New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-08-14
FROM WASHING TON.

{ Correspondence Of The n. Y Tribune.
WAsHINGTos, Aug. 5, 1860.
Capt. Meigs is again ia trouble with tbs Admins'ra'
t,n He may make gallant fight, bu' il will be
losing fight. TIE odds are TOO much for him Toey
are masters Of the situation he is Executive OFF,
eer subject to Executive authority. They give orders,
and be must obey. He may resist protest make some
additional reputation for himself put some additional
disgrace on ,bt M or they mildly express It, maze
up the record against them " but he cauaot save the
monty 1t will be a strong Gaze for Congress when he
comes TO report how the money went that they IT.
trusted 20 him. with express CONDITIONS aud proVlso 10
tie Administration to keep hands of Bat the jon
bers in power over him no. 90 easily scared OIL
They resolutly put the law aside, snd hope to De pro
tced by their coDfederates 10 Congress aud that DO
vybsttbey WILL there will come DO punishment no I'M
peschment 10 sIcere investigation, even, TO expose
tIeiniauity We will TO that when the time comes.
We viii see if the press cannot compel some regard 10
prbc duty In the mean while we 81 al d our duty,
AND give notice from time to time OF what IF gong on'
pehsps too our Just ceDsures, beside awakening Jus
c4 for the day of reirbutiOn, may do some good IN
another way By operating as whole some cauloh anu
restraint on the Administration. NIL,
Att late sson Congrass appropriated nan nn
ion 10 the WashDgon Aqusduc to be eTPeH yea n9oe
g the suptrinteHdsnee 81 CAPT Me'gs' ad
G. 10 has lans and estimates They had had enough
&c money 10 the Administration TO oe e&pen1eu
M Wash rgton by the Seer sry OF the Interior person
,Iy. But great pubic wol was s1pendeo, me cry
va rreseirG for It's completion, and Congress thougt
a. uoney would be guarded from mlsapplieailon II
Neipp whose sturdy honesty t'ey Knew, nau tle
chaiQe of the work ard the eX ehdture OF Tue apP9
priaion secured to him by authority OF ia". AooG
,nely, they appropriated the money WIN al ''0'D''
rIOvso TO that effect ..,.,I. ~ &c
The purpos. of it was plain and uumistaka6Ie on ls
face It was openly avowed IN Congress- Inc legai
a4et of ii Is euusly clear and certain. Accordingly,
gave oreat ofepse to the President and his CaOheS'
Ia impu &c was 20 veto the law, aud 80 he openly
hresfened until lie was warned by DIS own parry III
forgress that il would PASS over his head Dy TWO
thirSs vote He then approved the bill, with an IDLE,
CU.ruous Message 10 Congress complaining OF the m
dignity and of tteir disnust OF the Executive las II
the, Lad not bad abundant caOse and accePt7a Tue h
nsy On The condition prescribed 10 the appropriation 10
dne tine Congress adjourned, snd then the war Depart
1pept set 10 work violate the law ~ take te money
witt out reg ard 10 the con- iton and IN pal aDy Trans
par Mt fraud Of the law to seize the work aUd Tue
prorIiation into their own hands They removed Va h
Eei a from mis- post Of Chief Engineer OF the WORK,
sod ppointed another; but ordered hln 70 ara" oul
tie money from the Treasury, sod pay u ou. on tle
orders of lie new Engineer AID OF the secretary Vi
This they ad the face 10 declare, in public order
ON the War Office, to be a compliance WIN tne Jaw
bich required Capt Megs 10 suPeia-na me pr
Pe Of course sent in resoute protest 10 ths fres
e1t reei'iDg the legislation, appealing 10 the pian
ID 6byiors meaning of the law, whichDo honest man
mistake TO it. certain g1l lntefppeIau1Jb Mb ="
: Rcer of Engineers ever uni-hoider or paying,
e, N cav ont fund with authority u direct "a
control its pditure, and to the general and PosVe
Nv of 1898 on which this usage rests winch dire ts,
=, exnress terms that the engineer IN c1arge OF
woIk sh al dsburse The money applicable TO IT, ana
frsy urging the President in view OF hs relation TO
The work 10 his agency 10 procuring the APPROPRIATION,
and Of the special trust repOsed in him By Congress
not 10 make him the instrument 10 get hold OF the
money and circumvent the L,gi-sturr. Such argu-
Iuep,s OF course bad DO ssrh'y elect.
The Administration, bavug 8 20 n violate every
continent Of decacy and prOpret which they could
we 90 screen cover, bad no difficulty ia violating
aw u, der preteDse Of construction and OF course no
1re difficulty in violating two laws than IN violating
e. They ave received the official remonstrance OF
. cir iDdoce subordinate, in sullen, lmpenetraole 81
kIce But they will expend the oney rs they please
They wi make the Contracts, adJUdcate tne ci9ims
SLOW The extras THAT is the great point IN spend
irO an apptoptistionl AID send him orders TO pay.
ALREADY we understand, on the baek orps, Wuere no
Allowf and reports only SIS 900 du, they have or
syed bin 20 pay $l 600 more Ia nephew OF enc Secfe
fa,v heir the attorney for the principal caiman'J
A. that rate they will have little difficulty ia making
The work cos, tnillion moe Secretary Floyd says
Il er though Megs protests he can finish 1t Tor au
q Million, If they will let him
We understand, too, that the Contractor Connolly
tr Times 70 deliver his big columns az tire Cdpol and
that 10 columns are allowed TO be procured from
Heebptr although the law directs the columns 10 DC
so from Heebner and forbids any part Of the apPro
rriation TO be expended in getting any other columns.
lopuelly however has the contract rom tne oocretiy
~ Wtr which Capt Meigs objected 10, az giving The
Contractor clear profit OF SlO,VoV Oh iS con'r"0''
amounting to $50 600.