mo-
nadnock-as being powerful and better seagoing
vessels than the single turret monitors. With
them there would be an effective fleet for defence.
The Appropri .tion Committee favored the plan and
transferred old appropriation for an iron dock to
that purpose The work was entered upon and was
found TO be too large to be done under contract
and the first contracts were limited to putting
had rotted, and iron frames were substi-
tuted in accordance with more modern ideas.
of the country. 1t necessary that it should
be done in the best manner, and propositions were
they bid for it. Then the Bureau of Construction
made Its own proposition, and said II they would
come down to IL they could have the work.
ADVERTISING QUESTION.
II was said these contracts not advertised for
It has never been held in the Navy Department or
anywhere that the law which required advertise
ments for supplies covered the building of ships
machinery or boilers 1t had always been construed
that these did not come under the head OF supplies
They were too important and too complicated to be
made the subject OF competition in the matter of
cost AS a prime consideration. great ship laden
with government property might De sent out and no
amount of bonds would compensate for defective
boilers OF machinery.
Another objection seemed to be that the ships were
practically rebuilt. This was not an unusual thing
The country would have had right to complain had
any Of the old detects been retained.
COSTRACTS.
Returning the subject of contracts he said those
for the frames made in September, 1874 were CON-
pleed and paid for of the appropriations. The
second contracts made i'll March and April 1875
for the plating OF the vessels This does not mean
the armor but the ou side and inside skin OF the
scls The contracts were made dependent upon APP
is contractors took the risk OF the
appropriations being required for other purposes
he believed at the time that the appropriations
would be sufficient and thinks they would have
been but for the exigencies growing out OF our rel
tons with Spain.
In the fall of 1878 an exgency arose which called
for expenditures to much greater extent than had
been anticipated. II I'D not make the impression
the country that would had 1t not been kept quiet
Our relations with Spain then more critical
than at any time within ten years. He then re-
lated the circumstances Srowing ont OF the threat
OK CuUa and read the letter OF Secretary Fish OF No
venibcr 5, 1875. In October. November and De-
Europe, the Sout. AMI North Atlantic and elsewhere
TO rendezvous at Port Royal involving large expend.
lures. Had it not been tor this unexpected demand
upon the funds OF the department these second con-
tracts would have been settled.
THE CRITICAL SITUATION.
In this connection he read letter from ex-Secre-
larry Fish, dated December 81, 1873, in which that
gentleman states that Mr.. Robson. in his previous
testimony in relation to this matter. had not
and reciting some OF the leading points
in that transaction. Under these circumstances it
81
government to put the navy the best possible foot
ing. and had he failed to do the country would
result of that correspondence had been TO improve
our relations with Spain. IL was in this way that
much OF the appropriations were used as TO make
good the deficiency ON the second class OF contracts.
ANOTHER CLASS CONTRACTS
The third class OF contracts were nude under his
order of March 1sT7. These also made subject
to appropriations with special proviso that if Con-
lross made appropriations the United States
should be in no wise liable
TIE ships in the yards in the way of the
builders They had already gone ON to carry out the
second contract, although they had been notified
there appropriations to pay them, for tho
Navy Department had notified them TO that effect
when it found its funds used for the objects stated
The contractors said the ships were in their yards
and they desired to finish and get them out Of the
way, and were willing to take the risk OF payment
but could not do so unless the department gave the
order aud the necessary specifications and
plans. lie was about going out. and lie had begun
the shipe TO relieve his successor of any RESPONSE
biity he gave the order. For these last contracts
II important 10 the country and justice to the
contractors that the ships should be completed.
The contract specifically provided that payment
should only DO made by an appropriation by Con-
grcss. He had consulted the Attorney General. who
said the contracts We're not Illegal. like policy of
making contracts dependent upon appropriations
was practiscd in the Treasury Department. For in
stance all the stone for building must be embraced
in the first contract, though hut a small part be APP
propriatcd tor, because IL must all come IRON
quarry. He Informed his successor the first hour he
came into office OF his action and explained that he
n.1 of la In tnA
matter. and Secretary Thompson had told him he
had not suspended the orders on account OF illegal
ity, but TO avoid any financial embarrassmeuts In
connection with them.
Tho committee ut this point took recess
DisrosirfoN or MATERIAL.
The committee roasscmbled az haif.past one p. NJ
and Mr.. Robcson proceeded to explain his course in
relation the disposition OF old material that had
accumulated Ia the different navy yards as the lcav-
ings the He stated that when he went before
the Committee Appropriations OF tho Forty-third
Congress asking an appropriation to rebuild the
douDo turret iron clads members OF the com,
lnittcc asked ,if he could not make use of
the old material scattered around in differ