Kanawha Valley star. [volume] (Charleston, Va. [W. Va.]) 1856-1861, 1859-05-17
Z ri KANAWHA C I'll. TUESDAY, MAFIl7. 1859

measures we've taken 70 increase the
squadron on the East coast Of South
America, 90 that ii should CONSIST OF
twenty armed vessels. intending Two slbre-
shipa. mosi Of ihen fttsd iot The purpose
Of expedition. .,.,.. ..
Ia this threatniDg posture Of affairs,
with the public mind excited by the re-.
lsiyal Of the pretended right III search.
with no certainty thar che attempt to
suppfess Is would not bring ms into col !
lisiun with Great Britain, with squad
ron Of twelve shipa ID ths vicinity Of
Cuba 10 resist 1t. with i larger squadron
Of twenty ships TO be prepared and con-
eentfated In The direction 81 Paraguay and
with eight war steamers, OF the smaller
classes. 10 be constructed. occording 10
the injanction of Congress. as speedily is
might be consistent with the public in
terest. ! deem i nv duty. upon coPsulta-
tion with the Chief Of The Bureau Of Con-
struction and Repair. 10 meet the exigen-
cies 81 the service, BY promptly direct.
ing; on The day Of adiournmens Of Con-
gress. June ] 4th, that an advertisement
be issued, calling for ! supply. in As short
time as practicable. Of live oak timber
most Of h OF smaller dimensipns Than had
been usually required such As was
adapted % The construction of the smaller
vessels just authorized by Congress; and
to the extensive repairs, both Of large and
small vessels. which The exigencies ofthe
service would be likely ID require. I
would have resigned my place before I
would have failed TO act with the promp.
titnde which the occasion seemed to de-
mand. The list was made out By the
Chief Of tie Bureau Of Construction, ac J
cording 70 his own judgement, Of what
the interest and net,essilies cf the service
required. without interference, by me. IN
its details; and the advertisement was is-
sued on the 18th Of June, calling for one
half on the LIST Of September, and the 9TH
er half'on The ist Of February following.
giving to bidders two and al half months
notice to make contingent arrangements
for The irst delivery. and seyen-aad- a-hali
months notice for the other. The time
allowed IN the advertisement for this tim
Der was sufficient for persons who are &C.
taal dealers in such timber, and who. in
making offers. intended 10 comply with
them. or were. in any degree prepared |;
but was much too short for any speculs-
tor who had il IN view to dispose Of his
contract to other parties. These were
the reasons which influenced the Depart
ment in the exercise Of its discretion in
this particular case and when the con-
tracts were executed 1 was assured BY
the experienced. officer in charge Of The
Bureau of Construction aud Repair, that
The measure had proved highly econoni-
csl and beneficial to the Government.
saving 70 it, probably, about twenty five
thousand dollars. beyond what could have
been. accomplished b. an open purchase.
Alter the contracts had been awarded
70 the lowest bidders. d question arose to
which | applied the principle Of . decis-
sion | had previously made, viz: that
when the Department advertised for .
contract upon certain terms. and one Of
the bidders applied to 4 subordinate Of
ficer and Obtained assurances of more "a
vorable terms, at variance with those ad !.
yertised. and regulated BY his bid accord
ingly, the Department would enforce the
advertisement and not the assurance Of the
subordinate, and the assurance thus OBJ
tanned would coBatitute no ground Of
relief, because unfair to other bidders. -
When. therefore, il appeared that those
To whom the contracts were awarded had
neither performed them. nor intended to
perform them when they bid. but had ac-
ted upon information or assuranees OBJ
tanned Al the Navy Yards from sabordi.
nate officers at variance with the terms Of
the advertisement, the Department set
aside the forfeited. contraats. and. instead
81 purchasing Of contracting IN open mar.
Yet, or of the next highest bidding. and
charging the difference 10 the defaulting
parties. accepted contract with M.
Swift forthe whole amount at the lowest
bid, which was much lower than The bids
which he had made. thereby saving the
defaulting contractors from loss. securing
The best terms for the Government. rs
curing him 10 accept as low price fpf
the timber. to be, delivered Immediately.
as II time had been given to 60 into the
live oak forests Of Florida Or Lousians 10
cut il. The Department did not advise
any one of the contractors IS to the course
be should pursue, but apprised them. un-
equivocally. at All times. that the time 81
delivery. as advertised. would not be
postponed. for the reason | have stated.
When I came into the Department.
found system established. which can
menced during the administration Of Mr..
Fillmore. Of purchasing coal for the use
ofthe Mary. By the instrafnentality o! Two
coal agents. one for anthracite. and the
other fol biinminoas coal. with com-
pensation Of 1--WE per cent. commission on
the cost Of purchase and transportation
contracted for bv4tile agent There was
also. during Nj. Fiimore's administration.
special agency for supplying with coal,
the East Inslia and Pacific Squadrons du-
ring The Japan Expedition. Messrs.
Rowland d AsplnwaIl. Of New York,
were the special agents employed By Mr..
Graham Secretary Of the Navy, under an
agreement nf the date or April 81. 1859.
by which they were allowed 10 per cent.
commission on the purchase money. cost
or transportation. insurance and other m
Iavoidable expenses. dedpcting therefron