Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1859-10-13


having contributed ten Thousand dollars TO-
wards the election Of Mr.. Buchanan--ths
was before the Duquesne letter was written
was reimbursed seven times over out Of the
public treasury by the sale OF a mass Of WORTH
less timber that was then living in the navy
yards where good timber Wa, in ABUNDANCE
as rejected and good for nothing, for which
he received the moderate compensation Of
S17l 200. Yet no "watch dog in Virginia
has raised his voice to give the people warn
Ing Of this open, daylight robbery OF the pub
lie money.
Coal CpNTRAcTs.-Thc coal contracts for
the Navy exhibit the same extravaganza md
recklcsSncs> incompetent agents are appun-
ted to make purchases, who buy ot political
friends inferior articles at enormous price
and heavy per ccntage allowed to nominal
agents who bad nothing to do with the con-
tracts. In fact. i'll every constructive depart
ment Of the Navy we find pllerng to be the
sole aim and object of IT. agents.
Another haul upon the treasury for the O.
lection of Colonel Florence, is exposed by the
Committee of Investigation.
"rnlLApEIFHrA NAVY YARD The attention O.
the Committee was directed 10 one transaction
at this yard. In August laSl y requisition WAS
made upon the Naval Constructor for eighty
oakum spinncrS. There were then employed
ten To fifteen spiuners. who were generally 'old
| salts, disabled for active duty and yet coupe
tent 10 spin oakum; the work is nothing but
rubbing oukun upon the knee. The Naval
Constructor did no; deem u great force ncccs-
shry, and refused 10 sign the requistion. The
| Master Calker brought il TO Captain Carr, the
Commander in the Yard. who also refusd 10
| sign the regusitiOn. Thereupon Hon Thomas
B. Florence, u member OF this House, came 10
| Washington, and asked the Secretary to direct
the eighty oakum spinners 10 be empoyed.-
1t was referred to the Bureau of Yards md
Docks. Commodore Smith declined Mt first.
but he received slip OF paper signed by Mr..
! Welsh, the Chief Clerk, on which WAS written
in pencil MS follows The master workmen hay
ing made II requsition for eighty additional
pickcrs. you Will see iha, Il !. cumrlei with
| This was enclosed in the written application Of
| w. Florence. The order was then issued TO
the Commander of The Yard, and the 'oakum
spnners were set to work. Commodore Carr
testifcs that when the men came in he went
down and took look at them; they were the
lame the halt and the blind; but they did tf4
work. made place for them IN Ill they work
ed the oakum up They we're then discharged.
"All the oakum spinning for wear was
crowded into few weeks for the u,lruo,e
OF cecting Democratic member Of CONGRESS.
Thus, it will be seen that the public money
is again squandered III opch disregard Of law
and justice; contracts distributed to avuritrs
and partlSanS, wltlJut respect 10 the public
interests; our Navy Yards converted into po-
liucai lnachi,cs to undermine the purity of t.
Iectirns-- social Intercourse with the President
uNdc thc basis of pecunary profit, in total
! disregard flaw, honor, Justice proprictv. and
, The sworn duty If the various departments OF
! the Government. Can the people any longer
be surprised at the rapid increase OF the pub
| lie expenditures or At the debt created, after
such exhibits as are here made, al OF which
are taken from public documents? Or. can
they SO far fail in their duty to themselves,
their country and to posterity, rs not to APP
ply the only corrrctiycin their power, by viz
! ting the tran,grcs,inI party with their sig
nal rcbukc and conformation?
| THIETY MILLloNs OF DuLI.AKs ron ST.
cREr SEHvIcE.-Aul to complete the list Of
the extrayAgaucc of this most cxtrayAsant
Administration and tn add the climax to It's
mhlushing cttroutery, Mr.. buchanan NOW
asks 70 have $50 600 900 placed At his dIspo-
sal, TO be 10y him GisburscI secretly, without
check, restraint or responsibility Is it not
| time to pause and consider. Having depleted
| the public treasury to its last dime. with So
900, 900 short in the Pos, ullice Department,
he wishes to grasp the expected incoming row
enue. 10 the exclusion Of the legitimate e1-
pendlturcs Of Government. 10 this vast N
mount. Have the acts Of his Administration
i'll the past been such rs 10 Justify confluence