The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1884-06-24
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT FRAUDS,

The Determination 20 Push the In-
quiry 20 the Farthest POint-The
Names OF Accused Parties Not 60
be Made Public Until After Iuvestt-
gatfon-A Consultation 60 be Hold
with the District Attorney To-
morrow.
The Naval Court OF Inquiry did not accom-.
plish much ut It's session yesterday or to-day.
II was decided to recoiYe and place on record
as much OF the documentary evidence as pos
sible before proceeding to take testimony. The
routine and formal portion Of tho work Gamble
accomplished without the attendance OF the ab.
sent member OF the board and for this reason
that branch OF tho Investigation will be car
ried on pending Pay Director Kinney's arrival.
why Secret Sessions Are Desirable.
Commodore Jouett, the president OF the
board, believes that II is important that tho
earlier stages OF tho Investigation should be
with closed doors, 80 that the board may form
,Sme definite idea OF who 10 implicated before
IL would not DO proper, I'm the Commodore's
opinion, TO notify everybody who Is suspected
through the newspapers before there was a
chance TO take steps TO prevent their escape.
The court OF Inquiry has already had placed
before II records and books showing tho meth
ods OF keeping books throughout the Depart
ment, and these Will bo diligently examined
and compared.
The Work OF the Board
can hardly be overestimated. It virtually In.
eludes the examination OF the records OF every
financial transaction OF the Department within
the time allowed by the statute of Limitation
and In matter that requires expert and care
Jul examination to detect skillfuly concealed
Irregularities.
Surgeon Van Reypen, the Assistant Surgeon.
General, has rendered tho board important
servicein compiling an elaborate report of his
investigation, assisted by the accounting ON
The sensation caused by the prosecutions
and threatened prosecutions OF prominent
business men has given place n n feeling OF
Indignation that euch wholesale and terrible
charges should have been 80 publicly made
against so many leading merchants.
The Integrity OF the city has been attacked
on what unpre1udiced observers cannot but
regard as insufficient evidence OF any mlscon-
duct dishonesty.
Nero Charges Against Merchants
Won't DO-The Facts Must Ne
Fully Shown.
The people viii be far more willing to be-
lievc that one or two Navy Department clerks
forged names Unfortunately as Il became
necessary 10 carry out their schemes than that
inc prominent aud trusted merch ants OF WASH
ington entered into O conspiracy to defraud
the Government by the most fragrant form OF
corruption and thievery. AS long as the CEN
tral ngure OF all these charges Ia fugitive,
and has failed TO meet any of the innumerabIe
charges, II would certainly have been wise for
me Investigators to acquire some positive
evidence against those citizens whose reputa-
tions they assail.
As far as can be learned from the Navy De-
partment Investigators the
SIGNATURES OF the Suspected STer-
chants Have Not Been Verified
by experts and sworn denial OF tho genuine
ness OF the signatures would knock the bottom
out OF the cases that have been commenced or
contemplated.
There cannot be shadow of doubt that an
immense amount OF corruption exists and
that skiIlful system OF fraud has been car
ried on and every good citizen Is anxious to see
tne inveatigatfon pushed to the conviction OF
oil who are guilty and the vindication OF all
who are innocent, but there is a general feel
Ing OF Indignation against tho wholesale at
lacks upon the honor aud integrity OF the
tradeemen OF the city, and thoy VIII not be
believed TO be guilty on tho questionable evil
dence that has thus far been advanced.
A Brief Session Of the Court of Tn
quiry To-day.
The Court OF Inquiry held brief session to-
day and adjourned until Thursday to await
the arrival OF Pay Director Kinney. Up to the
time the board adjourned no witness had been
examined, and the. records, vouchers, etc.
submitted had not been examined. The board
therefore had no report to make of Its pro.
ceedlngs up TO THE time. Between this and
Thursday Secretary Chandler will be
In Consultation with the District
Attorney
and steps Will be taken TO institute proceed
fDgs against other persons who are expected
TO be implicated or who may be suspected OF
an Intention to leave the town. The members
OF the board will be familiariztng themselves
with the matters TO be investigated.
DR.. wales was present at tho session this
morning.
Secretary Chandler told q critic reporter
this morning that he could tell nothing about
what what would Ms be done before tho court recon.
~ do not know as much about It az you have
published" said the Secretary. "rhe matter
is entirely In the hands of the District Attor-
ney. do not know what arrests he will order
or anythi ng about It."