The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-07-01
SEVENTH DAYS pRocEEpINcs.-MoNpAy

Iateou, Colonel and Chief of the Bureau Of Ord
nance
SEVENTH Days NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
The court met: all the members present
The gallant General Wabach who is the oldest officer
IN our army, previously sub lieutenant in that OF Plus
STA, was unanimously excused from further attendance
as member oil the court IN consequence OF i'll health
General Iacol nterposng no objection The General
SAID, In taking leave that he was an old man (s5 wears
and that he did not know il he should ever meet them
all again "God bless you all gentlemen" said he He
as he left the court.
The record OF yesterday was then read
Captain Maynader called.
Question You have read 10 the court from the l32l
article oil The ordnance regulations that The rights of
tractors shall not be transferred that each contractor
shall be held to his legal responsibilities and all pay
menis shall be made to him only VIII state 10 the
court now whether, according 10 the established usage
OF the ordnance bureau and OF the treasury, payments
on contracts as we'll as other accounts not made TO
attorneys, powers OF attorney duly authenticated and
also to heirs and legal representatives,
fnsos A payment 10 aregulaIy constituted attorney
on proper powers OF attorney IN the Ordnance office and
al The treasury regarded payment TO the ndivd
ual hmseltalso IN like manner to his heirs and legal
representatives on due evidence.
Question. Are proiectes for ever found by
the government ready made and for sale in the market
or nave lhey ever been procured except when made TO
order9
.aaSwer. Never to my knowledge
Question You have said that supplies procured
by The Ordnance bureau written ORDERS and that these
engagements, BY the usage OF the bureau, designated
as "c0ntracts" and as "open purchases" Will you
say what distinction, II any, between CONTRACTS" and
open purchases according TO the usage OF your bureau
is conveyed by an order to procure shot by "open pur
chase" only
.ans,oer should understand such an order as prohib
Ting the making OF a formal written contract but
thozlng an order 10 be given TO supply the shot my
discretion as 10 the person.
Question Describe the process OF making payment to
contractor where the contract open purchase is made
directly with the Ordnance bureau.
.4nstor. The inspecting officer of the articles pro-
cured sends to the Ordnance office certificates of nspec
ton, setting forth The articles inspected and received
To that certificate is appended evidence OF the receipt of
the articles by some officer agent OF the Ordnance de-
partment Also the account OF the person furnishing the
office, and are then transmitted TO the Second Auditor of
the Treasury with statement endorsed that the within
account has been examined and SO much is found due
thereon TO certain person. 10 be paid Srom such APP
preparation. There the Ordnance department is done with
it. II then becomes treasury matter and then, after
animation by The Auditor, II is sent 10 the Second Comp
troer Tor iurther examination The Comptroller
approved for much, and the Auditor sends ii the
Secretary OF War, In order that he may draw on the
Treasury Department his requisition for the payment
Question Describe how the payment would be
made In case OF formal written contract under seal,
made by an officer commanding at arsenal and what
notice OF such payment would be furnished to the Secre
tary OF war IN the ordinary course of Office
.4asper. The contract itself would be sent to the
Ordnance bureau, aud submitted TO the Secretary OF
War for his approval before being filed in the Second
ComproeTs oftce Payments under the contract would
be made by the discussing officer Of the arsenal on oId
nary vouchers which would accompany his next ac
count current that account current would be examined
IN the Ordnance office, and transmitted the Second
Auditor OF the Treasury for settlement, with letter from
the chief OF the Ordnance department., informing the
Auditor whether he approved disapproved OF all
any particular part of it.
Question. Now inform the court how payment would
be made under an 'open purchase" made by officer
commanding an arsenal and what notice of such pay.
mens would be furnished to the Secretary OF War in the
ordinary course OF office !?
Answsr,, Payment would be made by the disbursng
officer oil the arsenal ordinary vouchers which would
reach the Ordnance office with his account current
and go through the same process of examination, and
tiansmla to The Second Auditor as stated in reply TO
Of such payment would be furnished that know Of bui
the accounts would be open the inspection OF the Sec
rotary OF War If he chose TO call for them The Secre-
ary OF War has The power TO call for all papers in the
Ordnance office.
Question. Is such examination of the accounts of
discussing officers, alter they have passed into the
Treasury Department, made by the Secretary of War in
the ordinary course oil Office! or have you know il to
be done !
.anstser 1t not ordinarily made and have never
know IL TO be done.
Question Say il you know of any mode according TO
the course OF your office and the settlement of accounts
there by which large amount of shot could be procured
and paid for, and not be brought directly TO the know
ledge OF the Secretary Of War; except BY an open pur
chase made by disbursng officer al an arsenal
dnseer Even by the last mode 1t could escape be-
ng reported TO the Secretary in the annual report Of OPP
eratons OF the department made before each session Of
Congress- that so many sho, other articles had been
procured during the preceding fiscal year by fabrication
or purchase. II the articles had been paid for through
the Ordnance office, such payments would appear the
annual statement OF articles procured by open purchase
or By contract The might be but they would not
appear on that statement If paid Tor directly by the dis
bursting officer OF the arsenal When paid for through
the bureau the statement would show that they had been
procured by contract or open purchase When paid for
at the arsenal the Secretary could not distinguish which
articles had been paid for under contract, by open
purchase they would be Jumped together.
Question. Does your office make annual report to
The Secretary OF War, showing IN detail the articles pro-
cured by purchase contract during the year, III So
state how that report is made
dnu1sr. The office makes annually lin january a
statement Of contracts made during the year ending The
previous December aud separate statement OF articles
obtained by open purchase ordered during the
ots the articles contracted Tor the price 10 be paid the
place OF delivery the date OF the contract and by whom
made The other statement specifies the articles pur.
chased ordered the place OF delivery, the price paid
to be paid, and the date OF The order.
Question Are these statements confined TO the articles
procured by the bureau do they include the purchases
made by discussing officers at arsenalsi
dnSur They do not include purchase. made by the
dsburslng officers OF the arsenal but confined to those
made by or paid through the bureau.
Question. Have you known founder. Offering to
enter into contract to furnish proecles for cannon
erred by the bureau TO the officer commanding an arse
nal or have you known such contracts or purchases
made otherwise than by the bureau
dnuoer. | do not recollect TO have known
founder referred Ia some instances, where officer
OF an arsenal wants a supply OF shot shells 10 I'LL
order Tor supplies, or 10 enable hun 10 carry the opera
tons Of his arsenal be has ordered them directly IRON
a founder, and paid for them himself
Question. Have for small quantities Of pro-
jeclIles been made directly by the bureau
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