Mr. HENDRICKS. I shall detain theSenate but a few moments in answer to a pointor 2 made by the Senfrom Missouriand the Senfrom Ohio. [donot think that their view of the subject is just to the parties that present this claim. In the lirst place, the Senfrom Missourisays that before the board that was organized there was no evidence, so far as he can observe, except the testimony of the parties themselves. Now, Mr. President. I iink that if the board was satisfied withthat evidence and reported it as satisfactory, we should be slow to question even that testimony, for during the last Congress we made parties to actions competent witnesses in ordinary suits in the courts between man and man; and if this board received the testimony of the parties themselves, together with their books of account, their detailed statements of expenditure, and relied upon that, I should not disregard the results of their investigation because of that alone. But the Senator has not thoroughly examined the report of the board, as he stated himself, else he would have found very material testimony in addition to that of the parties themselves; and I will call his attention to the testimony of Naval Constructor Pack, on pages 30 and 3l of the report of the board. Iwill read just one or 2 sentences of that testimony to show the character of it. In answer to a question, he says: “ Having examined the bills ofcost and extrawork oI f gunboat Chenitngo, built by Jeremiah Simonson. find themtobefair and reasonablein everyrennect. Having examined the hills ofcostand extra wonkfor the zunbonts Mussasoit and Oseeola, built by Curtis & Tilden, I find them correct, chargesfair and reas onable and consider that the bil for extra.work should be mid in full. Having examined the bills of cost an extra work for the GunboatPontiac, built by Hillman A:Streaker, I find them correct. charges fair and reasonable and consider that the bill for extra work should be paid in full. Having examined the bill of cost of gnuboat Wyalnsinc, uilt by C. [Land W. M. Cramp. I find it. to be correct, fair and reasonablein every respect. Having examined the hillsof co t and extra work for the unboats Alumni and Pontoosuc. built by George Law rence. I find themcorrect, fiiir and reasonable, and consider that the bill for extra work should be paid in full." and he goes on with other accounts. Then he comes to another account where he says he finds these items not to be fair and correct, and that they ought not to be allowed as they are presented; and upon his testimony the nave. board acts. Then I find that Naval constructor Delano, an experienced man in the construction of vessels of war, was also a witness before the board; also, Asst Engi neer Pierce and Chief Engineers Lawton and Brooks were witnesses before the board. I have been able to refer to these during the discussion. What other testimon there was before the board in addition to the testimony of the parties, I am not able at the moir cut to say; but this testimony of these officers of the Government is upon the very points that the board was investigating.