The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-04-16

REPORT
W NE Select Committee appointed BY the Senate undsy he
tssomD" % me on Of august. 1882. ia the following
Rsoiusd, That a COMMITTEES of five be appoined NV the
Pfesdent OF the Senate inquire into abuses bribery or
haud IN the prosecution OF claims beio Congress com
missions. or the departments, passing through Con
sfess bills embracing private. individual corpora ia
eiests or IN obtaining or granting contracts and that said
committee nave power 10 send for and pers
examine witnesses on oath.
In The performances OF their duty, they immediate
" entered upon The inquiries embraced by the
luton and proceeded 10 witnesses and take evil
dence. IN conformity 10 the authority conferred.
The extent OF these investigations. and the necessity
Tor patient thorough, and deliberate action, in order 10
parties implicated have tended delay the report of the
results OF their labors much longer than at first ex-
pectel
These Investigations commenced on the l4h of August
last were resumed, by authority OF the Senate, at the
recent regular session. and closed as soon as
circumstances and the pressure OF other public engage
Under each head OF investigation, the committee pro-
pose 10 give an exact summary brief OF the facts
al 0s hs 5 BY o appendix
parties concerned Each being presented as il is,
vii, speak for itself and will then be for the Senate 10
take such aclon as justice and the public interests
qulIe # #u.
The first subject OF inquir, TO which the attention Of
The committee was directed, as an alleged abuse, and
within the scope OF their duies is embraced in what the
committee Will designate as .'.'.a
CASE A,
Under the title Of a contract for The construction Of light
houses on the Pacific coast.
The general allegation in this the sale OF
contracts by or with the consent and connvance oil the
chief officers OF the Treasury Department.
Under the acs OF Congress passed September 49, $780,
and March 3, 1851, appropriations were made of $780,
600 Tor the construction OF seven lighthouses in Cali
forna, and 53,l4O for three light houses in Oregon
he contracts tor the execution OF this work were
der the control OF the Treasury Department and the
specific allegation was. that clerk in Inc Office Of the
Secretary OF he Treasury, MI John Mc(iinns had OBJ
tanned private contract, whereby he had made large
proht bt the sale Of he contract and this, too, with the
knowledge and consent OF Hon. Thomas Corwin Secre-
lay OF the Treasury This contract signed Decem
Der 2S, 1851 But before giving synopsis OF the evil
dence under this head and in order thorough
eucdaton of the subject, the committee premise that in
the state OF the finances dated December 20, 1851 only
tpo days before the actual and formal signing of the
tract, the following paragraphs appear:
The department has not yet succeeded in making a
definite contract for the erection OF the lighthouses
the Pacific coast which have been authorized by Con-
gress. and great difficulty exists in accomplishing that
object in consequence OF what Is considered the made
quate appropriation the opinion of those best capable
of judging Of the facts and circumstances connected with
their construction in that part OF the Union " and that
"the department will probably have TO await the further
action OF Congress- and If additional appropriations
made at early day, the whole OF the structures could
be commenced in the spring, the rainy
was terminated; in which case il is believed they be
completed and put into operation previous to the ensuing
winter"
The committee, for the purpose of elcitng the facts in
tins case. summoned the following persons:
John McGinnis. esq; Hon. w. l.. Hodge, Assistant
Secretary OF the Treasury; George Harrington. esq
chief clerk OF the Treasury Department; Robert G. Cor.
win. esq Of Ohio; Seth Ingalls,; Francis A. Gibbons;
They also endeavored procure the attendance of Mr.
c. Delano. of New York, an important actor in the
busness but without success as he could not be found
The committee, in the commencement OF their nves-
legations notified Hon Thomas Cor win that he could
appear before them; and also caused him to be informed
OF the nature of the allegations IN which he involy
ed that he might be prepared 10 furnish any explanation
defence but he has appeared. though the
mtlee received an intmaton, through one OF It's mem
bers who had conferred with him. OF his intention TO
do
The following is the summary Of the facts proved by
the different witnesses:
TESTIMONY JOHN a'cISNIs, Esa
lit will be recoeced tina, this is the witness who re-
fused 10 testify unit, his refusal brought 10 the
tce of the Senate when he appeared and gave his les
mony
Witness had been clerk in the Office Of the Secretary
OF the Treasury in subordinate positions subsequently
chief clerk from November 1, 1899. 10 March 81. 1851
He then assigned a quasi bureau desk in the
department TO which was coufied the business pertain
ing TO the lighthouses and marine hospitals the Pa
cic coast. Eaily in April 1851 soon after this change,
and after representing for stated by him. his de-
sire 10 retire from the department, II he could make
IS 600 or $4,000, stated that II he could
lact Tor the construction OF the lighthouses in Caior-
na and Oregon he believed be could erect the for
The appropriations and realize considerable profit, and
agreed 10 unite partner with him IN the enter.
prise, OF his own or Mr.. Corwin's selection No
definite answer was then given by the Secretary.
After a second interview, the Secretary sent for wit.
ness, and recommended Mr. Delano. OF New York,
for partner Delano called witness and sug-
gesed Third partner, 10 wit Mr.. Robert G. Corwin. "a
relative OF the Secretary) who should have interest
of $4,000 or $1,000 10 which witness sssenied. There
giving the contract witness but finally 1t agreed
TO- with the understanding that witness would resign his
position in the department
The contract signed by witness on the 2sh De-
cember, 1851, and by agreement between him and Mr..
Deiano upon the claim and solicitation OF the latter, besl
tangy assened by witness the interest OF Robert c.
Corwn vas made equal TO that OF MtGInnIs and Mr..
Delano This was before the signing and execution OF
the contract.
No bond or security required from witness at the
time OF the contract there any public advertise
rent for proposals. Pending negotiations for the con-
tract witness called upon BY the Secretary for re-
lice OF the department From this report appears ha,
the law required advertisement but the practice had
not always been consistent with H. the exceptions being
the OF contracts smaller than that Tor The Calior-
MIA Oregon lighthouses, and Tor those OF an anoma
lous character The work was TO be OF buck or stone,
and to be completed within year from November
1852 The amount allowed under the contract was the
sum appropriated for seven lighthouses in California,
equal 10 S05 900; aud S3l 900 Tor the light house at
Cape DISAPPOINTMENT in Oregon, taken IRON The gross
appropriation OF about $53 900 Tor three lighthouses ~
Ofegon because il was supposed the appropriation ould
be Inadeq uate Tor Oregon 900 10 all The i'm
pressons OF the witness, Indicated 40 his testimony
were that the Secretary knew OF his intention to sell
the contract Soon after ils execution, witness invited