Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-05-09
Con tracts for Naval Supplies.
MR. AUSTIN p. BROWN AGAIN BEFORE TIL


MR.. AUSTIN p. BROWN AGAIN BEFORE THE
COURT OF INQUIRY.
Mr.. Austin p. Brown was again before the
Smith court of inquiry to-day and expressed
his willingness that the statements in his ap-
peal TO the Secretary of the Navy, submitted
yesterday, should be considered as his sworn
testimony. Witness could not state exactly a
what season of the year the prices of beef and
pork are highest and lowest on account of both
being articles which are made high and low by
spectators to suit their purposes. When asked
why he wrote the letter of January %, 1883, TO
Paymaster General Smith, asking for an ex-
tension of time in delivering supplies, witness
replied because he thought by delivering at a
later date he could make more money! The
letter OF February ID, 1888, from the paymas-
ter general in reply to the above letter, was not
regarded by witness as abrogating his right to
deliver beef and pork under the contract of $50,
and its enlargement within the ninety days
specified. He considered that he had a right
to deliver the 900 barrels beef and 900 barrels
pork contracted for at any time after Novem-
Der / L, 1882, and also after November 10th,
when the contract was doubled. The request
OF January q, 1888, for an extension of time
was made upon no suggestion from the pay
master master general, and nd was made in witness own
1888, was executed there remained undelivered
under the contract of November IL, 1882, and
it's enlargement, 1000 barrels pork and
4O2 barrels beet, and at the time of the bid of
witness for the contract of December z, 1883,
the same number of barrels remained unde-
livercd under the former contract. Under
the contract of December nth, 1883, one
third was TO be delivered in thirty days and the
other two-thirds in ninety days. Witness wrote
the letter OF January 3d. 1854, to the paymas-
ter general, asking whether deliveries should be
made as required or according to the time spe-
Gifted in the contract. The reason for the sus-
pension of the payment of the bill of November
3, 1883, was because il was for supplies 10 be
furnished one year and paid for out OF the ap-
preparation for the next year. That was the
only reason witness heard of. Witness learned
OF the suspension of payment "A few days after
the date OF the bill. (In his letter to the Secre
tary Of the Navy, read yesterday, witness re-
ferred to this delay in settling his accounts as
resulting in pecuniary loss to him. When the
letter of December %, SS3, was addressed by
witness to Pay Director ]. :. Cunningham at
New York, stating that the time tor delivery
under the new contract had not been extended,
witness had taken no steps to have the time ex-
tended.
4 letter to Pay Inspector Clark March IL,
1884, stated that witness had been subjected to
heavy loss on the contract of November 11th
by suspension of some of his bills In answer
to question as to the extent of the loss wit
ness said that he could have bought pork for
$11.S712 per barrel, but because of the suspen-
sion and not knowing what the result would
be, whether he would be allowed to make more
deliveries or not, he did not buy, and was SUBJ
seQuently compelled to purchase on a rising
market prices ranging from S12 to over S15
per barrel. Witness was shown series of let
tiers from Pay inspector Clark at New York
beef and pork, and in answer to a question
said that the delays were occasioned by the
suspension of his bills and the scarcity of pork
After some questions were made by the court
and answered the examination OF Mr.. Brown
was concluded.