The New York Herald Newspaper, April 8, 1876, Page 3

hp. ¥ =~ NEW YORK H. LEAGUE ISLAND. Impending Exposure of Flagrant Frauds. AUDACIOUS @ORRUPTION History of the Removal of the Philadelphia Navy Yard. SPOILS OF OLD METAL. Ships’ Knees Stolen and Stored in Bonded Warehouses. Officers Intimidated Into Silence or Sent to Sea, ROBESON’S PREDICAMENT Purcapetrat, ApriP?, 1876 The House Committee on Naval Affaira, Congressman ‘Whitthorne Chairman, left Washington for this city at Bine o'clock to-night and will meet at the Girard House to-morrow evening to begin the investigation into the affairs of the Philadelphia Navy Yard alluded to in the Heratp of the 28th of February, in which a vammary was given of some of the disgraceful facts mhich awaited the Committee. Deputy Sergeant-at- Arms Donovan to-day arrived from Washington, with subpomas for some fifty witnesses in ihe city. Tho Ust will be supplemented day by day with such ad- @itional names asthe course of the inquiry may re- quire, WHAT WILL BE sHowx ‘The committee propose to take testimony touching the general mismanagement of the Navy Yard, the frauds in contracts of various descriptions, the negli- gence of officers to attend to their duties, the employ- ment of extra hands in election time, &c. But the Specific object of their inquiry will be the cireum- “stances attending the removal of the old Navy Yard to League Island by Nathaniel McKay, the contractor against whom charges of gross frauds were published In the Hzratp in February, on the allegation of per- sons 1n this city alleged to be thoroughly familiar with the facts. Mr. McKay was this evening served with & subpena “in this city, and he will be the first witness called Defore the committee when it begins its work to- morrow, Below is given a briet summary of the substance of the testimony which will be heard before the Commit- tee in the order m which it is likely to be elicited:— M’KaY'S CONTRACTS. First, testimony relating to the obtaining of contracts by Nathaniel McKay. In addition to the evidence of Gommodore Preble and Isaiah Hanscomb, already taken privately by the Committee in Washington, and * She official records of the Navy Department, five wit, Reases have been summoned to appear to-morrow ‘who, itis alleged, wil prove that McKay’s contracts were not only obtained by the exercise of improper in- " figenites, but were also fraudulent in themselves, These ‘witnesses are the fotiowing:—Jobn Rice, a well known contractor and politician of the city; John W. Lynn, ashipbulider on the Delaware; Edward Hartt, Naval Constractor atfPniladelphia Navy Yard; Clark H. Wells, Commandant of the Navy Yard, and Jobn Cochran, one of the contractors who unsuccessiully bid against McKay. The contracts of McKay included $5,000 for Temoving the ordnanco department to League Island, $42,000 for removing the construction department, $26,000 for removing the ship houses and $13,500 for Temoving the engineer’s department From the outset Mr. McKay has boasted that it would be useless for anybody to attempt to bid against him as ho had the whole Navy Department at Washing- ton at bis back and the contracts would be awarded to him no matter what the competition, This had the effect intended, and to make the thing certain McKay went systematically to work to buy off such bidders as scemed itkely to prove troublesome. With Jonn W. Lynn he made &® contract in writing, promising to give him a certain percentage on the gross amount of his (Mc- Kay’s) contract, on condition of his agreeing not to vid against him. This Mr, Lynn, regarding competi- Won atany rate useless, accepted; but McKay, as son as he had the terms in writing, abandoned bis original intention of bidding for the work as a whole, snd pat in proposais by departments, as specified above, sy which means Lynn received a percentage on the vids for the construction department only. At the same timo he made overtures to other Philadelphia parties, who had the facilities far doing the work and ‘were known as probable bidders; and to Mr. Jobn Rice, who had received the contract for removing the walls of the yard, he made a proposition to pay $20,000—$5.000 in cash and the reat in instal- ments, but Mr. Rice, having obtained his contract Vhrough politics! influence of as potent a character as that wielded by McKay, telt that he was secure, and refusd to sell out, As to the fraudulent character of the contracts them. Delves, testimony will be adduced to show that when the contract for removing the Ordaance Department } was awarded for $5,000 everything bad already been femoved with the oxception of two or three wheelbar- tow loads, while the contract for removing the ship bouses was awarded to McKay for $35,000, in spite of the fact that Charles Martin and William H. Simpson, + Of this city, had offered for $28,000 to do the same work, FRAUDULENT AUCTION SALES. Second is the testimony relating to fraudulent pur- ehases at the government auction sales. There ares host of witnesses to be examined. The principal ones will be Samuel C. Cook, auctioneer; William Row- Dotham, Assistant Engineer of the navy; Hannan ‘Newell, Assistant Chief Enginectr; Peter Black, of No, 297 Columbus avenue, Boston, foreman for McKay, Bumerous naval officers and other employ és of the yard They will testify that at the auction sales of superfiu ous material at the navy yard during the months of the removal the purchases were made by « ring, composed of McKay and his agents, and that, with bearcely an exception, the material was knocked down to him at his own prices, In isolated instances, where there was bond fide competing, material was mot sold for any moro than {it was worth, and the