The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-04-11

Mr.. IEiCHER. Then cannot yield. IL h perfectly
manifest that these supplies have to be transported u
Utah. and that they he transported for greatly less
money between the st day Of April and the 3lst day OF
August than in any other period of the year During
that period these supplies can be transported for III 80
per one hundred funds for one hundred miles or COM
putting the distance ut Thousand two hundred miles
at $2l so per hundred pounds for the entire distance
to the Territory.
priety and think with that due regard to the pub
lie interest which should characterize public officers and
which he has displayed in this matter proposes to antici
pate the regular appropriation, that would not in all
probability be made before the last OF July about the
rising of Congress, to purchase those articles and
to have them ready to send off from Fort Ieavenworth at
period between the LIST Of April and the 3lst OF
August, when they be transported Mt the rate Of
ST. 80 per hundred pounds per hundred miles.
think the recommendation is proper on the score
economy and what difference does make whether we
appropriate the money the last day OF July nextf
There il the whole Of it, and there is this whole obec
ton that has been raised to anticipating appropriations
made BY the gentlemen who have discussed this question
the other side Now, sir, ON the of economy,
those gentlemen ought to sustain this proposition be-
cause il their purpose shall be carried out If this bill
shall be defeated if these articles shall be purchased from
the appropriations made in the regular bill then the gov
ernment is to pay from three to four and half dollars
for transportation and not only that but the govern
Is to the risk Of having the wagons overtaken
during the winter and the loss probably of the entire
supplies put it, then to the common practical sense
OF the House. whether they economists whether
am practising an economical rule in the recommended
tions that have presented from the Committee of Ways
and Means.
Lot US look at it again. Mr. Chairman in another point
of view and whether this contract IL not advan
tageOts contract to the government and for which
the Secretary OF War, instead of rcproach deserves
commcndation ut the hands Of this and the other
house. Why, sir, 1t is an immense business How
many wagons do you suppose will be required to carry on
this transportation how many yoke of oxen how much
other preparation will be required to meet the demands
made by the government under this contract! IT will
drnI civ
TO be used for transportation and that is counting two
trips to Fort Laramie and two to Fort Keaney during the
year, and one to Utah II will require two thousand
four hundred and sixteen wagons to transport what al
ready ordered to say nothing of what may be ordered
hereafter. 1t will require twenty-eght thousand nine
hundred and ninety oxen for this purpose Wagons
cost about hundred and seventy dollars each, deliver
ed ut Fort Ieayenworth The oxen cost about ninety
dollars yoke. They travel in companies of twenty five
wagons and there must be twenty five teamsters to
each wagon. Besides, there must be wagon for the
contractor to carry supplies for his men, which makes
twenty six in all and there is captain and lieutenant
to each train who have charge Of IT, Yes, SIR and there
pqust be extra teams if they carry travelling forge, or
anything of that kind for they must be prepared with
that and everything es necessary to enable them to sup
ply adequately this train When you to count up
ali these items to say nothing Of the extra teams besides
those have enumerated and those referred to by my
friend from Missouri MR. PHELPS you have two thou
sand five hundred and thirteen wagons thirty thousand
one hundred and fifty six oxen two Thousand five hundred
and thirteen tcamstes hundred and ninety four cap
tans and lieutenants making in oil two thousand seven
hundred and seven And the capital which this con-
tractor is required to raise his credit without
dollar of advance from this government Is something
near two million dollars. And now, sir, when he has
performed part Of this service when he s executing this
contract the House here ray that they will not furnish
the to pay it and that after running his credit ~
the last verge, they win not pay him for what he has
done.
out in the execution Of this contract We know that
property high now as it year two ago This
party has to buy credit and Of course he has to pay
something additional % that account he has to go 60
hire these for this hazardous service and yet the
increase in the cost Of transportation the difference be-
tween $40 ~ LIS and $2l GO, under the existing con-
tract with two million two hundred and sixty thou
spd one hundred and thirteen pounds 70 be transported
under the nipetccndollar contract, and fifteen million
four hundred apd ninety five toqsapd pounds already
ordered under the twenty -one-doar contract Then
ask again. whether the Secretary of War has not shown
forecast here which entities him to credit instead of
sure, on the part Of this House
My friend from Ohio [Mr. SHERnAS told us that he
was opposed to this bill because it altogether too
eFa in it's terms; that there nothing specific in IT
and that he wanted to know what those words inden-
ial r,1spses meanl He says he does not understand
Sha they mean apd ls committee does nSt riorp h
read the bill BECAUSE If he has, it Is marvel to me
that in looking at tho 6pth line he did not discover
what the " incidental el~asA covered. This clause OF
the bill states
consisting portage letters and packages received and sent ON
public service Of courts martial and
inquiry including the additional compensation 10 adge adyo
recorders members and Witnesses while on that service
March 10 1902 osoers employed under
the department. In the erection Of
quarters oeoucs and hospitals the construction Of
March 1872 1854 including those
division and department headquarters
the frontier and armies the
other dsbursng 0eers and trains
be furnished Of the nement
Of soldiers authorized office furniture hire Of
abccrs department. including hire Of Inter
,ec spies guides Of clerk TO o
GERS compensation Of forage and
wagon BY the act Of july 1883 FOR the
heson and the expenses incident 70 their mr e
expenditures required for the Two regiments OF dragooo
the e regiment of mounted rdemeD and
SUCH companies infantry be monted namely the purchase
Of travelling ges blaekmls aud shoeing tools horse and mule
sboes and nails hiec for s6eng hire Of veterinary
reons medicines mules ropes and oes the
horses Of those corps el0O,0O0 ~
The items are set out clearly and distinctly The gen.
tlemsn viii gee at that 1t wonld Ike impossible tG
furnish the specific amounts required 70 cover each one
of them Then when these incidental expenses are men
toned they Incidental expenses which can be ascer
tanned from this BILL reference to it. to pay for eni
the necessity for which every member Judge Of fo
himself ii the incidental expenses shall not amount ID
The sum therein specified then the balance will remain
not to bc expended under that clause
cz SIR the provisions Of this BILL 80 far as the
army Is concerned. Jess specific than the provi
sons of former bills in regard to the subject
my friend from Ohio MIR SnERMASl knows Of solitary
instance in which bill of appropriations for the army
has een more specific in s terms than the bill reported
Gy us sLoplI he glad to know when such bill wa
brought here by whom brought here, and when 1t WA
e considered by this Hopss. !,
Mr.. SHERMAN, Of Ohio should like TO ask the