Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-04-13

Il decision That agreement cannot be approved.
w That portion OF the journey performed by water
ought not 20 be comprised within the demand by
10 the sgent Tor double transportation. when was
agreed, for the eonveneT OF the psrtes, to subst
tute water for land carriage, it must have been un
w | derstood that such accommodations as humanity
demanded would be furnished by the company; and
the sgent ought at once to have repelled he propo
sition Of placing from 500 to 900 human beings
board a steamboat of from $50 TO $50 ton. burden
40 Sick or well, 500 Indians were many ought to
w have been carried in each boat. The charge for
double transportation for water conveyance cannot
therefore be allowed"
On 29th Nav, 1885 Mr.. Ponsett, Secretary
OF War, changed his opinion: and Notwithstanding
w the substitution Of water for land transportation on
account Of the reduction of the time Of subsistence
NO the number OF agents employed and other causes
had rendered the contract more valuable m a pecu.
mary point OF view 10 the company; and notwIth-
standing the Government had already paid them,
for Transporting these Indians from Alabama to the
We. the large sum OF S95, $50. when they had, in
truth, and IN fact not removed OF them either
the whole or any part Of the distance, it paid them
additionally, for Transporting the Indians from
Pass Christian 20 the point OF destination, the
10 nous sum of SS2lSS As The committee will not
stop to comment on this wanton waste of the pub.
lie treasury by high Executive officer OF the Go
vernment but leave il OF the monuments of
that inhdety to the public interests which has too
long marked the conduct OF many of those TO whom
are conhded the control OF the Government. To
these amounts are to be added the of SIS, Asa
~, allowed Tor extra compensation. likewise, to this
company, and paid to their agent. Alfred lver.on,
Esq, upon this eonraet--nnd making, in all, the
enormous sum OF S590ii IS.
The Government has likewise paid 10 this com.
pany, for furnishing 7l6 SIS raiions to the party
OF Indians, while at Mobile Point nd Pass Chris.
an, at the ex:rnvagant sum OF seventeen and bali
cents per ration, under contract made with Cap
tam John Page, dated l7th March 1887, amounting
to Sl25, i02 90.
In reviewing the history Of this transaction, the
committee ore torcibiy struck with the uertcckloss-
ness and prodlsahty OF the officers Of the Govern
Of lie n~so
made. They have entered into calculations, in
view OF asetrtainng whst might have been saved to
Tie pubic treasury. hid system OF even tnlcrable
economy been adopted: aud after the most liberal
On allowances, from the most dat, they
are satisfied that several hundred Thousand dollars
might have heen saved. To TRANSPORT 1855 In
d'an' allowing - persons TO -acl wagon, would
require 220 wagons. allowing hou.. 40 each wa.
eon, would require LOO horses. The outlay Of
capital to remove these Indians would be sc fol-
$50 wagons, at SI75 each ssssoO 90
il0O horses. at $50 each 50 600 90
Expenses Of each team per day, (aow-
lng 100 days for the trip. was charged
by the company nj So SCI including
expense OF suhssting driver 56375 90
10 hlre OF $50 dr'vers 100 days, ; per
r day each 5000 90
Feeding 100 Indian ponies, hali-sallon
corn per dsy-eorn 81 50 per tushcl 1882 90
For $500 rations for I6 533 Indians
ior lOO days, NJ 10 cents per ration,
The Indian ration costing from TO IS
cents as good ratons as those fur.
nished Ie5 1qo IN
hoo Tor contingencies 10000 ~
The aggregate sum will be SiOI 5l7 90
Which amount, deducted from the sum, actually
paid for like services, of S59O44O S. would cave
balance TO the Government Of lss 923 If 10 this
aod me safe oil the wagons and a. one-half
thelr original cost which IS reasonable 10 preSume
oil seS,|5o we find that the amount of money hieh
has unnecessarily been withdrawn from the Tr.a.
suLy, and thrown AWAY, by the spendthrft policy
ana bad management of those intrusted with the
care oil The Government, IS S252,673; all of which
might nave been saved by ordinary and econo.
nv.