only effect that this competition had, therefore, ‘was to inorease the cost ta McKay. It will be in evi- dence, if allegations are true, that at the auction McKay instructed his employés to collect the round ship knecs, &c., that were lying about the yard and pile them with the comparatively worthless staff pur- chased at the auction gales, and that io this way large ‘Tevidence of these watchmen will show, besides tho amounts of government property was openly stolen by McKay. TRRPT OF MAVY MATERIAL, Third ts the testimony relating to the theft of navy yard material in process of removal. The men in charge of the drays which were engaged by McKay to haul the government property in the yard to the scows employed to carry it to League Island will testify that most of this work was done in the night time, up to twelve o'clock midnight, although the testimony of the League Island watchman will show that no material ‘was received alter eight o’clock inthe evening They will also testify that McKay had the lights put out, so as to prevent the possibility of de- tection in his stealing, and ordered his team- sters to haul indiscriminately to his own scows and the scows employed by Reynolds, the coadjutor and private agent of McKay, for the removal of the material purchased at the so-called auction sales, and to the scows of McKay employed for government ma- terial, This was made worse confounded by the fact that the contracts made with the draymen placed them under the orders of Reynolds as well as McKay, and they did not know at any time which was their master, This fact aroused their suspicions apd made them naturally inquisitive as to where the material was going, especially as the Queen street warehouse, !n which a large amount of the so-called auction material was stored, was casy of access by drayage through the front yard of the Navy Yard—in fact, only a few blocks off They found ‘that many of the scows went up to the Queen street wharf, where a special drayman employed by McKay, Hugh Patton, previously a boatman under the recom- mondation of Councilman Owen F. Kaney, of the Third ward, and also an employé of McKay inside the Navy Yard, was engaged in hauling valuable ma- terial to the Queen street warehouse, TESTIMONY OF WaTCHMES, Three of the watchmen employed, one at League Island and two others at the eld Navy Yard, appointed by Commodore Preble by Teason ot their faithful ser- vice and honorable discharge from the marine service and since discharged by orders from Washington be, cause of their efforts to perform their duties in pro- tecting the property of Uncle Sam, will testify tothe landing of government property, compr'sing iron bars, copper and other valuable material at the coal wharf adjacent to the ofl works at Green- wich Point, a half way stopping place, instead of being landed at their destination, League Island, by the scows in the employ of McKay. Thts material, whieh included iron, copper, brass, &e., was hauled by the way of Mifflin street back again to the city, and placed in the Queen street and ot! bonded ware- houses. They will also testify efforte at League Island to protect the government. property” sas overruled by their immediately ° “officers under the direction of McKay. In one case the watchman at League Island was obliged to draw his masket upon McKay to resist the wanton destruction of government property by the latter and his agents, He thus alone subdued the belligerent propensities of McKay, but his removal soon after followed by orders from Washing- ton, as was threatened by McKay at the tima The stealing, the wanton destraction of government prop- erty in its removal from the scows at League Island, where\the material went to; another set of dray- men who will testify to having been employed by McKay and Reynolds to cart brass in large quanti- ties from the Queen streot depository to Clyde’s line on the whart, above Walnut street, for transportation to New York; long bar iron. . Railroad | depot, at Front and Vive ee ‘other valuable material to the depot of the same company at Fifteenth and Callowhill streete, Witnesses will testify that while the amount paid in purchases of ship knees by McKay amounted to over $100, thousands ot dollars’ worth are stored in different portions of the southwestern section of the city, and witnesses will also testify that at the time this valuable material was sold for a song. A ship load of rotten ship knees from Orville Grant was received at League Island, and upon the timber master refusing at Orst to receive it, be cause of its condition, he was threatened with ven- ‘geance at Washington, and was obliged to recoive It GUILTY KNOWLEDGB If WASHINGTOX. In addition to the testimony bearing directly upon the actual stealing of McKay, thero will be witnesses to prove that from first to last he was in perfect har- mony with the department at Washington through Hanscom, Chief of the Bureau of Construction, and that Secretary RobeSon exercised a greater influence than either Commodore Preble or Commandant Wella Neither of the lattor, although well aware of what w: going on, dared to interfere, and although on one occa- sion Captain Wells did have the courage to order out the marines on him when he refused to, stop work ona contract that had been annulled, he had bis bills passed by Naval Constructor Hartt, and the department, as McKay has since boasted, paid thein over the head of Wells, After the removal of Commodore Preble, McKay openly bragged that it had been done through his influence at Washing- ton, and threatened @ like fate to anybody who should dare to interfere with him. The secret of this intimacy will be disclosed to the committee