The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-09-09
SCHUYLKILL ARSENAL FRAUDS
INSPECTOR AND EXAMINER TO
BE DISMISSED.

Contractor Morris Bun WIN 10 Prose-
cuted and Compelled to Replace Info
rior Artioies-Provision for Safeguard
ing tho Government In tho Future.
WARRINGTON, Sept e.--As . result Of tho
Investigation OF the Irregularities In tho
filing Of contracts at the Schutlldll Arsenal
- Philadelphia, Robert Charlton. inspector,
Is ordered to show cause, together with
Examiner F. T. Quinlan. Why he should not
be discharged for inoompetency. The
Recommendations and orders OF acting
Secretary Of War Oliver were made public
to-day.
Tho Judge Advocate General Of the army
has been ordered to prepare charges against
Morris Bush, a contractor, and Charlton
and send them TO the Department OF Justice.
While Bush will be prosecuted, no will also
be compelled to fill the contracts he now
holds with the Government and failure
to do 80 shall constitute grounds for civil
suit for damages
The only other name mentioned 10 that
Of Edwin II. Taggart. contractor. who.
In case any inferior articles are discovered
to have been furnished by him, shall be
required to replace the goods. Failure to
do so will result in civil suit.
Gen. Oliver also orders that a careful In
spection shall be made Of all goods sold to
the Government by Morris Bush, and de-
mand will be made for tho replacement OF
any inferior articles that may be found.
Bush dealt with the Government principally
in fur gloves and hats. Contractor Taggart
holds contracts for bed sheets. pillow cases,
bed sacks, horsehide gloves and other
articles. The contract with Taggart which
ia under suspicion was made on Oct. 8,
1902.
The report of Major s. F. Strong In
spector Generals Department, who has
been working on the Schuylkill frauds for
ons aSs1 snef spd Gen
repetitions Of Irregularities such as have
been discovered at Schuylkil Gen. Oliver
has made several provisions. Hereafter
when the officer In charge Of depot fails
ever he viii Be held for ne slect Of duty
and general lack Of efficiency. The COM
1nanding officers Of the various purchasing
depots will in the future select personally
the representative monthly samples fur.
at all such depots, and the schuylkill Ar
senal in particular a commissioned officer
shall personally and continually supervise
the inspection of all articles rendered under
contract with a view to their acceptance.
dNdlllHR HlIuscll VI luo hIlOVIouSo VI VIC
chief inspector as an expert. .
Further provision for the safeguarding
Of the Government is made by Gen. Oliver
as follows:
"In the advertisement for bids for con-
tracts for any Government supplies each
bidder shall furnish the name and place
of business of the manufacturer or manu-:
facturers who win furnish the goods. II
upon careful examination on the part OF the
officers of the Quartermasters Depart
ment they shall report adversely as to the
facilities and general standing OF said
manufacturer or manufacturers such re-
port shall be considered sufficient to reject
the bid Of such party.
.a.All bidders who may have heretofore
failed unjustifably to fill contracts with
the Government shall not be considered,
and a careful examination shall be made
with a view to ascertaining the legitimate
value Of the articles Of standard quality,
and any abnormally low bids must be
carefully scrutinized, with view to ex-
Guiding incompetent and unsatisfactory
contractors from furnishing Government
supplies"
Heretofore the selection OF samples and
the inspection of goods taken into the
Schuylkill Arsenal under contract have
be n left entirely in the hands Of subordi-
nate inspectors and examiners. It was
here the graft came in. The contractors
spectors tc allow the inferior goods to bo
accepted.
Orders have been issued also by Gen.
Oliver for rigid inspection Of Quarter
masters depots in various parts OF the
country Officers Of the army will be de-
tailed Immediately to proceed with the
inspections. The depots to Pc investi-
New Orleans, San Francisco. Seattle and
JefferROnyille Ind