Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-04-19
THE wnlGs HAVE RUINED THE COUNTRY


BRANCH MIsrs-PRoFLIGArE ExrEspIruEE.
The Committee on Public Expenditures are d.
lissntly engaged in exploring the wide field of
abuses Of the ate dynasty, nod have submitted
another report, showing how the Government was
cheated OF some $500 ,OOO, in the establishment Of
Branch Minis. The contents OF the Report are
thus summed Up by the correspondent Of the New
York Commercial:
"'fhe law authorsing the establishment OF these
branch minis was approved OIL the third day OF
March, 1855. IL was one Of the hasty party move
menis Of that sveniui session Of Congress, when
there were large administration mniorities in both
houses. Msssrs. Mitchell and Fox appear TO have
been the specia fivorites OF the powers that were
In the midst OF all that plethora of cash which dis
tended the Treasury TIL II burst asunder and flowed
over on every hand. that IN his rain Of arks'
almos, every body could catch oil he wanted by
only holding 10 hIs 'dish'-in the midst Of all this
plenty these Two gentlemen seem to have been
among the most fortunate in receiving share Of tho
golden shower \ contract between Mr. Corion
the commissioner on the part Of the United States
twho also took excellent care Of hlmsef) and
Messrs Mitchell and Fox. entered into for the
erection Of the building at New Orleans
In the amount Of $4,000 90
And the commissions on the work 10
Mr. Gordon, in that Of 4,2i2 u
Total cost Of building slsG,2I2 IS
/ Mr. Patterson, director OF the T-.lut
Phiadelph expended for the ne
cesssry tools, fixtures, and machine.
~ 65,627 80
Total cost ofthe building and machine.
~ 1851 $40 -
"Now the contract with Mitchell and Fox wasey
plcii as 20 the mlicri1s, dimensions and manner Of
tie work 20 be done, and the sum for WI ich il was
% be completed, with the express provision that
no compensation should be allowed for extra work
materials or job work Thus the building was fin.
shed, the fixtures aud machinery put IN and the
whole oonirae, was performed apparently But
mark what follows. The quarterly accounts, Of the
Treasurer ot this branch miot lte before me and
from hem will give you few extracts. Under
the head Of building ma machinery there nrr in
eleven out Of the FIRST fifteen quarters from 1888 10
1872 Of this mint, charges for extra work o. the
amount OF Sf,715 Gjii Add this 10 the cost
above gwen, Of the building and machinery under
me original contract, aud your total cost, up 10 the
thri quarter OF 1871, IS S32G,Gi5 Il, which is
sll7,42s ~ more thsn the Mole cos, Of erecting
and establishing the great mint az Phladelpbit.
inc ground, machinery paving, fixtures, and every
| ihing included ADD then, IN this sum, oil the
olhef tapparcntly legiImHel charges upon the
pfaHeh mint for the same time, and odd. too the
sum oi s. 3s5 81 allowed by that liberal Cungfess
/ Us extra pay 20 ne friends Mitchell and Fox. and
| what, up % the latest accounts m ide up, (5eing
hiteen quortefs) has this establish ment cost the
| government,
HUHDRED AND rwEErT.Two DOLLARS, uxry.
EioHr tEErs'
is this ain No Although The above is tl,s
aggregate OF OH the vouchers II still appears hy the
/ treasury books that the farther sum of e37 81 ~
Z nus heen drawn on nccount Of tic Now OrIeans
branch mint, for which sum there is no voucber-
And thus the cost Of this single em Establishment nm
20 mo fourth quarter Of i5ii, (bsglnning with
,7271 u.s. s55ti7O 20
200 cost Of 'hsm mint at Charlotte, ~ e. l3s275 sc
M" Wa' a. Dahloncgui Geo. 12J7nS &C
And YOU hive q grand total Of Ss22Ai7 ~
I9t these Jobs Of prohgate administration with
lholt Yiinni nni zeolo1s plttisans who can won,
Der 'hat such an administration has left ne success
Sof n ocotol many millions 70 liquIdae7
In the quarterly accounts before me linda hos,
OF charges upon the New Orleans branch. under
the general head Of incidental and contingent eY.
penses' Tuning % the vouchers, few pages ON
IN The report, hhd out what those incdentais and
contingencies ARE. II Gro arc NV Of Them.
wish you could hnd room for the whole, but fear.
ing mat you cannot, transcrlbo only very few
OF the choicest specimf ms. Remember, this IL n
branch mint, az New rleans and not the oriental
palace Of luxurious prince, that the United States
Treasury Is furnishin'
Fra Quarter, 1893.
rive mahogany arm chairs "a 9s
nahogany and Gree ian chairs ~ ~
Desks and tables 400 IN
Carpets 49, %.
Bust Of Livnge,on 40 az
Laying pipe qsI 90
Laying pipe 5o5 .,