by the records of contracts, auction sales, &c., for which they have issued sabpernas, and they are already in posses- sion of the facts of Roboson’s private visit to McKay in this exty on the 7th and 8th of March, when arrange- ats were made to fix up certain papers in view of the approaching investigation. - ‘THE PART THAT RANDALL PLAYED, ‘When McKay entered upon his contracts be | tended to bring his working force from New York and the East, but, ashe has himself acknowledged, Con- gressman Randall fought him so hard that he had to give it ap and employ such men as Mr. Randall recom- mended, There will bo numerous witnesses before the committee to show that, while professing not to | know MeKay or to have any influence with him, a note from Mr. Randall was invariably an ‘“‘open sesame” to the contractor's payroll, and that when an | applicant for work hed been tarned away by his fore- Mad, on staiingto McKay that Rendall had sent him he was immediately offered a position. Names and dates also he furnished the committee, showing the intimacy existing between the Navy Department and the democratic Congressmen, and proving bis agency ‘m stocking the yard with extra hands at election time, NRGLIGENCE OF THE NavY YaRp orricens, The testimony touching the negligence of the Navy Yard officers will be full and explicit, Some of these are known to have been directly in the pay of McKay, ‘and others were so influenced by his usual threat that he would have them sent to sea that they did not dare to report what they knew, There will be witnesses to prove that he sent baskets of wine to certain officers as acknowledgment of their services, while to Naval Contractor Hartt, as already recorded, be presonted a handsome watch. A witness wanted to borrow govern- ‘ment wheels and asked Boss Drayman Ford, empioyed by the government, for permission to use. One wheel had no tire, and Ford said, “Come, I'll pee Hartt, tho naval copstructor.” The witness had made a provosi- tion that he would have them fitted out at his own expense. They went to Hartt's office. Ford called the witness in and asked Mr, Hartt if he could have the loan of the wheels if he would have m repaired at his own expense. Hartt said “Yes.” Then Mr, Ford said the tire had dropped off, and it could not be found, and he told Hartt he thought Mr, Reynolds, whotwas Present in the office, must have taken 1. Harty replied, “Ford, go up to the Queen street warehouse and see if it is in Reynolds’ pile of old tron and you needn't look very sharp if you don’t seo it at the top, for fear you see something there that ain’t a tire,” laughing as he said so; they went to Reynolds’ Pile and found the tire; went back and reported; Reynolds said, let a new tire, then, and send the bill to me,” and the bill was sent to Reynolds in Sey- fort, McManus & Co,’s name, who paid it; a bill was also sent to Hartt, - There is a large amount of testimony of this kind, showing the intimate connection among Naval Con- structor Hartt, Contractor McKay and the go-between, Reynolds, all of whom live in the same house, » mag- nificent establishment on Gerard street, THE CATTELLS IN THE SAME BOX. In addition to the evidence to be submitted to the committee in connection with the McKay swindling important testimony will be produced implicating the Cattells in fat contracts, the’ profits of which, it is alleged, they shared with the Secretary of the Navy, and it is expected that the operations of Dell, Noblit & Co,, of this city, in the way of furnishing government supplies, will receive a thorough scrutiny. A subpena was to-day served on A. G Cattell, and to-morrow sub- penas will probably be served on the rest of the illustrious family. The committee will bo in session at least a week, and before they go to Brooklyn, which will be the next point of investigation, they expect to have all the bottem facts in the partnership of Robeson, Cattell & Co, The committee havo already succeeded in fixing upon Murtagh, of the National Iepublican, as the con- necting link between Robeson and the Naval Ring, and witnesses aro to be examined before them by ‘which they expect to traco the dividends directly into his bands, Before the committee leit Washington they issued a subposna for one Snyder, who is AN OLD ENEMY OF NORMAN WIARD. and who has hunted him so persistently for the past @X months that he was compelled to leave for Yoko- hama, on the pretence of instituting some experi- ments for the Japanese government, Within the past month Snyder has made his peace with Robeson, and is now, it is sald, in the pay of the “Ring” to keep quiet, His story isin the hands of good witnesses, and it will be shown, it 1s stated before the committee, that the Congressional civil appropriation for Wiard’s experiments in reality was pocketed by the Secretary himeelf, and the actual test of the “gun bursting” defrayed from the resources of the department. This Congressional Committee will also take up an investigation which ‘was commenced by a board of navy yard officers just Previous to MeKay’s commencing his operations last September, and which was suddenly stopped just as the Board were obtaining a clew, It relates to the mysterious disappearance from the yard of two new copper pipes and the pumping machinery of the steamer Antictam. They wero nearly traced to Rey- nolds, when he issued the threat that he would send the most inquisitive member of the Board to sea if the investigation was continued, The Engineering Depart- ment of the navy yard appears to have beon the only one over which McKay did not obtain supreme control,” and the result was that Chief Engineer Newell was, like Commodore Preble, relieved from duty