Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-05-24
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q ink
reams letter paper Is 50 ink stands !,
r"ams foolscap % WI bronze pen a. - ~
iloo quilts - 90 o pieces 'ndi' fu'' r
iS S1s seaS ap wax Is 81 doz lead pencils &C q
lbs wafers l3O1l quarts sand a
letter Is,sT stamp ssS. 2is slss q
1 resm envelope pa
To which may be added the singular fact, that il
the bill for February, Isil there is an item, caro-
Perryan pens extra fine, sl2," being one dolla
and 80 cents per pen, for the especial use OF an IN
spector of the customs. charged with the keeping o
the public store Staten Island. The enormitie'
cannot but strike the mind OF every rejecting mar
with astonishmenL They are evidences OF ofc'a
delinquency. h not downright corruption, which
have but seldom II ever occurred IN any civilized
country upon the face of the earth and the minute
detail which is here given of them Is designed &c
draw the attention Of the Government to the reck'
less expenditures of the public money made unde
the authority of Jesse Hoyt, late collector Of tn
port Of New York, and thereby enable the constl
tu,ed authorities the batter TO guard against the re
% currence of similar abuses in future
Considering that the six months commencing on
the LIST of October, 1910, and ending with the first
quarter of lsif, the quarantine regulations ceased
10 operate, and consequently the supply OF station
cry required at the public store at the quaran
tine landing; considering, also, the large amount OF
bills paid during these months, for bank books,
printed blanks, paper OF various qualities, pens and
other articles at prices enormous and excessive be-
yond all former examples the Inference would seem
be neither unreasonable nor improbable, these
bills were wholly fictitious, and designed TO cover
advances Of money made to the slorekeeper on Sta
ten Island for secret purposes, OF nature requiring
conceslment, and which could not with safety be
disclosed in the quarterly accounts oil the Collector
with the Treasury. No one can look at the bills
with a full knowledge that the articles were not
wanted in the discharge OF the public duties OF the
Biorekeeper. and withhold his belief IN the conclu
sion which is drawn from the premises. The i'm
preston is very strong, that the same end was IN
IL. L.. -.
tced and commenced on, for supplies OF books, sta
Iionery, and printing, at the custom house; which
impression is strengthened by the testimony Of MIR.
Fleming, the cashier, who states, under oath, that
the quantity of these articles ordered was greater
than could be used by the several departments Of
the custom house. But the whole ofthese bills were
audited and paid TO the order OF Mr. Fleming, with
out regard 10 quantity or price, he looking, ms he
said, only TO the footing as comprising the extent
OF his official control over them. This source Of
expenditure with such facilities, and without check,
might be carried to any extreme desired, in the
absence ofal restraint at the Treasury Department,
which at that time was in no instance interposed,
by the requisite vigilance Of the accounting officers
Of the Treasury.
To what extent these abuses have been looked
into and reformed by the present Collector, is but
lmperfecty known; but 20 far as the evidence has
been furnished, q comparative statement will be
exhibited.
From review Of all the evidence taken on III,
the undersigned cannot for a moment hesitate IL
oscribing the amount ordered, and the prices pat
for these articles, TO considerations and motive
founded in official corruption; it is not within III
scope Of human reason, chnddly exercised, TO dra'
any other conclusion. The whole expenses in
Cured by MIR Hoyt for these supplies might hnv
been limited 10 the sum paid at the Custom Hous
in any year Of his administration, or even lees
Fifteen thousand dollars would have been amply
sufiicien. for the whole term of three years AM
thereby, with ordinary economy, the Governmen
might have saved on this single branch OF expendi
tuTc not less than $4,000.
CUSTOM.HOUsE FURNITURE.
On the 10Th Of April, Is4I, Mr. Curtis nuthori
sed MIR Joseph HOUgh, broker IN New York, L
make contract or contracts with suitable work
men 10 supply the furniture required at The new
custom house. In his letter OF instructions to NJ
Hough, for his government in the discharge OF tn
duties confded to him, which are very specific, h
says-'You will call the manufacturers 10 the new
custom house, and there, with them, wait upon NJ
Fr0Zee, who will exhibit the plans and drawings o
the furniture to be made, under his direction anC
superlntendencej and 10 his satisfaction the whol,
work must be done' Again, be instructs MI
l1ough:-'When you are prepared with any man
or men with whom you think, upon the whole, /,
will be most prudent 10 contract for all the work
or portion Of II, bring the men 10 me, and If am
satisfied with the prices-as presume shall be
with your judgment-l will close the contract IL
does not appear that any call Of the manufacturers
10 the new cnstom-house made, nor that Mr.
Hough went with them 10 MIR Frazse 10 see his
plans and drawings OF the furniture to he made;'
uelihet did lac obey the order OF The Collector, TO
bring the men TO him, with whom he might con
tract for the whole work or a portion Of L. for the
purpose OF obtaining his appreciation Of the prices
before the contract was closed. These precautions
Carefully inserted in the Instructions which doub
less, II carried into effect, would, by competition
among the manufacturers, have greatly reduced the
prices AT which the work would have been under.
taken, were wholly disregarded, and MIR Hough
TOOK the responsibility on himself Of selecting a
manufacturer OF his own choosing, with whom the
contract was made. In his letter 10 the Collector
OF April 30 lSil, he says-H have made fngu.ry
among me Cabinet maks's, and have finally Ssi,et,d
Mr. Abraham Storm, one likely 10 give salts
idcuon, both NJ 10 style Of work add economy 10
eXDense, and have his estimate for fntnistino IN
new custom-hOuse, winch herewith hand vor.
The estimate is made on the list add descrtn,,Gn ~
articles, as mace by Mr. Frszee'
In pursuance Of this selection, inside by Mr.
Hough, Mr. Curtis on The 24ih day of ApriI, IstI
entered into articles Oi agreement with Ab,aba,o
storm for the supply n the entire furniture which
he deemed requisite at he new Custom House and
TOOK, as the basis OF the contract, the plans draw
ings, and estimates previously made by Mr. Ffazes.
and which, alter examination by Commites If
Congress, had been disagreed 10. The CnIfec,o,
reserves TO himself the right 10 dispense with anv
portion OF tho work contained ~ the annexed cell
motei also, the right 10 vary from the said estimate
hno, m case 81 variation, the prices Of substituted
"ofk are 10 conform. ns near as my be- TO the II cei
OF the within estimate, according to their rel1-
i've value Some other privileges nrc reserved Z,
the Collectors but he finally "ngrocs to make INV
ment 10 the said Abraham S Orm. according 10 ,b
anneXef es'imito tbrng the estimate reiertsd Inv tb
COMMITTEE oil the House Of Representatiyes) an
the terms OF this contract, 20 FIST Us the said furni
ture, or any portion thereof, shall be dutyersd an
approved Of bV the said Edward Curti. The CoiI,e
Tor, and Mr. Ffazee, the architect" Mr. Ewing In
structs tho Collector TO furnish the nav C,nsio,n
House plainly ard substantially, tokin, care IN sy
orcise proper economy in tho matter" Some I
the Commissioners visited the Custom House an
examined the furniture as IL was placed, who r. orr
sCnted !, 10 be Of The most eX'ravagant descripto
but no testimony wns taken by the Commission
test i's value, when compared with the usual pric,
pod FOR similar work IN New York. few Of m
items IN tho estimate under which the contract wa
made will serve To show tho general character {
TIE iutnHufci ond the prices at which II was I'd
mated.
Two large mahogany book cases, Is foet long.
" feet high, hled with pigeon holes, show.
ing W doors IN front, with suitable csseepd
cornioe, $500 each 81
SIX largo mahogany book cases. filed with
partitions, with Doors feet 6 inches loeg
and hsh, s99 each, 81
Eight large mahogany look cases, filed with
partitions, with doors, IS feet long, Slg2
cach IS
Twelve large mahogany look cases, feet
long, II feet high, filed IN with pigeon
holes, With doors IN front end writing "a
bic below, with drawers IN frame, cloth on
top, St92 each. 49,
-Four large mahogany book cases, IL feet long,