Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-05-08
Contracts for Naval Supplies.


THE SMITH COURT OF INQUIRY TO EXTEND ITS
INVESTIGATION.
Mr.. w. F. Stidham, Of the fourth auditors
office, was before the Smith court Of inquiry
yesterday and testified that vouchers for sup
plies of beef and pork, under contract with A.
2. Brown, amounting to a great many thousand
dollars, were suspended against the pay Off.
GERS, Pay Directors Washington, A. H. Gilman
and Pay Inspector 7. T: CasWeli, who made the
were not according to the terms Of the contract,
there being no legal authority for the extension
or enlargement q the CONTRACT, and in some In.
year which had endsd.
The Secretary Of the Navy has directed that
the duties OF the court Of inqofry be extended
So US TO investigate and report the facts and cir
cumstances connected with any contract for or
purchase of supplies for the navy made by the
pancy of the oiiice. Thc court viii include scI in
the report its conclusions, and state what, if
any, culpabll1ty attacheS to any person or per-
sons In the service OF the United States govern
ment.
MIR. BROWN EXPLAINS.
Mr. Austin 2. Brown, the contractor for the
supplies In question, appeared as q witness to-
day, and testified that he was induced to bid
for contracts in the fall of 1882 for beef and
pork below the market price because he fore
saw that the prices would be apt to fall before
the date. for fulfilling the contracts, and the
quotations Of the commercial bulletin showed
that his bid was wise. He read and submitted
a letter to this effect which he had prepared
with the intention of sending TO the Secretary
OF the Navy as an explanation of the original
charges of cOllusion Us contained In the New
York World. in case he Was not called as O wit
ness before the court.
Mr.. Browns letter W0s very long one. He
appealed to the Secretary ia defense OF his
good name, which had been assailed, Offering
all ms books h and snd papea for Inspection and
dealings with the government for the past fif-
teen years.
Pay Director Thos. u. LOCKER, a member of the
court, an opportunity to turn over the navy nav
otfice here to Pay Director Murray, who win be
his temporary successor.
ELIZA MILES WILL.-The will of the late
Eliza Miles was aed to-day. She leaves her
ee a hes t lot
dence to her husband, II. II. Miles, and on his
death to her daughter. Julia Edwards, and
ants, and names Henry Bailey rs executor.
A SALE OF PKopERrY.-Mr. Harvey L. Page
on the north side Of r street, between 21st
street and Massachusetts avonue; also. two lots
on the southeast corner OF ) and 10th streets
fronting "A feet Gil 10th.
AN IMPORTANT CASE DEC1DED-To-day, in
the Circuit Court, Judge Cox, an important
case was decided, that of the United States
John o. Evans. The latter was, with Thos. l..
on S Bsn
Navy department, for $4,000. BENJAMIN
was also emnloyed on salary OF $4,000 per
public buildings and grounds He accounted
for the public money as disbursing officer but
deducted his commission MS fixed by law and
agreed upon by the Secretary Of War, and took
credit for it. This the first controller OF the
Treasury diSallowed on the ground that Denja-
vs s pSs tine Tine a.eI
question did not apply and the surctleS could
not be held if it did.
CHARGED WITH STEALING PROVISIONS FROM
HoTEL.-For some time past the proprietor
Of tho Riggs house has been missing hams and
other articles from his stOreroOm, and reported
the fact to the police. Detectives Raft and
Block were assigned to work up the lease, case, and
coored 'nsy shornr arre''ea ed lna Thna'
colored waiter. both employed at the hotel, on
charge of stealing the articles, and George
bago from the hotel, on charge
OF receiving the stolen property. The oiE-
GERS recovered 17S pounds OF ham. In the
Police Court this morning the prisoners were
charged as above stated and the cases were con-
tinued one week.
The Army or tho Potomac Reunion.
1T CLOSES AT BALTIMORE WITH PARADE
AND A BANQUEr.
Owing to heavy rainfall In Baltimore yes
terday orders were given pOstponing the parade
Of the Veterans Of the Army Of the Potomac
Later the rain closed, and at three O'Clock the
procession moved. Fully Ave thousand men
were In line, including Lee camp of confederate
soldiers from Richmond. The three brigades
in the procession were commanded respectively
by Colonel Stewart Brown, General John W.
Horn and Colonel 81. p. Uuderhill- In the frs:
brigade the Washington militia. consisting OF
the Light Infantry, Union Veteran Corps Odd
Guard), Union Veteran Corps first com apanyl
National Rifles, Ride Cadets and Washington
Cadet Corps. were conspicuous. The reunion
closed last night with q banquet at COncOrdi0
opera house, TO which three hundred guests sat
down, Major General II. ]. Hunt presiding.
Am9ng those present were General Horatio
G. King, Commander w. S. Schley, Joaquin
Miller, Captain John Glenn, the 'drlmfner boy
Of SHILOH, and several members II. l.. Lee
Camp Confederate Veterans. A telegram from
President Cleveland was read regretting his
Inability to DE present.
The wives and children of striking stone cut
terS near Norristown, Pa, seriously injured
Benjamin Jacobs. the foreman, by stonfnS him.