at League Island. His racy correspondence with the Navy Department respecting McKay’s attempted ‘interference will bo called for. About feur weeks ago McKay, finding that the commit- tee were hot on bis trail, made strenuous efforts to closo the avenues of information, and wrote numerous letters iusidiously indicating his desire to make every- thing allright with his recalcitrant employés, The following 1s a copy of a letter sent toa boss drayman at the navy yard:— No. 1,110 Girarp Street, Purape.rnia, March 11, 1876 Dear Sim—Will you please send me by return mail the names of all your draymen employed by me at the navy yard? Yours, NAT McKAY. This lettor, it 1s needless to say, elicited no response, and when an acquaintance of both parties, meeting bim on Chestout strect the other day, asked him whether he had ever received any response to this letter, McKay replied, “No, damn him; but I'll get along without him.” ROBESON PRECEDES THE COMMITTEE. Secretary Robeson arrived in this city to-aay and took rooms at the Continental, but did not register his name. The clerks, however, admitted his presence in the hotel and said that he went in and out at the private door and saw nobody except im his own apart- ments, When the subpoenas were served on McKay and Reynolds this evening they seomed to be ex- pecting the summons and were aware of Robeson's visit, TOO MUCH MARRIED. ABBESTED FOR DISORDERLY CONDUCT AND COMMITTED FOR BIGAMY. On Thursday evening Officer Kitzer arrested Charles Rupp and John Bothman tor acting in @ vory dis- orderly manner in front of No. 236 Frost street, Wil- | Hamebarg. Yesterday morning both men were ar- raigned before Justice Oberni and Rupp was dis- charged ag he said he was only on a lark with Bothman. Bothman ‘then claimed that he only wanted satisfuc- tion from the man who resided in the house in front of which be was arrested for living wrougially with his firet wife, This plea did not avail him, and he was sentenced to twenty-nine days in jail for ais- turbing the peace, Mra Amahe Bothman then stepped forward and sccused him of bigamy, presented in support of her charge articles of separation between nim and horself dated April 30, 1876, on account of her | ed misconduct, anda certificate of his marriage with one Minnie Hensil by Rev. F. Koerner, of St. Paul's Lutheran charch, Williamsburg, dated May 31, 1876. When interrogated Bothman said that William Boechel, the lawyer who drew up the articles of wepa- | ration, told him he was divorced and could marry again, and he had done #0, but that when bis pew wile | had read the papers mm the morning alter he married | her she ran away, and he bad not seen her since. Jus- tice Oberneir then deeming the case of more import- ance than one of disorderiy conduct, issued » commit. | ment for his examination on the charge of bigamy jor | the 18th inst POOLS ON THE UNIVERSITY RACE. Comparatively few pools were sold or betting done last night on the Oxford and Cambridge regatta, which | akes place to-day. The latest betting from London bemg So much in favor of the Cambridge crew threw a damper on tne pool selling and betting up town, as few were willing to give odds demanded, and those anxious to bet on Oxford could not get as good odds as they thought themsoives entitled to. A few auction pools were sold ut Thomas’, No, 1,239 Broadway, at the odds of 100 to 80 on Cutn! French were sold | both at No. 1,239 Broadway and at the Turf Exchange, | in West Twenty-ergtih street The pools suid at the former place were thirty un Oxford againet forty on Cambridge, aud at the jater piace twenty to thirty oa bare Slipped be sold up to ten o'clock this mora! FALL FROM A WINDOW. Caroline Gabel, four years old, fell trom the top foor window of the five st house, No, 86 Willet street, Tod was fatally injured Jesterday aiternoon, ERALD, SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 1876.—rkirpLk SHEET. WASHINGTON. Peculiar Interpretation of Justice by Mr. Page, of California. THE INTEREST OF THE INDIAN RING. Rumor of Bristow’s Resignation Among the Gossips and Lobbyists. AN EXPLANATION BY SRORBTARY ROBESON. General Meigs at Issue with a Moth Exterminator. FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT. Wasuixatos, April 7, 1876. REPRESENTATIVE PAGE AND HIS IMPERTINENT QUESTION—THE WITNESS REQUIRED TO TELL WHO EXPRESSED THAT VERY NATURAL OPIN- ION—A PICAYUNISH ATTEMPT AT REVENGE. Congressman Page presented his case to the full In- dian Committee this morning; but, notwithstanding he ud concluded to drop the matter yesterday on the ad- vice of the other members, to-day it was decided to give the correspondent one more chance to reveal busine! secrets, A résolution or some similar paper was drawn up and offered in behalf of Mr. Page that the correspon- dent be requested to give the name of the man alloged to have stated that he believed, from what he saw and heard, that Mr, Puge was working in the interest of the Indian Ring, In case the witness refuses to reveal ‘the source of hia information he is to be discharged from attendance. upon the committee. It is said that Mr. Page was strongly in favor of withholding the witness foes if the correspondent did not tell the mame of his informant; but Mr. Boone, a fair dealing gentleman, and ethers were of the opinion that the witness was entitled to be paid from the date of the subpoena, and precedents were cited in support of that view. According to Mr, Page's interpretation of justice the correspondent should be excluded {rom the committee room during future examinations, To be consistent he should exclude the chairman, with whom the corre- spondent agrees in saying that extensive frauds have been