The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-03-03

Hunter was appointed coal agent; Smith re-
ceived the commission from the Navy Depart
ment, took it to DIR. Hunter at Reading, and
narrated to him the arrangement to which
Hunter agreed Getz subsequently declined
to share in the profits, because, as he says, the
arrangement was distasteful to him.
CDR. Hunter had been for years, was then,
and still is, practicing physician in Reading.
He had never purchased coal for sale; he did
not know its market value took no pains to as
certain it; did not purchase any coal for the
Government, or do any act in the performance
of his duty except to sign formal papers sent
to him by Tyler, Stone, 4 Co., certifying that
a specific quantity of coal, of the best quality,
had been duly inspected and weighed by him,
and shipped on board named vessel. These
papers were sent to the proper bureau, and all
parties kneac, or ought to hare knOaCn, that the
certificates scere false, SO far as relates to his
personal knowledge of the facts certified.
"By an understanding between Hunter q
Smith, the latter was to make inquiries as to
selecting coal at Philadelphia; but it is mani
fest that he did but little in the execution of
| this trust. He was in the omnibus business,
and had no connection with the purchase Of
| coal.
"The coal was required at Philadelphia, and
was there delivered on shipboard to the Gov
eminent. Neither Hunter nor Smith saw the
coal inspected, weighed, or delivered, and the
whole business was turned over to Tyler, Stone
! 4 Co. MIR. Smith testifes that he took no per-
sonal supervision of the matter, except to see
| that the best Goals could be had and depended
| upon Tyler, Stone, 4 Co., to inspect the coal.
| When the Government needed coal, a requis-
ton was sent to DIR. Hunter, which by him was
sent to Tyler, Stone & Co., who became at once
Fthe purchasers for and the sellers to the Cor
eminent. Tyler, Stone, d Co., and Dr. Hunter,
liked the price at 1886 per ton. The testimo-
ny of many witnesses establishes beyond rea-
sonable doubt, that the market value of such
coal as was delivered to the Government would
not exceed $3.50 per ton, and several respect
able dealers would have furnished the Govern
ment at that or a less price, and then made a
profit. The purchases of coal thus made for
the Government, by Tyler Stone, & Co., for the
six months from the lst July, 1858, to the 3lst
December, 1858, was II tons, at a cost of
1886 per ton. The amount of emoluments re-
eeived by DIR. Hunter, and divided by him with
Mr. Smith, was, for the same six months,
81 1922 or, at the rate of $l4 ,905.84 per an
mum. In addition to this direct loss, the mode
of purchase adopted furnished no guarantee
against fraud in the quantity or amount Of coal,
which, when delivered on shipboard was not
inspected by any officer of the Government
Your committee have furnished to the par
ties implicated in these transactions every OPP
portunity to explain them. All the parties, ex-
cept the President, Secretary of the Navy, and
the Hon. j. CLANCY Jones, have been examined.
The President and the Secretary have been fur
nished with copy of the testimony, and mott
fed that any statements either of them desire
to make would be heard by the committee, or
that any witness desired by them would be ex-
amined. The Secretary, in his letter of Feb.
ii, 1858, herewith submitted states that the
same system existed in the coal agency during
the administration of his predecessor. He also
states that he was not aware until the present
investigation of any want Of attention on the
part of the coal agent"
Having made this long extract from the re-
port we are constrained to draw our remarks
on the subject to close. But before doing so
we will give a brief insight into the corrupt CO.
operation ofthe Executive and Legislative mem
bers of the Government, in the dirty business
of dividing the spoils. The report shows that in
the Brooklyn navy yard the control of the
patronage of the establishment, down to the en-
poyment of workmen, is surrendered by the
Secretary to the city members of Congress
friendly to the Administration. The following
letter from all honorable member of the
House of Representatives will initiate the un-
initiated into the mysteries of Tammany Hall
politics. This letter is addressed by city mem
Der to master carpenter in the Brooklyn navy
yard:
"Mr. CoHANE: Mr. Cullen tells me that you
are to take men on on Tuesday now / ask
you to take him on and the others have asked
you to take on. tciU hare my proportion Of
men under you; If you do not gire them, aciU
lodge charges against you You have turned
away all the men but one from my district al
ready. OF this have complained to the Sec
rotary, and now, unless you rectify this injus-
tice aoiU make application that you be turned
out The bearer will bring me an answer.
Yours, &C., JOHN CoCHRANE"
1t is evident that this honorable" Office
broker could, if required, tell ugly tales upon
the carpenter; but we presume that the latter
complied with the terms upon which he was
willing to hold his peace. Is the author of
such letter a fit associate for honorable mem
bers of Congress? He would not have been
thirty or forty years ago.