Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-03-24
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~ workbench who forge the musket bar
: rels, which burst, out of which pistol bar
: rels are made, do not receive payment for
that part OF their work, nor does il appc ar
to operate to public benefit.
%. After the wages oi the workmen are
) due, and after the money has been drawn,
) 1t has been often withheld from them Tor a
considerable time, many of them have there
fore been compelled to sell their CLAIMS at
ia considerable discount.
"a. A memorial was drawn, intended TO
be presented to the last legislature, signed
by number of workmen, which was sun.
pressed, because they were threatened by
inc othcers with expulsion, il they per-
severed.
! IS. true report has not been made of
the number of arms destroyed in proving.
| 20. Wilful receptions were practised up.
on the committee appointed by the execu.
uvetast summer, to prove the muskess.
| ". The prices OF the cost OF muskee
as stated by the superintendent, do not cor
respond with the prices paid To the work /.
men.
%. The officers do not devote a proper
portion of their time TO the duties of their
Irrespective employments.
| -. John Clarke and Daniel Atherton are
not competent To their stations and duties.
SO Great part'ali'y is manifested in the
Conduct OF the officers towards worknen of
dItereut countries.
| 81. Daniel Atherton is in no way fit for
the duties OF his station, and the suptrinfen.
dlnt has been informed 10y good worknen.
that ne was neither good workman nor a
Judge OF the work OF others.
50 Workmcn have refused employmens
or left the armory hccause Daniel Amer
ton was one of the officers
| So The SAID Atheyton has refused 10 re-
ceive the work Of some ofthe artificers ar
one time, and has received the same work
at another time, without aIseration.-
| %. he SAID Anterior upon some occa-
sions has suffered the work of art .ficers IN
be exposed for several days before it
was inspected and placed it IN situations 10
| be injured.
IS. The said Anterior has frequently
! compelled soine workmen TO wait a yonsij..
cradle time, IN idleness, before he would
ether receive the work brought in, or give
out new work, while he Was reading news
papers and smoking segars. bar iayorites
nave been always dispatched without de.
.Gy.
SO. Private work and Jobs have been
| done AT the armory with the coal and o.
ther materials of the public, of which no
account has been rendered in any of the
feports.
~. Public property has been sold or o.
iherws SC devoted to private uses which has
| not been accounted Tor IN any of the re-
ports.
| SO. large sums have been advanced bv
orders OF the superintendent, to inu,y,du.
avs up N account, beyond any actual SER
vice rendered -
81. Large SUNS of money have been dis
'Paied IN trips or tours to the nortbw.rd
not necessary for pubic service, for The X
pences oil the superintendent and DANIEL
! Atherton.
J 40. The sums charged to the manufacto-
ny Oh arws Tor bar iron, would purchase
more IRON than could be used IN making
the scrap iron
Al. The quantity of scrap ron said to he
ON hand, shows a great want of ATTENTION.
or Judgment, III the officers TO public inter.
estS.
AZ. The quantity of scrap stes reported
70 be on hand, also manifcsts a great nevii-
gence OF duty.
~. Muskets cost much more than the
statement OF the lper,ntendant repre-
sents.
"A. Wages or money really due to
MN "riSHts and others Tor max ny and
repairing the machinery, and for o,ber
work, do not amount to As much bv an In,
mense sum, as has been drawn from THE
treasury for the same purposes
rs Iron has been worked into arms
which some of the officers, at the line
knew was unf for the purpose.
10 Inc tavOrItes o. the officers have
been allowed To perform journies sc. ~
public expence, while their conduct Co o.
1hers has been overbearing, oppressive &
tyrannical.
~. The buildings are so badly calculs-
ted for the intended purpose, that work
men have offered TO perform their piece
work at their own houses and have been
refused.
48. Improper means have been used bv
the officers 10 prevent the workm from
giving information in regard 10 the pre-
sent investigation or enquiry.
All the foregoing charges have been
made in different form in the series of
letters already alluded to, and applicant.
ons were made by nae before the mcetjnv
OF the legislature to the executive counci
to support them. They HHani,nousI,, d..
termlned that ! should not have access 70
the public documents and books for tn,
purpose, but appointed committee IS
their own body TO examine into one of the,,'
After seven weeks had elanscd aud