committed, and that witnesses should be treated courteously if they behave themselves and do not seek by falsehood to whitewash the ring. Mr. Pago has had a groat deal to say about evidence and law, and he strongly intimates that only legal testimony should be received, such as would be taken in a regular court of law, but he has nothing to say of his own personal violations of all legal rules for conducting an examina- tion. Leading questions, irrelevant queries and brow- beating have characterized his cross-examination of witnesses whose vestimony interfered with the theory that a man must be pure and good because he was a friend of Smith, Delano & Co. When Mr. Page found a witness who was determined to tell the truth as be knew it and would not quail before Page’s frowns, be appealed to the committee and argued with them until the chairman arose in honest indignation and exclaimed:—“ Mr, Page, you cannot bully ths committee; witnesses shall be protected and the truth shall come oat.’? BUMORED RESIGNATION OF SECRETARY BRISTOW AND A VARIETY OF EXPLANATIONS BY THE GOSSIPERS—THE CAUSE OF HIS TRIP TO ‘LOUISVILLE. Tho lobbies of the House this afternoon and the hotels this evening were full of the rumor that Sec- retary Bristow bad or was to resi; ‘Treasury port- folio in the- Cabinet, retirement to Louis- ville, whithef he wont Tuck@ay evening, was to enable him to tender his resignation more gracefully and with Joss ombarrassment theft would have attended so serious a step in Washington city. This rumor, taken for fact by many, was enlatged by the gossip mongers with an extravagant addition to the effect that in withdrawing from the Cabinet he was to stand for the democratic nomination at St. Louis. Yet another version of the matter said that Secrétary Bristow had taken umbrage at a recent slighting editorial in the National Republican, which is looked upon as Presi- dent Grant’s immediate organ, and that he could not, consistently with his self-respect, remain in the Cabi- net since its publication. Still another version had it that Mr. Bristow received an intimation from the President that he would be appointed Minister to Eng- land, and that kb went to Kentucky to adjust his busi- noss and domestic afluirs preparatory to a long,resi- donce abroad. On the other band, intimate friends of Mr. Bristow assert positively to-night that there is not a word of truth in any ofthese reports. They say that he has gone home to Louisville for a few days’ reat, and that his departure was quite sadden and without premedita- tion. It happened in this wise:—About a week ago Mr, Harlan, bis former law partner in Louisville, called upon him at tne Treasury, and during the conversation Mr. Bristow complained that he was greatly fatigued, that he had been up carly and late every day, It will be remembered that in the morning be has been quite frequently before the committees at the House either as # witness or to be heard on the subject of appropriations and Treasury business gen- erally. At night be bas been pursued to his honse at the latest hours on matters connected with bis office At this recital Mr, Harlan said, “Why not go back to Louisville with me and take some rest?” Mr. Bristow considered a moment and said, “So I will if I can got a sleeping berth on the traii."” According to the arrangement which was hereapon entered into Mr. Harlan proceeded to New York to transact some business be had there, and on the way back by the Pennsylvania Contra | line was to be joined by Mr. Bristow at Harrisbarg. It | so happened, however, that the latter failed to secure | tne desired sleeping berth on the road he first in- | tended to go West by, and, as a consequence, did not meet Mr. Harlan until he reached Cincinnati. Do- spatehes published here to-day say that Mr. Bristow reached home yesterday morning. This appears to be | all there ts to the resignation, so far as it is indicated by bis departure from Washivgton. A PROPOSITION TO PLACE A MAJOR GENERAL AT THE HEAD OF THE MILITARY ACADEMY. A proposition to transfer Major General Schofield, now commanding the Military Division of the Pacific, to Wost Point, and make him superintendent of that institution, is discussed at army headquarters. It is | felt thatan officer of the rank of Major General should bo properly at the head of so important « military estab- lishment, in view not only of the dignity of the station | itself but of the courtesies its commandant is under the necessity frequently of extending to visiting magnates, The sabjeet bas been broached not from any fault with Colonel Ruger or the present conduct of affairs at West | Point. General Schofield is one of the most scholarly | oftcers in the army, and fully capable of assuming the double part of instractor and commandant, POSTAL FACILITIES YOR THE CENTENNIAL EX- POSITION. | Mr. Vail, Suporintendent of the Railway Mail Ser- | vice, says that arrangements have been made by the | Post Office Department that all letters addressed to the Centennial Branch Post Uifice will go direct to the Ce: tennial grounds, This 1s intended as an accommoda- Von to visitors, so that they can receive their mail there while visiting the Centennial Exposition. GENERAL WASHINGTON DESPATCHES, Wasuixaroy, April 7, 1876. WAR DEPARTMENT EXPENDITURES—GENERAL COWAN ON DETECTIVE BELL'S STATEMENT— THE STORY OF A MOTH EXTERMINATOR—A | QUESIION OF VERACITY BETWEEN THE IN- VENTOR AND GENERAL MEIGS. The Committee on Expenditeres in the War Dopart- ment to-day examined General B. KR. Cowan, who was Assistant Secretary of the loterior till March 14, He testified that he gave Detective Beil the card produced by the Seefotary of tho laterior yesterday, upon the