The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-08-04


] And now LET say a word in reference to one of the
who figures largely in this report and who
came before the committee not only witness but
one employed by somebody TO get evidence against the
present SYSTEM refer to Ex-Governor Steel, Of New
Hampshire That gentleman am oldand there are lots
OF witnesses prove Invent on to tle establishment at
Springfield as of the commissioners appointed by the
President Tie said there took notebook, and went
each OF the shops to see and with the employees
In that establishment privately aud asked their individual
opinions abopt the matter Of the superntendency and he
reports that large majority in favor Of change
How did he arrive at that result? He told those
and have abundant proof of tat there would be a
change; that the military superintendent, would be re-
moved and they had better be the right side that if
there was to be change and they in favor of mill
tary superntendency they would be removed but if they
were IN favor OF civil superntendency and they should
be removed that he knew the President Of the United
States, and that he would give them assurances in his
name that they would be reinsttcd within thirty days;
( that they need not have any fears that
That is the man who comes here and talks about the
tyranny and despotism OF those military establishments
and about removals from office for opinions sake.
\ Now, am told that those men will come forward and
say that up to the time when the commission there
they were perfectly satisfied and perfectly contented and
that they knew nothing about this military tyranny and
despotism of which we have heard much They were
prosperous happy and contented Now it ill becomes
Governor Steel of New Hampshire, to talk about des
potsm OF opinion when he assured those men, in the
OF the President of the United States that they should
retained there notwithstanding their opinions and that
their opinions upon that point should be disclosed aud
then, without notifying the commission of what he had
been about forward and offers these facts in order
to help his own case along.
That is specimen of of the commission authorized
to ascertain the facts be used eghen the President
Of the United States in reference change in the super
iniendency That is specimen of civil superintendent
undertaking to say to those men, if they deposcd from
their present places because they in favor of civil
perntendency, he will restore them
Here the hammer fell.
Mr.. DICKINSON. Has my time expired = have Just
commenced the discussion H @Tt
The SPEAKER. 1t has tt
In the further progress of the debate, Mr. DICKINSON
moved to amend the bill, and spoke ITS follows:
Mr.. DICKINSON Mr.. Chairman l move to amend by
adding to the amendment of the gentleman from Kentucky
the following words: 500 ~
And their management aud shall be- and hereby
IS transferred from the Ordnance department to the Pres
dent OF the United States t HlNA a345
Mr. Chairman since 1915 the armores have been under
the care and management OF the Ordnance department
Persons selected from the ordnance board have been by law
the superntendents of those institutions since l84 The
gentleman from Kentucky proposes in his amendment
to take from the President Of the United States who las
exercised the power from the first the power Of appoint
nient of superntendents of the national rmocs from the
Ordnance department Ny amendment is to add TO that
prohibition, directed against the ordnance board trans
crra of the whole management of the armoes the Pres
dent Of the United States. aGAS
My is simply this :be ordnance board are now
responsible for the manner IN which the armoles
ducted lfthey are to be responsible they ought to have
voice in the matter superintcndents be selected
their number II the superinendens are not to be taken
from that board none are to be selected over whom
they may have some control and inuenee-ny doctrne-
and hope the committee will sustain it's that The Pres
dent Of the United States should have the authority APP
point from all classes of the people and relieve the Ord
nance department of all responsibility in ue matter The
proposition is 80 plain thai think The committee will
adopts baa&
! should be glad Mr. Chairman if could be allowed
under the rules to reply TO suggestions which
have fallen from gentlemen during the discussion on this
matter. desire TO make some corrections Gentlemen
have stated what they believed be facts but which are
not facts and there is danger of the committee acting I'M
der msnpprehenson tI ts1l
The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman must confne his re-
marks to the explanation OF his amendment
Mr.. DICKINSON. The rules established for the
regulation OF the aruories made by the ordnance
board There is provision in the amendment offered by
the gentleman from Kentucky, Mr. STANTON unless the
amendment have offered to it be adopted by which any
regulations be established enforced Making pro-
vision only for the appointment OF the officers the rmories
viii be left without regulations to govern them.
When gentlemen stand up in their places and assure
from their knowledge that there are no regulations
accessible to the men, that there has been change
regulations since the military superntendency estab
shcd desire to inform the House what the facts of the
really We have had the evidence before the
mittee and it is undsputed of Colonel Robb, who
pernendent of the armory at Springfield for eight nine
years previous to the military supernendency being
ablshed He cstieS that written code of laws, rather
regulations, prepared that they sent the ord
board and approved and that he caused them be
written and read the men because they were new
and then gave copy to each inspector and foreman with
instructions to show them to the men whenever they
called upon to do so.
Colonel Huger superintendent at Harpers Ferry, tcst
he'd that Major Symngton his predecessor had the regula
tons written, and that he had them printed Colonel
Ripley says in his communication to the commissioners
that when he came to Springfield, he found regulations
there which he called good and has kept and enforced
them without material change the present time The
charge Is that those rules not accessible to the work
men the Isl il is contrary to the evidence in the
II is charged also, that who work by the piece as-
cording to established tariff of prices have had the
amount Of their earnings at the end Of month reduced
when they called TOR their pay the ground that the
tariff had been reduced although notice had been given
OF such reduction before the work done This
fed by Colonel b. Moore to have taken place while he
acting master at Harpers Ferry under Major
Syring tons superintendent.
Major Symngion states in affidavit that no such case
occurred within his knowledge, that reduction uns
ever made unless notice given before the work
done unless it occurred by the negligence Of Colonel Moore
himself to carry out the orders Of the superintendent 10
give such notice OF any intended reduction.
II Is stated, also-and much stress laid upon the fact
that all the inspectors and other officers who examined the
armorie and the work manufactured there previous TO
lstl, when the civil government changed to military
reported fayorably the condition of the
and the quality OF work, and the character of the officers
and workme and the constant improvements and
made, Aaa Ats i lF ifat'I
This is undoubtedly aud il Is also true that since
The appointment OF military supentendents the sa,hc Off
GERS nave from year TO year spoken in the highest
OIL commendation of the improvements in buildings
chneryi and the quality of the arms manufactured The
ordnance board The inspector General Church) the
Secretary OF War; the leading mechanics in the afmories
and the two military members Of the commission which
met at Springfield all concur in the opinion that the
now made are OF better quality than before Is4J and
hat there bad been constant improvement up to the
present time Some of the leading aud agen Of
private ormores in the vicinity Of Springfield also testify
that in their opinion it is better for tie government and the
men employed at the aro there that the present super
mtendent should poInl,, than 10 have chance