Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-09-23

As might have been anticipated, the com
planning Army contractors have triumphed owe
Capt Van Viiet, A. Q NJ, in relation to hi
inspection and aPpraisement of mules in opposi
ton to their pundering greed The Board 0
Inquiry at Fort Leayenworth to investigate Ia,
complaints, have made report signed by Col
Roberts and Major Gaines condemning the con
duct of Capt. Van Vliet, and justifying tn,
complaints Of the contractors. The report at
! firms that certain lots Of mules were improper
ly rejected, and that the general aPPraisement
should not have been less than sIs5 per head
A liberal appraisement beyond peradventure,
but Uncle Sam is a generous old fellow to-
wards his officials and their pets. Major Sher.
man does not concur in the report, aud will pre-
sent minority one Just read what follows
from the St Louis Democrat
1t is clear that the Mormon war was sham
war, devised by the plumber party to fill their
own Golfers and to subserve the Kansas policy
of the President The United States Treasury
il was, and not Salt Lake City, which these
people wanted to get into, and n that respect
the war has been eminently SUE uesessful But
to narrow the subject to the mule business, it
appears that Secretary Floyd gave an order to
OaDt. Van Ylict to buv fifteen hundred mules of
Trigg d KIRBY, Of this STATE, and as many more
ss might be required, after twelve hundred were
bought from other parties. Tue Secretary sub
sequently speaks Of these gentlemen as his
friends-a title which all the members of the
plumber party will envy them, for it is a good
substantial thing to be friends Of Secretary
Floyd. His friendship is no SYNONYM for emp
ty eourtssiss or tepId sentiment It is the
sure sign and guarantee Of hard cash and
Treasury drafts, and of broad acres from the
military reservations. Capt. Van Vliet produ-
ees another order sent 10 him by the Secretary
10 take one thousand mules from DIR. Mcdowell,
his nephew, and Col. d. d. Mitchell, both Of
this city month later another order was
, 4 bstituted for this TIE entire number (lOOO)
wer TO be purchased from Mitchell
Ihare were other orders given in favor of
otheI parties, butthey were comparatively small
TIE whole numbsT Of mules purchased at Fort
Leavenworth. between April and August, was
423s. Il their published statements, the con
tractors assert that Van Yliet promised a COM
mission Of twenty per cent, on the cost at Leav-
enworth. Maniiestly it wss the interest Of the
contractors TO pay the highest prices. Their |
profits were 10 be in the direct proportion of /
their outlay. The mule that cost hundred /
dollars, would only yield them twenty dollars |
profit; whereas the mule which cost hundred /
and fifty dollars, would yield them thirty dollars.
The operation OF this Tgls can be easily under
stood. Upon the issue between the eontTactogs
and the Quartemaster we are not 10 express
Judgment We believe the latter found himself
N a false position at Fort Leavenworth. Cap
ain Hancock, it appears, bought mules at
lundrsd and fifty dollars head; and both he
md Col crosslHsA Esre ordered to Utah, con-
.emporaneOusly with the inauguration Of the
mule JObbing, while Capt. Van Vliet and Col
rompkins were ordered to replace them at Fort
Ieayenvorth, We have also on the authority
# Gen Jessup, that the Invest prices paid BY
Van Vliet were entirely too high. We are
therefore, constrained to think that although he
esisted the entire fufillment of the spirit Of his
was to grant the mule contract
n their own demands, he is net entitled to sll
he msit Of martyr.
The number received BY Van Yliet from the
avored few in compliance with his orders, vas
Wis The increased appraisment of the Board
{ Inquiry will add $50 600 to the profits The
cceptEncc of the rejected mules will swell the a
CURES still more. Ar. Floyd's friends may boast
hat they were born under lucky star.
We have no hesitation IN saying that the Ad-
linistTation flung away S4OO, 600 in these pur-
bases Of mules. The proposition Of Messrs
aldwell and Geary, of Texas, to supply all the {
lules which the Government should require, de-
vering thom at Fort Leayenvcrth, at prices :
-aryng from eignty-ive to hundred dollars, is
n file in the war office. This proposition was y
ever noticed by the authorities in Washington;
Or were propositions from any quarter invited
he business was parcelled out prIVilF among $,
lie friends Of the Secretary, and the friends or I
'me leading men in Washington. No terms j
ere made, but a rule was adopted which en- e'
,uraged eKtrsvagant Outlays. lie whole thing
as left ostensibly to the discretion Of an As 4
staut Quartermaster The same mode was '
opted with the other contracts, if they can
considered contracts Col. CrOssman was d.
cted to purchase corn in st. Louis, from an