representation by bim that be had been employed by “the folks at the White House” and was entitled to his per diem and allowances; knowing that Bell had been appointed upon a card from the President he velieved him for that reason; witness did not know how much be was entitled to nor did he certily to the accuracy of the accounts; it was the duty of the proper officers of the department to examine into that; Bell said he did not, under the circumstances, want to tell Le Barnes, Chief of the Secret Service of the Interior Depart- ment, what service ho was performing; witness had never been spoken to by the President, Babcock or Luckey either sbout the appointment or Bell's pay; he had not communicated with either of them on the subject of bis appormtment or pay at any ume. David Webster, of Concord, N. H., testified that he came to Washington about the 13th of March, 1874, to sell to the War Department a moth exterminator made by him; he went with Austin T. Pike, a member of Congress from New Hampswire, to General Meigs, Quartermaster General, who refused to have anything to do with it; Congress had appropriated $30,000 for the purpose of keeping moths out of cloth and cloth- ing for the army; witness and Pike went a second and third time to General Meigs; the third time General Meigs said the government had been swindled out of hundreds and thousands of dollars—$200,000 last year— and the stuf’ they were using was fur- nished by George A Cowles & Cv; after- ward witness got Representatives Parker, Cragin and Wadleigh to write a letter to Meigs, whereupon General Meigs agreed to test the merits of the thing; the preparation was tested and approved by Captain Rogers, of the Quartormaster’s Department at #hila- delphia Arsenal; witness then went back to General Meigs, who told him that he should have the contract; Meigs asked him the price and how much the govern- ment would want; witness said ho did not know how much the government would want, but said he would not require the department to pay for moro than was used; witners afterward stated the price by letter; Meigs then decided to use it; General Meigs thon asked him:— “What benefit will it be to me?” Witness answer “Tt will kill your moths.’ General Meigs said—"But how much will you give me if 1 put it in general use ?” Witness answered—‘Not a damned cent, General. "? ‘Witness said General Meigs gave him to understand that Cowles & Co., who were furnishing the moth ex- terminator, were paying him part of the proceeds; witness said that yesterday ho met aman near Judi- ciary square, who told him he would do better not to go before the committee; in the man’s hand were two $100 bills; ho did not know the man, but told him that he was going to tell the truth to the committoe, and that he did not wantany money; the man turned and walked off rapidly; witness followed the man to see where he wout, but could not walk faust enough; to- day a man by the name of Ingham Coryell came up to him in a store on Seventh street; Coryell is in the Quartermaster’s Nepartmont at Seventh street whart; Coryell said that up to throe days ago he believed that Ingalls and others wero in the moth ring, and that Meigs was tnnocent; that they had got Cowles & Co, out ot tho country to prevent them giving testimony, but that within threo days he had become convinced that Meigs was the corrupt party in the transaction; witness had not paid money to any officer, or been asked for any, except Moigs; witness presented a number of letters to corroborate mis testi- mony; he had never recetvod any order {rom General Mega for the moth exterminator, except one for $100 worth; witness,refused to turnish that amount unless he could be assured of larger orders, on the ground that to fill the order would cost more than it would come to, but he offered to furnish it for nothing, pro- vided he be allowed to pack it in the clothing himself, Quartermaster General Meigs appeared before the committee in obedience to a telographic summons, and testified that the statements of David Webster this morning to the effect that he sought an interest in his moth exterminator, by suggestion of any kind that could be tortured into such a suspicion, were abso- lutely false; he said he never told Webster that the government was swindled out of large sums because the process then in uso was worthless; that he had never asked him what benefit the contract would be to him, and that he had nover asked him how much he would give him (the witness); be had always consid- ered the witness, like many inventors, crazy on tho subject of his preparation for @mtérminating moths; witness said that Webster bad offered to furnish $100 worth of the moth exterminator, provided he be al- lowed to use it himself; witnesa declined to permit him to go into the arsenal and handle the clothing, be- cause he did not know enough about him; he baa con- sidered him honest, but “rather light in the head,” and had never inquired into his character; witness did not want outsiders in the arsenal, becauve it was a dangerous policy to admit them; witness corroborated generally the other statements of Webster from tho record, but pronounced his charges false tn every par- ticular—the creation of a vory active and Imaginative brain. During the time General Moigs was giving his testi- mony Webster was walking around very much excited, leaning over the shoulders of members of tho commit- tee and proposing questions, much to the amusement of everybody present, The witness was asked whetner he was the means of the adoption of the Goorgo W. Cowles & Co, process for exterminating motha He replied that he had opposed its adoption oven afer a board of army