The times., 1901-03-23
DELAYED By OUTSIDE WORK
Serious Charge Against the
Driggs-Seabury Company.

Accused Of NnEiDE Shells for Colon
bin in a. Government ArSen"i-Fa-
vorftiSm shown i'm the Extension
of Tirne on Ordnance Contracts.
Charges involving the Driggs-Seahury
Guns and Ammunition Company Of Der
nv Conn. and Cen. a. r. Burlington
chief Of the Bureau of Ordnance. have
been made by the American Ordnance
COMPANY. of New York, in brief filed
Yesterday with the Comptroller Of the
Treasury The object of the brief filed
bv the attorneys for Charles r. Flint
President Of the American Ordnance
Campauv. is TO secure from the Treasury
Department "A decision preventing the
Secretary of War from authorizing any
further payment Of moneys TO the
pricgs-Seabury Company on account of
contracts with the Government
The controversy between the American
Ordnance Company and its rival, the
briggs Company, covers a period Of about
three years. The latter company was the
successful bidder for furnishing the Gov
.rnucnt. under two contracts. with rap
5d fire guns and ammunition for the ar
my one contract was given at the out
l,raaz of the war with Spain and the other
Julv s. 1899 The first contract was for
the delivery of twenty 6-pOunder guns
complete. with go rounds Of ammunition
Ter gun for whic.. it was to receive Sd
$50 also seventy-eight 15-pounder guns
complete. with eco rounds of ammunition
r,ey gun. for which it was to receive $5l6.-
55l. The second contract was for forty
G-nourd,r guns at SS45 each. forty b.
FOUNDER rampant carriages with shields
at $3.50 each. forty s-inch guns at $l,6l5
ia grg.aC 4
81 S55 each.
Deliveries under these contracts We're
To DE made within a specified time, and, as
is customary with the Ordnance Depart
ment. it was provided that penalties
would he imposed If the deliveries We're
not on time II has always been the poll
,.v Of the War Department to extend the
time Of delivery on contracts where It
was evident that the Government would
not suffer by such an extension. THIS
was dore several times for the briggs
Company. Notwithstanding protests from
the American Ordnance Company.
To further facilitate the delivery Of the
ammunition under these contracts per
mission was given the Driggs Company
To use the machinery at the Frankford
Arsenal which had been shut down for
some time. The brief filed with the
,'omptroller OF the Treasury charges tnat
the briggs Company, white making shell
at the Frankford Arsenal, did dispose OF
pai Of such shell to the Colombian Gov
erument. and also sold TO that Govern /
rneut's representative in New York sew
eral guns. thereby still further delaying I
deliveries to the American Government /
They also petitioned the Comptroller OF /
the Treasury to Immediately stop all pay /
ments TO the briggs Company, and to inn /
~.F-sg. . fHnrr EEif
which have accrued because of the com /
,,any-s failure to make deliveries on time. /
This the War Department has refused /
10 do on the ground that it would not (
benefit the Government to impose the /
penalties and give q new contract. be- /
cause e. new contract would result Ia .
greater delay than an extension of the !
old contract. The question IN regard 10 /
the briggs Company furnishing the Co /
Iolnbian Government with 200 shell was /
called to the attention OF General Buff 1
fingtou early last fall and ne called upon :
aha briggs Company for an explanation. /
The company claimed that the shell sold 4
40 the Colombian Government had not /
been manufactured at the FrankfoTd Ar /
senal and otherwise explained the matter /
10 the satisfaction Of the Secretary of 1
War Several petitions have been re
Ceiyed at the War Department from the
American Ordnance Company with regard
70 the alleged delinquencils Of the briggs
Company. but the department has not 4
yielded 10 their demands for the imposi-
lion of penalties. and this resulted in /
taking the matter before the Comptroller
ur the Treasury. Comptroller Tracewell 4
VIII take M the case today. hut as the
papers did not originate with the depart /
meut he VIII probably refer them TO Sc 4
I-tarv Root for his information
II Is charged in the brief that Gen \. X. 4
Burlington. Chief OF Ordnance OF the War !
Department. in August 1889 permitted /
the DriggS-Sea bury Company. prIEat" I
corporation. TO use the TTaukfOrd Arse Z
uai. With IJs power, machinery, and work 4.
men. All the property and employees OF The /
uiLed States Government. and that the (
brig-s-Seabury Company ueld and used !
the Fraukford Arsenal Tor the purpose OF 4
manufacturing thirty-two slN-pounGer {
guns a number of heavier gGus, and 4
8.el1 shells for the use Of the Colombian
Gov. rnWeGt
ID iS further stated in the bll that the
guns and ammunition were sold 10 the /
Colombian Government for cash and were !
shipped on the ATLANTA. an American /
YACHT converted into a cruiser by the Co (
fon1hisn Government. and that a further /
Gr,.er placed later on was filled by the {
Hrlggs-SeabUry Company at The FRANK
ford Arsenal
The brief goes on to state that Secre- /
tary Root knew OF this matter and quotes !
The following letter. alleged 10 have been !
written by him TO the Drlggs-Seabufy
Company: