Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1842-05-19

ot which but few ordered and thcrccre SCARCELY
worth mentioning, amounted during the three years Of
MIR. lioyi's administration If the Custom House IN
the of ST. 255 1911 The price of these Mons
charged III The bills rendered aud paid BY Mr. Iiost
ranged from the minimum Of dollars ner GROSS l.,
the maximum ol twenty-five dollars per gross tho
larger portion being oil the lower class which are in
general use lor clerks. both mercantile and official
The dispositions oi David Felt. f. J. Emo and J,salt
Hayden, who large dealers in the article Of steel
pens referred 10. 10 show the standard prico nor
gross Of the descriptions used the Custom House III
purchased IN boxes, which is the most convenient
mode Of supplying clerks CHE cards being entirely us,
ltss) II will ho seen that the first class of Gillta
Magnum liunnm pens, pens Of equal quality conlS
be supplied IN the New York market at four dollars
hliy eena per gross On the card half that sum hi
haNes aud what IS denomlnat~l the "conmcrcia pen''
al iN9 doals per gross on the card 81 50 in lpxes
Taking the average al thcsc prices and CONSIDERING thai
la21tha Il The reus furphcd To the Custom House
Of tie latter class 1t Will appear that nj these rates
the sum appropriated by Mr. lloyt while he romaino.
in aiee would have supplied the enormous ouanitv nj
IT, Pens. making an average of IA o. per annfn,
10 ie d fhnted Among about hundred clerks who
ar CONSTANTLY employed IN writing, an average Of A.
bout latAl pens ,aeh per annum."
Tie remft states that Mr. Emo offered to SUNNY Mr.
lio}t such pens rs he paid - per gross for at 80 per
pross, hui he declined the olcr decidedly ma 10 prs
vent repetition II il. -
1t may be asled why particular individuals are al
lowed and paid at fattS ringing from 81 10 SO rer
an offer 10 supply like articles at the moderate price of
81 5oPer gross Is contompnousIy rejected and slnnncd
The undersigned refers 10 the volume of evidence taken
by the commissioners 10 demonstrate the fact. which, IN
the absence oi clear proof might well be- doubted that
THIS aud numerous other o iavoritsm gross and
palafle thai mistake il. had their origin in
system oi lfand on the public treasury promote thu
interests ii selected paril2ans who could be relied Oh
tn eilielen, services III popular elections.
lhls conclusion i strongly enforced by tho mass or
ttllr1rf taken relation tn the uf
House tax. regularly levied and paid, IN advance of
elections Tor city officers. tor Governor aud Representa-
tves IN the State Legislature. for members Of Convress
and tr President aud Vice President of tbc fn;,ed
States during the whole period of tho two preceding
administrations ol the Federal Government. The tax
was graduated ona scale corresponding with the salary
received by each officer and thcmpoancc Of the pend.
ing election. and refusal pay 1t was imnea,olv
followed by removal ipm office.
II Will also b. by the report of the Survey r and
Other evidence. that numerous officers of the Customs
Were absent from duty either by the express permission
ol tie lollcclor or without from thai officer.
or weeks and months PRIOR To elections for M other pur-
pose than 10 influence voters aud lend their aid To tho
stccess ofcanlidates favorable the party IN powcr
while their salaries officers al the Goyelnmcni sur
tered no dimnnloD III consequence OF their abscce lfa
duty
Notifying rs il Is, To be obliged to expose such CON-
duet III high and responsible 'lliccr e tie Government
conduct which reflects much disgrace upon tho
country, the commissioner states that duly leaves him M,
ALT native, ana thd The 1ciS stated psa ,hcd hy
chain pl testimony which 10 every impartial mind must
be cont usiRe
81 he same system Of casclul cNtravarancc il seen
III every article falling under the dcrulna If station
arN during Mr. lloyts three years Of official service
There vas paid the enormous sum Of S2G,c51 or am
average 81 .s,'12 - annum, for blank bouks As
VIII BE- seen by the table above given books hch could
be supplied al $40 80. charged at sos Somc that
are worth only 81 charged S2tl-lh,se charrfd
Al Sl5ne rated AT 80 and On. In the bills rendered
3 lH lIa,rn 10TH. IL.
charged at the rate Of from S. To s. 80 Der neck.
and IN higher; when it was in uroaf hy
The deposition Of David r,t that lie supplied the same
If taken by the bushcl y ccnis per peek Of 30 cents
per busle aud II taken by the single rck at % CENTS.
and al these rates he that his profit would be two
hundred per cent
During Mr. lloyts time. 3 years. there was pa;d for
writing sand. the sim Of 500 80 which at the cistona.
~ rats. would have purchased lUi3 bushels
ilappcars, too. that Mr. Iloyt purchased .alstract
paper, ~ blue laid English imperial" ruled. which, is
charged IN bill at the rate Of from 500 to SIl4
Conc hundred and forty four doarsD Ter rcam its value
Icing IN New York. from $50 to tl7 1Opor rcam--
"imposi book paper" which is worth SIS rcr rcam is
charged from so SO per ram and DENY, worth $ll
N so per rear.
The commissioned states that all the supplies for tho
custom llou<c werc furnished nj cCcond baud tv CT
tain favored individuals who had opportunity Of pur-
chasing thu articles al prices even less than these men
oied as their market value. and whu Of course made
an enormous profit. "1hs system If ayorit:sm so in.
consistent with the public interest and lair dealing was
uniformly extended 10 The roient poIticd pa.ti
SINS, WHO earned the favor by their devotion to the hand
from Whieh they received it,