Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-07-15
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP

MILITARY SUPERINTENDENT to
a paragraph in a late Washington letter (by
telegraph published in the New York Herald,
concerted effort is soon to be made to bring
about the supersedure of the military officers OF
the Government now in charge of the construc-
ton Of the different Government public works
We think the fact stated likely to be true, and
though it may be possible that here and there
an army officer so engaged may be ordered 10
other duty, and his place supplied with civil
ian if that course should prove best for the pub
lie interest after due investigation, we have not
the least idea that any such concerted move
ment can possibly succeed in its objects.
The game has been tried in the same way re-
peatedly, and has always resulted in strength.
ening the practice of the Government in en-
trusting such business on its behalf in the hands
of its own officers regularly trained to it at the
public cost, and amenable to it otherwise than
through the mere loss of the particular charge
Millions on millions are annually disbursed by
the Government in the construction of many
progressing public works of various descrip-
tiOns. More or less of them have been placed
IN the hands of civilians, not unfrequently to
iS"uis IA Nuoi ScS VI pcSuldliOl, COlluslOU, &c,
&c, to the disgrace of the public service, the
injury of the public morals and the robbery of
the treasury ofthe United States, we may not I'M
truthfully add. Whereas, such results of "mili-
tary superintendent as it is termed ARE of very
rare occurrence. Committee on committee of
Congress have indirectly investigated the rela-
tive merits Of both systems, in investigating
charges alleged against both classes of such SUI
perlntendents; always to the credit of the mill
tary officers, and as surely, if we remember
correctly, to the discredit of the civil system
Hence the failure of the various efforts to induce
Congress to interfere against the military sys.
tenn.
The truth is, such combinations and concerted
movements as we mention above, are the work
OF people who have axes to grind in connec
ton with Government works. disappointed
bidders for work. or disappointed proprietors
of lots for public edfces rejected by military
superintendent, folks who fail to get places
under them, &c, &c. The charges they bring,
on investigation, invariably turn out to be based
on their failure to use those in charge of Gov
eminent works in aid of their private specula-
tons on the Government.
The case of Major Bowman, Of L. s Engi-
neers, the head of the Treasury Department 5
Bureau of Construction, affords fair ilustra-
ton Of our point. By his able, faithful and
incorruptble discharge of the onerous and diff
fcult duties Of his position, he brought upon
himself concerted efforts under the late admin
istration to effect his supersedure, on the part
OF every sinister man who entertained designs
in connection with the construction of new Gus
tom houses, court houses, or post Offices in al,
quarters of the country, which they could not
crafty. The end of their labors for his dis
placement was in satisfying Congress and the
late chief of the Department, that in his present
position, he was almost invaluable to the Gov
eminent as detectOr of all sinister schemes
against the integrity and proper management
of the many trusts confded to him, as we'll as q
professional man, than whom the country DOS
sesses no other better fitted for the discharge of
his duties.
We take it for granted, by the by, that when
developed, it will be found that the new comb.
nations referred to in the HeroIa's correspon-
dence will be aimed at him. for just now he is
disbursing heavy sums on public account. and
is rs unapproachable as ever by gentlemen
whose axes, if ground, require to be ground on
the special favors" system, the most danger
Gus and reprehensible that can possibly be re-
sorted to in the management OF such public
business. Our opinion is, that gentlemen who
seek special fayors in connection with any of
the Government works, have been as bitterly
disappointed since the 4th of March last, rs ever
before; and we see no reason to imagine that
they will find any one now in the Government
more pliable than their finty predecessors.
So THEY Go 1t seems that New York is