The Constitutional. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1860-1861, 1860-11-03

that in violation Of positive law requiring that
work TO be done by practical and competent book
! binders, and charged cxtortonatc rates These
facts appear from the testimony of William Petit
bone, from we extract as follows:
e. When did you cease to be employed by the
Executive Departments
| \. When the present administration came in
O. DO you know who has been doing that,
work since
A Yes, sir
Q Who1
! A. Cornelius Wendell
@ For what period Of tmc1
| A. Since the advent Of Mr. buchanan, NJ to
within some two weeks since Two months since
! In the Treasury Department, there was an order
issued by the Secretary suspcndiDC the binding
for the present, aud that order has not been re-
| yivcd.
9. Is Mr. Wendell practical ook-b,nde.'
| A. No, sir.
@ Are you fsr.niliar with the law or Congress
Tsovidlrg hst the ruling and binding for the sew
cral executive departments should be- executed by
! practical and competent hool.-biud"r-l
| A. am 20 familiar with it that prepared the
| law myself
/ O. Have Won any knowledge Of the reasons
which induced Congress to pass that q.
| A. Yes, sir
Q What were thcY1
| A. To break up the monopoly hat existed
All the work of the executive departments wag
concentrated in the hands of mon who had ro
! practical knowledge 81 the business th.v under
took 70 perform. aul that kept ou. pIa.,cql - ~
from the business that belonged 90 them plop1.y'
@ After that became a law did won rlaL, :p-
Pii'stion for any portion Of the ruin" and bind
| ingl
A did
Q To whom did ynu aplIy2
A. To all the Secretaries
q. Whom
4. Aftrr that law pass.d; an"ri, 5.can, 60
O. How sooa aGlrr'
A. ! suppose some zen lays Gc.r, ! cannot
! say the exact time; it may have been ,..,L or
ton days; sufficient for the law to b,comc printed
and known.
Q To whom did you make your Application ,
a. ] went to Mr.. Thompaon, to NJ. cobb. To-
Mr., Brown, to NJ Touccy, aud 10 NJ. Il.yL--
| each Of them.
Failing to make an impression upon either +
the Secretaries, he called upon the President, and
thus details what transpircd:
4 called the Prrsilcn's attention 10 hi. law.
and told him that this work ourht 10 be givrn TO
pT2ctcal m"n. He said that the Cabinet bad had
thi' mater under consideration. and as th.v had
acted upon il he did not wish g. interfere, told
]
wrong; that The law required them 10 c;yc this
work to practical men, and th'v he'd given Il 'r a
Nan u" had 10 practical knowl.d.,,. cf tho b.. i
ness; | differed from their decision of the law
and asked him i ! could have the opinion of the
Attorney Conceal upon that law. a lr was the
proper one to give me nm opinion. II" said |
c.uid. asked him how could .ctit he said
| Address ne communication IL uIiiir- o;yiuc-
your views, AMI 7 viii refer it 10 fhr Attorney
General FOR his opinion is that what Won want =
| said yes sir lie said 'you ,lall have IT,
prepared letter and addressed It 70 The Prc;flc,t
and this did at his own suggestion
q. Did you hand tina; letter To he Prcsi.!.n,
in person, or did You send it to him.
a. s.n it to him.
2. Dl You So" him afterwards in relation to IL
a. did: after sent it TO the Fr.,il. -, il 70
maln"d SON" thr"c weeks before heard anv
thing nom it. ia caused anoio TO- h.. addressed
respectfully +" hnr, requesting him To- refer ny,
communication 10 the Attorney General 60,
days after dat note had been sent. | callcl ot tL
Attorney Cen rails office, and found NV ORIGINAL
''i"r I" lh' iri-iI"lt there; asked the c,r- 90
show 1t to me-, and he did so il had this ipI,-.r-
ment ON 1t; Referred to the Attorney G.ror.l
but not Tor his opinion called jude, Blacks
attention TO Reimbursement, and hc said f., mo
ms Is S'Tau"F mdur5' iu.ut; il means ,,,tiiuo.
cannot gIy" at opinion; H." President r,i,rIt a.
well hav" kept th" paper himself; will fake IN
paper hach To IN President and have tia, iuIor,r-
mont changed H. did SO, and f,y week.
h"I ! can" AGAIN ana saw the paper with this
second ndoracmcnt, A. near as ! caa rcla.,ll,.r
IN words: ''''
As tho Cabinet have hal tbs matter up1.r
cons u' ramon, AMI have acted upon il, | doe line
nt'Ii' ring Ibis was signed y. b.. tLr prc.i
'cnt own signature as l was informed"
lThe io!lowin" was the Endorsement as tc.,i.
fed 10 Afterwards by cI,il; i, ,hc A.,,,,,. -,