But the Government could have transported these
lnuians with more comfort and much less cost than
the estimate Just furnished; and in an expenditure
embracing so great an amount, we hold that the
Government officers were bound TO exercise the
utmost dhisence TO prevent extravaganza. To have
transported them by water would have REQUIRED
M SIX steamboats, i've trips and three boats one trip
Allowing thirty days for the trip out and back, we
nave the following cost Of such transportation:
furchase OF steamboats, at the nyer,
age price paid for those purchased for
The Florida war; and of similar size
N to those employed by the company,
=" r. Of $500 each ss2,aoO 90
IT. each per month $4,000 90
p on the route, at 10 cents per ration s24,sOO 90
N FOR subsistng 100 pones for so DAYS
~ on the trip, that being a suffcency of
n tune to reach Fort Gibson at half
gallon corn per day. and corn 81 80
per bushel 7,lsO 90
~" contingencies 25 600 90
Pay for agents, superintendants, &c. 10000 90
24s $50 90
But. as the boats would he as vnlua-
BILE after as before, II not retained for
further use, they might be sold at
n loss OF one fourth and deduct their
sale 6l,ejO 90
And we have the necessary expenditure
sIs6 $50 90
Tor which the Indians might have been removed
ms IS what frugal administration might have ec-
compshed. We have seen in The eYnerd;,n,a of
M $500 40 for the services wha, proiga,e one
" can do. '''1
10 The Committee have RESENTED the facts
as illustrative oil the character OF the expenditures
M OF the different departments 10 which thew belong
ihey cannot indulge any other opinion, than tha,
M Wey nave not been made in pursuance Of the laws
winch authorize them, because they are want.
no ing IN economy and regard for the pubic welfare
ihey are not apprized, by any evidence before
m theuI' that any investigation whatever has been
made, or even Ony doubt expressed by those before
whose scrutiny they had to pass as 10 their reason
aoleness and economy. No check seems 10 have
been placed upon the will OF the contracting and
usoursing officers. The presumption seems never
10 nave risen when prices greatly aforementioned
70 the value Of the articles received have been paid
and which are not allowed in the private tra6sac' :
tons OF lille, that the public interest had been iso
M pafded ny inhdely or The wan. of proper judg-
been allowed, and thus the discretion OF subordf
mn nate officer has given law the scrutiny of hsber
W ohcer. This want Of Accountability has given rise
10 the most ptohgaIe waste Of public money. and
M helped TO swell the expenditures OF the
W Government, within a few years past.
Iho committee will not discuss now the proprie.
M OF legal measures 10 from fahess agent,
W indemnity for the losses the Government has sus
tanned by reason Of their neglect Of its interests
m win which they were charged. Had such been
:. understood TO he The measure Of vengeance with
y, which such conduct would be visited by examples
at the outset many millions Of dollars would doubt
-, ess have been saved 10 the public Treasury which
s have Ieen lost. But while the Government nsv
w not think 1T 10 pursue its legitimate remedies to
indemnify for the past its power 10 prevent for the
=. future ~ clear and Efficient
w. The committee DO not believe that any additional
legislation ~ necessary TO secure fidelity to the Go.
~ Vernmert Let the laws now existing be enfo. G
on e. and The cause Of complaint will DO removed
~ Inc most efhcient measure for prevention now er
~ ISIS, and does not rely on the action or Congress
TO give II energy In truth, over this Congress has
20 no power. These officers nre not accountable 10
~ That body, nor directly 10 the people, for their
~ hdeliy because they derive their appointments
~ from the President, and are subject to removal
20 by him for on abuse Of their office. The people
hold the President directly accountable 10 them Tor
the faithful execution Of the laws by his subordi-
Mates and as is he who placed them IN power ma