Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-08
Action on the Schuylkill Ar
senal Contract Scandals.
A CONSPIRACY ALLEGED
CONTRACTOR BUSCH AND IN
sPECToR CHARLTON ACCUSED.
Acting Secretary Oliver Directs That
Great Care Be Exercised Here
after In Accepting Supplies.

The criminal prosecution of Morris Busch
contractor. and Robert Charlton, inspector
was ordered today by Acting Secretary or
War Oliver. This action Is INDICATED IN
a direction to Judge Advocate General
Davis to prepare the necessary papers for
this prosecution and submit them to the
Department of Justice. Busch holds con-
tract with the quartermaster department OF
the army to furnish fur caps and gauntlets
to be delivered at the Schuylkili arsenal,
Philadelphia. The oyder for prosecution is
taken on the strength of report recently
made by Major F. s. Strong of the Artil-
lery Corps acting Inspector general in
which It is alleged that conspiracy to de-
fraud the government exists between Busch
and Charlton. The alleged conspiracy con-
sists in the delivery and acceptance of
goods of quality inferior to that required by
the contract Hereafter a commissioned Of
ficer Will be assigned to duty as chief In
spector in the arsenal.
Besides the criminal prosecution of Busch
and Charlton. Secretary Oliver directs that
Busch shall be compelled to complete his
contract with the government upon penalty
of civil suit for damages. He also stpu-
lates that II any inferior articles are fur
nished to the government by Contractor
Edwin II. Taggart under his contract of
October S. 1862. he shall be required to
replace the inferior goods under penalty
VI u VII sui lpI the recovery vi lNe Hpoiicy
paid.
The report of Major Strong regarding
conditions In the Schuylkill arsenal has led
to a suggestion from the inspector gen.
erals department. which has been made
order by Secretary Oliver for imme-
date investigation of the important depots
containing army supplies. These are To-
Gated at New York. Boston, Philadelphia,
JeferSonvtlle, Ind. San Francisco, Seattle
and other places.
IT Inc ,1xB7 49,
Acting Secretary Oliver today issued the
following statement giving his conclusions
on the report of Major Strong:
THE report of Major +. s. Strong ArtIl-
lery Corps acting inspector general. upon
the alleged irregularities in the filing of the
contracts at the Schuyikill arsenal Phila
delphia. Is hereby approved.
1T IS ordered that Inspector Robert
Charlton and Examiner F. T. Quinlan be
din ected to show cause, in writing, why
they should not be at once discharged for
incompetency in permitting the receipt Of
articles inferior to the contract standard.
The judge advocate general will prepare
the necessary papers to submit to the De-
partment of Justice for the purpose of In
augurating criminal proceedings against
Morris Busch contractor. and Robert
Charlton. inspector, for conspiracy to de-
fraud the United States government
"A careful inspection shall be Immediately
made by an expert of all articles hereto
fore delivered on the contract awarded Nor
rts Busch. or others. and demand made to
replace all such as may be inferior to the
contract samples.
Morris Busch shall be compelled to COM
plete In satisfactory manner all contracts
which he now may hold with the govern
ment, and failure to do so shall constitute
grounds for civil suit for damages.
I'm case any inferior articles are dscov-
cred furnished by Edwin H. Taggart, con-
tractor. under his contract of October g.
1902. he shall be required to replace said in
ferior goods. failure on his part to do so TO
be followed by civil suit for the recovery Of
the money paid.
Future Inspection.
I'm the future the commanding officers at
all depots where supplies are furnished I'M
der contract shall be required to select per-
sonally the representative monthly samples
furnished to the quartermaster general;
and at all such depots. and the Schuylkill
arsenal in particular. commissioned off,
Ger shall personally and continually super
wise the inspection of all articles rendered
under contract with view to their accept
ance, availing himself of the knowledge Of
the chief inspector an expert
Hereafter all irregularities of any nature
whatever not reported upon by the officer
in charge of said depots shall be held to
constitute a basis for charges against such
officer for neglect of duty and a geneI al
lack of efficiency: and in the advertisement
for bids for contracts for any government
supplies each bidder shall furnish the name
and place OF business Of the manufacturer
or manufacturers who will furnish the
goods. II upon careful examination on the
part OF the officers OF the quartermaster s
department they shall report adversely as
to the facilities and general standing or
said manufacturer. or manufacturers. such
report shall be considered sufficient to re-
tect the bid of such party.
"Ar bidders who may have heretofore
failed unIustifiably to I'LL contracts with
the government shall not be considered, and
a careful examination shall he made with a
view TO ascertaining the legitimate market
value of articles OF standard quality, and
any abnormally low bids must be carefully
scrutinized with a view to excluding incom-
petent and unsatisfactory contractors from
furnishing government supplies.
ROBERT SHAW OLIVER,
Acting Secretary Of War.
Preparing the Evidence.
The report of Maj. Strong is now in the
hands OF Judge Advocate General Davis,
who Is preparing the evidence from 1t
for the criminal prosecutions contem-
plated This work will require a day or
two at which time the case Will be turn
ed over to the Department OF Justice for
action.
Gen. Humphrey. quartermaster general.
today addressed letter to Chief In
spector Charlton and Inspector Quinlan,
asking them, I'm compliance with section
twelve OF the civil service regulations.
whether there Is any reason why tHey
should not be dismissed from the govern
ment service. in view of the charges
which have been made against them. AL
though criminal proceedings are IN prog
ress against the chief inspector. this no.
tice is required by the civil service regu-
lations before the inspectors can be re-
moved from office. Three days are given
the inspectors for reply to the charges.
Ouartermaster General Humphrey Will
have the depots OF his department. included
among which Is the New Orleans depot, in
spected by a civilian inspector. who Is yet
to be selected. II is the intention to have
this inspection most thorough and conduct
ed by an expert in the work. There IS said
to be no reason to apprehend that condi-
lions will be found equalng those at the
Schuylkill arsenal.
Denial Made by Busch.
PHILADELPHIA. September s.-Morris
Busch, the contractor against whom GRIM
tnal prosecution Is ordered by the War De-
partment, Is a common councilman OF this
city Charlton. who is also recommended
for prosecution. Is employe of the
Schuylkill arsenal
M, S,rony 81 tta tpsDartnr geperaJs do