, 1859-05-27

Lieutenant Williamson from Sacramento
valley TO Columbia river, paid. at different
points in Oregon, in October, 1855, on The
route, for oats so cents, IS cents, 81 sc
and 50 per bushel, and for hay GO cents
IS cents, and So per hundred pounds.
Lieutenant II. Dryer paid, on expedition
against Snake Indians, in 3D. quarter
1855, in July, August and September, tc
chief packers $50 per month; packers aud
teamsters, 81 per day; wagon masters $3.50
per month.
Lieutenant n. b. Sweiizcr at Fort Lame
near Jacksonville, in the 4th quarter, 1855
paid for oats, 5, 6, I, and l2I cents pei
pound; barley, and 8 cents; wheat, p tc
3s cents; hay, II 10 5 cents For hire oI
teams, 50; teamsters, So so; packers, So
and for mules, dolls each, per day.
In Washington Territory, Lieutenant c.
McKecver, at Steiacoom, paid, in OctO-
Der, 1855, for oats, dol. and 95 cents per
bushel; in January, 1856, one dol and if
ty cents, and in February, one dollar. In
March, he paid for hire of packers and
teanisters, 3 dolls, and for head packers,
dols per day.
Lieutenant John Nngcn, at same place,
paid, in October and November, 1855 for
oats, IS cents and one dollar per bushel
for services Of packers, 8 and dols per
day; chief packers, and dolls; and for
teamsters. 3 and 6 dolls per day, for them,
selves and their teams
! trust may be pardoned for suggesting
that the examinations Of the pupers con-
nected with these claims have impressed me
with conviction Of the propriety as well
as Of the necessity Of some general legisla-
ton by Congress, prescribing some rules
aud regulations for calling out volunteers
on special cxigencies, mastering them into
service, requiring some sort Of regularity
and conformity to army regulations with
respect to pay, allowances, &c; aud also
providing for an carly adjustment and pay
mcnt Of expenses necessarily incurred, ac-
cording to fixed principles, enforcing strict
accountability, and the usual scrutiny and
investigation of the proper officers Of the
United States
The frequent recurrence Of these hostili-
ties with Indians in remote portions Of the
Territories; the great irregularity that ex-
its in the mode Of making out the accounts
for claims arising therefrom; and the op.
portunites thus presented for fabricating
immense claims against the government,
were specially alluded to in the report from
this Office 10 the Secretary Of the Treasu-
~, dated November II, 1856.
So far MS my experience has gone, / find
It an invariable rule that the prices paid
for services, supplies, &c, Of this charac-
ter are extravagantly high, to some extent
doubtless, justified by the peculiar circnm-
stances at the time, but enhanced by the
Of payment, the responsibility
10 the government Of those creating the
expenditure, and the almost entire absence
Of any check against improvidence, except
the mere discretion of those temporarily
engaged in the service, and even they are
more or less interested them
selves in putting everything at the highest
possible figure.
Such legislation as l have indicated
would be advantageous not alone to the
government, but especially so TO those who
render the services and furnish the sup
plies. In the absence of such provision Of
law, the local authorities are compelled TO
resort to expedients, in order to prosecute
the hostilities.
In the case Of California, bonds were is
sued by the authorities, bearing an interest
Of seven and twelve per cent. Gin payment
of services, supplies, &c. These bonds
were afterwards assumed and paid by the
United States, with interest thereon for
several years, Notwithstanding the prices
charged for everything connected with
those hostilities were Of the most extraVa-
giant and heretofore unheard of character.
Private soldiers were allowed FIVE dol
lars per day for their services and ono dol
lar per day for use and risk OF horse,
making an annual compensation TO each
private mounted soldier of two thousand
one hundred and ninety dollars, ~besides
subsistence, forage, clothing and transpor-
tation. Scrgcants were allowed five to
seven dollars per day lieutcnants six to
tel dollars quartermasters, commisSarcs,
surgeons, adjulants, and captains, eight to
twelve dollars, and majors ten to fifteen
dollars per day, with subsistence, forage,
and other allowances. In the meantime,
however, the bonds representing these
claims passed out Of the hands Of those
who rendered the services and furnished
the supplies at prices fur below their face,
and thus the general government became
paymaster to comparatively few holders
of bonds representing an aggregate indebt-
nese of nearly a million OF dollars. In this
way the government was the-sole loser,
while the benefits went, not into the pock.
cts Of the soldiers who rendered the ser.
Tices nor those who advanced the means
or supplies, but principally of capitalists
and SPECTATORS, who had purchased the
bonds So in the present case the same
expedient has been resorted to of issuing
scrip" being simply evidences of iudebt,
edness to the holder and payable when ap-
preparations shall be made by the Con
gress of the United. States. Based upou
such contingency, Of course the prices of
everything required were fixed above the
current cash rates. nnd douhtlcSS tho coua