Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-04-10
OFFICIAL DOCUMENT.
CONTRACTS FOR SUPPLIES BY ARMY OFFICERS

CONTRACTS FOR SUPPLIES By ARMY OFFICERS:
The following Documents were communicated to,
the Senate yesterday by the Secretary of War:
WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, April Z, 1852.
SIR have received copy Of a resolution of the
Senate directing the Secretary of War " to inform the
Senate First whether any of the officers of the United
States army have been contractors furnish supplies to
the Government of the United States Secondly such
ceases exist what were the of such contracts
compared with those Of other persons contracting for
the same things to be delivered at the time and
places. Thirdly, the Of the officers making and
sanctoning such contracts And, lastly as to the mea
sures if any which have been taken by the Department
in such cases.
In reply beg leave to report that two months
since it reported to that certain officers of the
army stationed in California had been engaged in pur
chasing articles of supply for the army and selling them
at profit to the Government Oninyestgatng the mat
ter, found that Bvt Lieut.. Col Hooker had been
moned before martial ordered by Bvt. Brig Gen.
Hitchcock commander of the tenth military department.
charged with conduct unbeconing an officer and gen.
tleman," in being engaged in such transactions.
The evidence IN the case established beyond all doubt
that the accused and Second Lieut.. Bvt Capt Alfred
Gibbs did with Second Lieut. Geo H. Paige I'd
infantry acting assistant quartermaster at the post
noma California deliver TO him at said post $50 tons
i
delivered paid for 1T that price, and that they reaz
ed on the whole transactions profit Of about S12 PEI
tom also that the accused did contract to deliver
same officer at the same place. 100 cords of wood a,
So IS per cord.
Bvt Lieut.. Col. Hooker was "fuly and honorably ac-
Quilted This decision is only to be explained the
supposition than the opinion of the court it is
becoming officer and gentleman to engage in such
\ transactions.
4 The proceedings Of the submitted to Bvt
d. hxvx nrla
| convened and the sentence confirmed by him. In
justice that officer, however herewith append
tract from his order, confirming the sentence in which,
while he to admit the right of officers make such
contracts, he strongly condemns the practice.
Asregards the prices at which these articles
raced for compared with those Of other persons
tracing for them at that post about the tme the
Quartermaster General reports to that the price for
hay had varied consideraby-as high as S50.50, $50,
$62, and S75 per had been paid for it, but in the
month in which this contract was made Assistant
Quarermaser Allen hay at $15 less per
The price paid for the wood compared with those pre-
vousy paid, does not appear high It was proven, how
before the court martial that public notice given
for proposals and that in both instances the officers
the lowest bidders.
As there was law regulation prohibiting officers
Of the army from contracting with the Government and
as Bvt Lieut. Col Hooker had been fully and honoraby
acquitted by the only Of the charge but of
every specification did not feel that should be justi
fed in recommending to the President the adoption of
course which, under other circumstances, might have
felt it my duty to recommend.
Bvt. Capt Gibbs who associated with Lieut. Col.
Hooker in Of these contracts presented himself in
person at the Department, frankly acknowledged his
error but soemny protested that when he engaged in
this transaction he not that IL would be cons
dered improper For this reason and account of his
youth and previous high character as an officer and
gentleman considered that he would be sufficiently pun
ished by reprmand.
deem it but just to both these officers add that this
opinion to the proprety of these ransac
tons confined to themselves. They appear to
have been known to all the officers at the post Major
p Kearny, who commanded the post and whose duty
watch the disbursements signed the contract
attesting Witness and two other officers Paymaster
Leonard and Assistant Surgeon Campbell suretes
for its faithful performance
Icame to the conclusion however that should
speedily adopted repetition OF such an abuse
As soon therefore as was informed Of these
tons addressed letter to the Committees on Military
Affairs both of the Senate and House Of Representatives
similar abuses in future copy Of this letter is here
with transmitted ~
Several weeks having elapsed and not finding that any
action had been taken on the subject by either committee
issued regulation copy Of which is herewith trans
mitted do consider however, that this regulation
supersede the necessity Of act Of Congress Besides
that law carries with it higher sanction than mere
regulation of the Departments the sentence Of court
martial for violating the latter would be at the discretion
of the court.
Since the receipt of the resolution Of the Senate have
learned Of other operations Of this kind in which both
Lieut. Col Hooker and Bvt. Capt Gibbs were engaged
The Department is now investigating them
It has been also reported to me that Cspt Alexander
W. Reynolds assistant quartermaser stationed Santa
Fe New Mexico purchased supplies from individuals
who acting in the capacity Of forage under
him and in one instance purchased three horses from
himself That matter is also undergoing investigation.
have the honor to be- very respectfully your obedent
servant, t' fH @. NJ CONRAD,
Secretary Of War
Hon. W. r. KING
President Of the Senate.
Extract from the order Of Gen Hitchcock.
The general commanding feels called upon to express
the opinion he cntertans that general practice were it