officers had recommended its adoption, but finally yielded to the accumulation of testimonials in its favor. When asked by whose influence it bad been kept in use he replied that George W. Brega and Donn Piatt were very active in the matter. Witness said the Cowles process 18 not now in use, because at the last session of Congress it was provided in an appropriation bill that no money should be paid for the ase of any patent process for exterminating moths or preventing mildew; they now use camphor. SECRETARY ROBESON IN EXPLANATION OF THE ACCOUNTS OF THE NAVY DEPARTMENT. Secretary Robeson bas formally replied to certain interrogatories of Representative Beebe, the Chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Navy De- partment. Ho says that no time bills, drafts, checks, notes, or acceptances have been issued, made, or given by or under the authority of the Navy Department or any of itsbureaus or officers, except sach drafis as | have been given from time totime, drawn by the pay- masters of the navy on foreign stations, in order to supply themselves with funds for the purpose of paying the expenses of the naval service abroad. Theso drafis ore drawn by the various paymasters stationed abroad either directly upon the department or upon the haval fiscal agents in London, and are drawn at sight or de- mand, or at such times as such paymasters may think best in view of the custom of the place whero they are drawn, the rate of exchange at the timo, or the sup- posed convenience of the department. They are all, in accordance with the established custom, drawn upon and paid out of the appropriation for the pay of the navy, though it is not expressed upon their face, No time bills, drafts, checks, notes or acceptances have been given in anticipation of or tn advance of appropriations available to meet the same, though it is possible that near the end of a Oscal year necessary and extraordinary expenses might be in- curred on distant stations of which the department might not be informed and for whica sufficient means might not therefore be reserved. After giving farther information on this subject the Secretary says it does not seem possible to meet the obligation of the department—namely, to pay accord. ing to law until the appropriation is exhausted, without at some point using the crodit of the government to cover the time necessarily spent in the adjustment of the accounts and in receiving returns from distant stations, Such has beea the custom of the depart. ment since the naval service first existed—certainiy since our fiscal agency was first establishod in London, more than sixty years ago, and the arrange. ments with our agents there, at that time and even since, bave been the same and have contemplated the fuct of their being at times in advance of the depart- ment. No dratts have been drawn upon any officer of the Navy Department other than the Secretary of the Navy since December 1, 1874, except upon the depart- ment’s fiscal agents in London iu accordance with the agreement with them. No commissions have been aliowed or paid on the drafts made by the Paymaster General (Mr. Bradford) residing in London, or other officers upon the Secretary of the Navy; but drafts drawn by the paymasters on foreign stations on the fiscal agents im London are Hable, under the agrecment with them, to & com- Mission not exceeding one per cofit, which Is al- lowed and credited in the settlement of their accounts ja the Treasury, According to the contract of Solig- man Brothers, which is appended to the Secretary's | office here, except under he letter, it also appears that they allow interest at the rate of four per cent per annum for all moneys and balances of the department so long as the same shall remain in their hands, and the department agrees te allow interest at the rate of five per cent on all ace counts for which the firm are at any time in advance to the department by reason of the payment of its bills and drafts, so long and to the extent that they shall remain so in advance. The committee will probably summon the Secretary belore it to be further interrogated on the subject. ARMY DEMORALIZATION—THE SYSTEM OP “GREASING” AS ELUCIDATED BY SECRETARY TAYT—GENERAL REYNOLDS’ HOUSE AND LOT. The Secretary of War has reported to the House of Representatives, for the information of the Committee on Expenditures in the War Department, in response to the request of the chairman of that commitece for all papers and information relating to certain charges preferred against Colonel MacKenzie by Colonel Reynolds, that the correspondence between Reynolds and MacKenzie about corn contracts at Fort Richardson, ‘Texas, in 1871, and subsequent charges against Colonel MacKenzie by Colonel Reynolds were forwarded to the War Department by Genéral Sheridan December 15, 1871, returned to the headquarters of the Military Division of the Missouri in January, 1872, bat cannot now be found. The papers transmitted by the Seere- tary included General McCook's report as special in spector for the Division of the South, made in Novem, ber, 1871, and dated San Antonio, Texas, He said his attention had repeatedly been called to the general demoralization that existed in the admonistration of the quartermaster’s department, and that there was @ system im vogue called “greasing,” which meant no less than that quartermasters or their em+ ployés must either have an interest in contracts made, or they must be rewarded by presents of greater or Jess value to favor the recipients of contracts, or act unjustly toward competitors in order to secure the same for some favorite who would consent to resort ta such corrupting and dishonorable practices, He