The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-05-26

the Government. This induced the Secretary,
suppose, to make this advertisement to cover
about the amount of timber that we had.
There was nobody else in the business who
could supply the amount and kinds of timber
called for, and we did not suppose there would
be any opposition to us and when the adver-
tisement came out, was very much surprised
that it was in that shape; fer it was in q very
bad shape for me, as / had only about enough
timber to fill out the call for two of the yards.
This was bad for me in this way: for instance,
{ if put in bids for all the yards, might get
Pensacola or Philadelphia, where 1 had no
timber; and then would be obliged to move
it from another yard, at great expense and
trouble. This induced me to make the ar
rangement with Mr.. Swift, to avoid the ex-
pense of removing my timber from one yard
to another.
Question. Did the Secretary intimate that
he had any purpose in preparing this adver-
tisement to cover the timber of yourself and
Mr.. Swift?
"a Ans,oer. l understood him that it was his
calculation that it would Just about cover the
amount.
"a Question. When was that2
90 Ansacer During the last summer.
"'QueStion. Before the advertisement came
out?
IS Ansaoer. Yes, sir.
"'QuestiOn Who made that statement to
you?
'Ansrer The Secretary of the Navy him
self. He said he did not think he had author
ity to buy my timber; he did not wish to do
anything about it but what would be entirely
straight, and he did not feel authorized to
make a purchase of this timber without adver-
Using; and then, if we put in for the know
ing that we were the only persons that had
the timber-at higher price than they thought
was fair price, that he would not take it at
any rate mind you, had already offered my
timber to the Government
The same witness further testifes, as fol-
lows:
Question. Was it not understood between
you and Mr.. Swift, and live-oak dealers gener-
ally, that this advertisement was framed for
the purpose of preventing competition, and to
enable the Secretary to contract directly with
Mr.. Swift
"'Ansacer. 1 always understood it so that
is, not for Mr. Swift alone, for up to the time
when / came here, after the advertisement
was out, thought it was for both of us.
The same witness further testifes, as fol-
lows:
SO Question. There is one statement of yours
that L feel it my duty to question you further
about. In answer to a question, you have
said that you have always understood that it
was the purpose of the Department, in framing
these specifications in the advertisement, to
exclude competition, and to take your and
Mr.. Swift's timber. Do you say that it was
the object of the Department to prevent other
people from coming in and undertaking you
if they could furnish it at the time at lower
price
"' AnSper. If you understood me to say that,
{ I 1o Al III I 4 IL
explanation now would be, that the Secretary
of the Navy knew, and the Chief of the Bureau
knew, that there was nobody else in all Amer
lea that had the timber, and could put it in at
such time, but Mr.. Swift and myself There
was not any such timber in the United States
that was already got out except ours There
was nobody else in the business, but Mr..
Swift and myself, who could furnish it. The
Secretary knew there was no such timber any
where else in the market. But he told as dis
tinctly, that if we did not put it in at reason
ably fair price, they would not take it at ALL
"The explanation Of the Secretary does not
conflict with the testimony of this witness, nor
does it touch the point which the testimony
quoted tends to establish If there was a con-
flict between them, the high official station of
the one, as a functiOnary of the Government,
should be guarantee against any attempt to
to say the least, to balance between his state
ment and the testimony of the witness, although
the latter stands in a favorable condition to OBJ
tain credence. He is free from the suspicion
of prejudices engendered by disappointed ex-
pectations; has no grounds of complaint for
supposed personal or pecuniary wrongs i'm
posed by the Secretary, and is not heated
political partisan.
Whatever may be the true state of the facts
in regard to the Secretarys intention concern
ing these contracts, and however much the
would condemn any personal favor
itism to the public detriment they are grati6ed
to perceive that the Secretary seems never to
have lost sight of the public interest. They
find the evidence of this in his repeated assn
RANGES to Messrs. Swift and Bigler if they bid at
a higher price than he thought fair price,
he would not take it any rate They find it in
the unusual clause already referred to, inserted
in the advertised proposals, reserving the right
to decline making any contract, fit the Depart
ment) shall then deem it unnecessary or dsad-
vantageous to the public service The pro-
vision was doubtless inserted to protect the
Government against the imposition of exOrbi-
tant bids, when it was expected there might
not be more than one or two bidders. They
find still further evidence of this in the reason
able price at which the contracts were actually
and finally taken, it being proved that the aver
age rate Is lower than similar contracts had
previously been made, and as low as any one
could have furnished the timber, and realized
reasonable profit for his labor. Your commit
tee are of opinion that the timber contracted
for in this case was kind proper to be kept
for the repair and construction of small vessels,
and they are not prepared to say it could have
been purchased materially lower under any cir
cumstances. See the testimony of Samuel B.
Grice, Lenthall, and Bigler.) And if the policy
of keeping your yards supplied with suitable
timber is to continue, your committee cannot
see that the transaction is in any way disadvan-
tageous one to the Government; certainly it is
not in contravention of law.
"Before concluding their report on this
branch of their inquiry, your committee deem
it proper to notice a contract between Mr..
George Pitt, as proved by Pitt hi;nself and
w. c. n. Swift, in regard to obtaining contracts
with the Government. 1t appears, that in 1854
Pitt and Swift entered into written contract,
by which the former undertook to use his inAu-
ence with the officers of the Government, with
several of whom, in high positions, he was sup
posed to be on terms of intimacy, both person
ally and politically, to procure live-oak contracts
for the latter and for which the latter was to
pay him ten per cent. upon the amount of all
hve-oak contracts he obtained from the Govern
ment. Pitt alleges that he has performed his
part of the agreement, having taken pains to
Introduce Swift to various officers of the Gov
ernment and to recommend him as man of
honor and probity. He introduced him to Mr.
Buchanan and Mr.. Toucey, and recommended
him in terms of high commentator, informing
the latter that he had contributed very literally
towards the election of 1856, &C. Swift had,
after 1854, and prior to the contract of Septem-
Der, 1853, obtained some live-oak contracts from