Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-03-14
Oorcrster DoilD 5pp,
The Way the Money Goes.


In the Senate of the United States on Thurs-
day last, some remarkable disclosures were made
of which we have the following account:
Mr. Cooper offered resolution calling on tho
Secretary Of the Navy for information as to the
purchase of coal for the Navy, particularly for the
Japan squadron.
Mr. COOper's resolution calls for the contract en-
tered into with Rowland & Aspinwan for sun
plying the Japan squadron with coal, the price
per ton when delivered in the China seas, the
commissions, &c, with all the particulars. Also,
the offer made by other parties, stating the prices
&C; and whether the government, at the time Of
making the said contract, had not regularly au-
thoTlzed Agents and Inspectors of Coal, their
commissions, &c; whether Messrs Rowland q
Aspinwall have not been appointed Inspectors
and Agents Of Coal with an allowance of double
commissions, &c. Mr. Cooper said that his OBJ
Ject was TO ascertain, if practicable, all norma-
tlon relative to the supply of coal TO the Japan
squadron.
1t was known the government had two agents
regularly appointed to purchase and inspect coal
for the navy, one for anthracite and the other for
bhumnous coal. Their duty was to supplysand
inspect all coal of either kind, required not only
for the use of the navy, but also for the dock
yards and workshops. Their compensation is
liked at a per ceutage on all coal purchased by
them, Of five per cent. When the squadron was
about to sail, or previous to the sailing, an agent
offered to supply ii with both kinds of coal at Ger
tain prices, and to deliver it at such points and
places IN the Chinese seas, as might be designa-
led by the government, the cost not to exceed
$50 per ton.
The offer was, TO furnish the anthracite at
$l4.50, and the bituminous at $14.90 per toni
neither kind Of coal to exceed SIS per ton 1t
seemed that neither offer was accepted Messrs
Rowland d. Aspinwall were then appointed in
spectors, and were authorized to purchase coal
for the Japan squadron. They purchased small
quantities of coal in the United States but thew
relied for their supply principally upon English
coal, which they have purchased at prices great
~ higher than those at which American coal could
have been bought; this, too, when the American
coal, both anthracite and btumnous is much SUI
peror to the English coal, as has been frequently
demonstrated by actual tests and experiments. D..
lie was informed that this English coal, when de-
lVered IN the Chinese seas, will cost one quarter
more than the American coal, which is vastly SUI
peror, would have cost. He was also informed
that instead of an allowance of five per cent, as
allowed 10 the other regularly appointed agents,
Rowland d Aspinwall are to receive ten per cent
commission. They are also allowed ten and
halt per cent commission, by way Of exchange,
on the amount of coal they purchase in England.
II this be so. the proceeding is an outrage, and
should be known. He was informed that there
would be 10000 tons Of coal required, which, at
$50 per ton, would give them $3.50, OO0 com
mission, and $l60, 900 more by way of exchange.