The daily union., 1854-07-25


being convinced that my positions right il Is because
the subject is not looked into understood by Congress
that much of evil in the management Of and expendi-
at the armories is tolerated Yonr indifference to
the subject is what gives impuny and boldness 10 these
officers and enables them completely to mislead you by
plausible statements and welarranged calculations.
Al the last session of Congress- when this bill under
consideration similar amendment to the have Of
fred was submitted and urged with great zeal by the friends
Of the civil system. The military influence was strong
enough defeat it, and all that obtained authority
to the President TO institute board of commissioners TO
examine the subject and upon their report to change the
superintendeney not, at his discretion Such board
commissioned, and of high character, Of
whom distinguished for their great ability and the
aed positions they had occupied under both the State and
federal governments composed it, These gentlemen were
Andrew Stevenson, Chancellor Waworth Governor Steele,
and Henry d. Smith, the part of the civilians and Col
ones Andrews aud Septoe OF the military They repaired
TO Sprngeld and spent three months in making thor
ough and searching inquiry into every matter which bore
upon the subject They not only had an ocular inspec-
ton Of the establishment bnt examined oath large
number of witnesses Counsel were employed upon both
sides to examine and crossexumne The witnesses and
bring out fully every fact having any relevancy to the in
qury. The composing the board were well calculated
To judge correctly and conclude wisely Two lawyers
of eminenee two practical machnss and two army Off
Their high character gentlemen and known
TO the nation precudes the idea that the proceedings were
not conducted fairly mparually, and efficiently Well,
sir majority of this board four out Of six without besi
taton after hearing all the testimony, examining all the
buildings and machinery and witnessing the operations of
the establishment reported the President in favor of
storing the civil system of supcrintendency The two
army officers reported in favor of the present system The
reports of Mr. Stevenson and Chancellor Walworh
marked by great ability and cannot fail to convince any
that II will best promote the public interest be
consistent with the nature of government and more
agreeable to public sentiment to place the mechanics
and workmen at the armories civil superintendent than
permit them to remain under military commandants Mem
bers of this committee will find it profitable to read those
reports.
say Why when these reports submitted to
the President he took action upon the subject. Nor
can tell why the commission was dissolved before it had
visited the other armory at Harpcrs Ferry No doubt the
President had which he considered sufficient to
justify him in the he pursued and shall not call
in question the proprey of his conduct But will say
sir that he has the democratic sentiment of the
nation this subject The memorials before the commit
tee from all sections of the Union and numerousy signed
show that much feeling exists in regard to this matter and
that public sentiment demands change in the superin-
tendency of the arnores Sir since the military took
control of thcm the people have been demanding at the
hands of Congress change The Ordnance department
have had influence enough prevent it, but the time has
come when will be delayed longer The people will
not be content until the national workshops in the
hands of civilians competent to manage them
The select committee took much testimony both in
gard to the bearing and conduct of those military officers,
towards the under their CONTROL and the manner in
which they managed the finances of the establishments,
shall nothing the subject of their utter want of
proper qualities for the superintendent of mechanics
Every knows that military habits OF comman and
obedience odous and revolving to the free citizen and it
is utterly idle to deny that to great extent they
red into practice by military officers matter where they
are placed Nor shall | comment upon the testimony
which proves the hardsps and expressions which have
been heaped upon the mechanics by some of these military
comnlandants further than say that they result from
the very nature of the military system Ny purpose to
direct the attention of the House and the country to the
wrctchedly loose financial sysem observed by the
mndants 1t to that if the evils which exist in
this respect known and understood by Congress- the
military system would not be tolerated single day
When the commandants want money for improvements
1t is the practice to send to Congress estimates in which
each item FORTH and the given for it, Each
object is explained and the estimated 1t upon the
of mia and
gress grants the money For convenience the aggregate
given under the general head OF REPAIRS improvements
and machinery" Ii was not So however, when the
civilians had control of the establishments Then the APP
propratons made FOR each item separately and the
money expended only for the particular purpose for
which it appropriated The practice of Jumping the
appropriations is doubt the result Cf suggestions from
the Ordnance department But sir matter how they
made regard should be had, in their expenditure
the estimates and given when they asked for
Any other leaves to the Ordnance department dis
creon in the expenditure of the public money which other
officers of government do not have and which ought
to be allowed to any The result is that Congress fire.
quonty approprate money with the intention Of having
it applied TO purpose, when il is applied to totally
different one and perhaps which it would not have
approved.
The testimony of the commandants clerk at Harpers
Ferry and gentleman of high character and respecta
bility, who had independence enough, though under
military commandant, speak the truth frankly and
didy disclosed to the committee many important facts in
regard to the misappcaton OF the funds at that armory
lie served under both SYSTEMS, and says that such
his testimony before and wish members at their les
would read it. He says that in 1876 there nppro
priaed Sl6,500 to build rolling mill, which drawn
and used for other purposes" The rolling mill
built until 1853 and the cost taken from the appro
priaon for repairs of the present year" In l849 APP
preparation made for the purchase of land houses
but as they could then be bought that appropriation
expended for other purposes If the appropriations
bad been applied for the purposes for which they in
tended there rou1d be no money eaatg nor This sir is
the testimony Of the chief clerk Of ihe arnory lie says
further that several of objects for which money sasked
the present year have already been constructed paid
for and are in by the government and if the
money is granted, it will be applied to other purposes
for the building of arsenal OF $4,000 to be-
gin with, and another of Sl3 700 to complete i ana moth
ing has been done TO this day but The excavations of he
foundations, and oil the moaey exhausted.
The argument in favor of retaining military Off
in control of cy works is that they more exact
their transactions crupulous in the observance
the laws and have sctcr accountability in the expendi
ture of public lpopey have patience with those who
believe any such notion 1t ia all sheer hunbuga rdicu-
Ious delusionand which, the sooner il is exposed and
dpated the better for the interest of the country The
developments made by the clerk alluded and other tes
tipony from the War Department. are in all conscience
enough to convince the most ncreduous that 80 far MS
ordnance officers concerned greater cosencss rreg
lay, and deraDgement in financial matters could not cx
Isl, anywhere or with any men The Ordnance depart-
ent cannot show from its records here the amount of
money expended upon any single object of improvements
1t returns of the particular applied 10 each
has accounts Of the cost Of the buildings 1t is
tally in the dark upon this subject And will YOU call that
acude2
But Mr. Chairman that these military commandans are
wasefn and exravagan in all their transactions the whole
scope and tenor of the testimony demonstrates It results
frequently from their want of skin and capacity Ia the line
of duty which they have been assigned Mnc expense
J.,, cro,,