The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-06-03

RA5CALITY IN NAVAL AFFAIRS
The navy, under Republican management,
was undoubtedly one of the most corrup'
departments OF the public service New
York paper repeated some interesting testi-
mony the other day that was recently given
before the Psymaster Smith Court Of In
curry. This witness gave eY idence going to
show an improper connection between the
PsymasseT General and certain favored con-
tractors who sHe now forbidden to bid for
supplies upon any Of the present navy con-
tracts. The frst witness was George w.
Simpson, of Simpson, McILtyrs & Co., Bos-
ton, tie butter firm. They have patent
for packing butter to 90 long distances or to
be kept long time and have supplied butter
to the navy for years. This firm furnished
80, 600 rounds in 1882 to the navy. The next
year Smith was Psymaster General and the
Boston butter people received no contracts.
Simpson came TO Washington to find out
why, arriving just before the supplies were
being bought for the Greedy Relief Expedi'
ton. Simpson. continuing his evidence,
said that the Paymasser General told him that
the butter OF the Boston firm was the best
that had ever besn put up for the
navy. There was no objection msde TO it in
any way, and Simpson rested in the full be-
lief that his firm would get the contract, or
at least an opportunity 10 put in bid. The
contract was soon after given to iavorite OF
the Psymsster ard he found out why
through a man by the name of Brown, who
was tie purchaser of large supplies for the
- FLaA
ne could have secured for him the contract
fer 10000 pounds OF butter for the Greedy
relief, but that ne had turned the order over
10 George q. Goff because Golf had claimed
that be ives not getting his share OF the con.
tracts. He said that Gof Wss very jealous of
him. Brown then went on to say thst If tbs
Boston butter firm wanted any more con-
tracts, to come to him and he would procure
them for them. Mr.. Simpson said to day:
Il asked him what commission he would
charge to secure the order. He asked me if
the butter would stand five cents a pound
above the regular price, and replied, no.
He then offered to procure the contract for
10 per cent. commission"
Further testimony goes to show that the
butter was bought at As cents when the Bos.
ton firm would have furnished it at
SO cent?, and the man Golf referred
to in the foregoing pocketed the difference,
and it was detected in the following man
ner: The contract for furnishing the butter
for the Greedy expedition, which was turned
over to COT. was filed by W. 1. Young, of
South Market street, New York. Goff is
professional contractor, and had to 90 to a
butter firm to get his supplies. Charles NJ.
Young, who retired last year from the firm,
but who is still working for it until his &C
count with it is settled up, testified that he
saw check made out in New York payable
TO the order of Goff for $500. As 10000
pounds of butter were furnished, this would
make the difference between the contract
price of forty-fve cents and the market
( price, thirty.three cents. 1t shows that this
/ eight cents was put on to give Golf
[ his commission. Simpson says that
be reported to Paymaster General
! Smith the improper overtures made
/ to him by Brown. Simpson said to
/ Smith: II stated that / had come to him
/ frankly. and did not believe that a man of
bis reputation could afford to associate with
such man as l believed A. P. Brown to be,
as any boy weuld have had better Judgment
than to divulge secrets to g stranger, as Mr..
Brown did to me- He thanked me for COM
ing to him, and stated with an oath, that Mr..
BrGwn was a fool, and in this statement /
agreed with him" Mr.. Simpson also stated
in this conversation that he did not under
stand why the Navy should purchase butter
at forty-five cents pound when he could
have furnished the butter of a much better
grade at thirty three cents. Smith replied to
this that he was very busy at the time, and
gave the order to Mr.. Getf, without knowing
that other people had had a chance 10 make
bid.
Thus the money used to go under Republi-
can administrations. That $500 was not
missed the other day when the public money
was counted. simply because it was in Goff 6
pocket,