stated, among other things, that Wicher & Adams, the largest contractors in tho State, presented to Mrs, Reynolds, the wife of General Reynolds, a house and lot in San Antonio, Texas, General McCook said it would be interesting to know how many carriages ané horses were given to army officers as presents by cith zens engaged in furnishing army supplies; and he com demned such practices as calculated to have a damag, ing influence generally on that branch of the service, It appears from the documents that General Roynolds, in December, 1871, dented to the War Department the truth of the charges that the public interests in Texas had been sacrificed to those of contractors. The Seere- tary declined, as General Reynolds requested, to give the reason why General Reynolas was relieved of his command in Texas, as information in such cases was unusual. ATTORNEY GENERAL PIREREPONT AND MARSHALL 0. ROBERTS’ CLAIM. ‘Tho Attorney General to-day said that be had seep stated in the Chicago 7imes that in 1865 he effected the sale of two steamers to the government for $300,000, belonging to Marshall 0. Roberts, of New York. He gays ho never negotiated or aided in the negotiation oF sale of anything, steamor or otherwise, to the govern+ ment atany time. That eleven or twelve years ago, and prior to that time and subsequently, he was the counsel of Marsball 0. Roberts, of New York. In 1804 or 1865, during the war, ho heard that Mr. Roberts had sold two steamers to the government ata price fixed upon by an appraisement by Moses Taylor, Will- jam E. Dodge and officers appointea by the govern- ment. He never heard of the negotiation or sale until subsequent thereto, when he was employed as counsel to get the purchase money remaining unpaid. Fot this he received a very moderate fee, and thisis alb that he ever had to do with the case, THE CADETSHIP SELLER OF FLORIDA—DAMAG< ING TESTIMONY INTRODUCED. The Civil Service Committee investigating the charged, against Mr. Purman bad soveral witnesses before themy to-day. B. F. Cowart testified that Isadore Blumenthal, Col- lector of the port at Cedar Keys,@ila., told bum that he paid Purman $500 ‘‘biood money"? for bis appointment’ as Collector. Messrs, Kendeg and Pond testified to being present ywhert ‘the abdye conversation look place between Cowart and Blumenthal and confirmed the statement of Cowart! George E. Fowler, of Florida, was recalled and testi« fled that Parman said to bim a few days after his election that it had cost him over $6,000 cloar cash to get elected and he was going to hive some of thie money back before he started tor Washington. Pur- man said—‘An old fellow (moaning Simpkins) at Monticello wants a naval cadetship for bis son. If he expects me to get a place for his son, the old chap has got to pay me for it.” Adjourned till Tuesday next THE SPENCER INVESTIGATION—A LOT OF WEGAe TIVE TESTIMONY—THE EVIDENCE ALL IN. Tho Senate Committeo on Privileges and Elections re- samed the Spencer investigation to-day, when the cross-examination of Hon. Alexander Waite was con- tinued. He said the whole object of the Court House Logislature was to secure the fruits of » republican victory and not specially to secare the election of Mr. Spencer to the Senate, but that subsequently all of the republicans were in favor of Mr. Spencer, who received: their unanimous vote. Governor Pennington of Dakota, formerly a State Senator in Alabarpa, testified that he knew of no cor- rapt means used by Mr. Spencer or his friends, and that Mr. Spencer was the unarimous choice of the re- publicans. * JHenry Cochran testified that be did not vote for Mr. Spencer as a member of the Legislature, in considera- tion of the promise that he shoald be made Postmastes of Selma, Asharp colloquy occurred between Genetal Morgan and the witness, the lattor charging that ne (Generat Morgan) had been opposed to him ever singe he had been in the State and General Morgan denying any per sonal hostility toward bim. M. G. Cantee, an officer of the Legislature, testified that he knew of no corropt practices in electing Spen- cor. a) HL. R. Myors, now Consul at Hamilton, Canada, testi« fied that he secured the appointment of J. J.) Moaltos ‘as postmaster at Mobile axainst Spencer's wish. Wit ness explained » cipher despatch which was sent from Washington to Moulton, signed ‘‘Sachom,”? telling Bim to bring money to Montgomery, as having eont by himself to secure payment to Spencer of whieh Spencer bad loaned to Moulton, Ho knew of no core rapt practices to secure the olection of Spencer. ‘The case here closed, tho committee announcing that counsel would be allowed two weeks tp which to pre- pare written arguments. ‘THE ADMISSION OF NEW MEXICO—A FAVORABLE REPORT ANTICIPATED BY THE HOUSE COM~ MITTEE. ‘The House Committee on Territories to-day farther considered the Senate bill for the admission of New Mexico, No final action was takea, but the indication were that the bill will be reported favorably, BELL'S TESTIMONY. THE STATEMENT REGARDING THE SELEORAPD OPERATOR DENIED. St. Louis, Mo., April 7, 1876. ‘Tne statement made some days ago by Detective Beli that Revenue Agent Colony had in his confidence or employ an operator in the Western Umion Tele- graph office in this city, from whom he obtained: valuable information regarding the operations of the Whiskey Ring, has led to an investigation of the mat, ter the officers of the telegraph company here un? corny by Bell's be nacre vd Soa enter r hav! oh ope “here and offers 10 y telegrapher ne eeue due Loom that any despatches wero re United States Court. sssued by SECRETARY BRISTOW. A Heratp correspondent at midnight in relation to the that be had withdrawn from the Fe el