Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-12-27
GOVERNMENT swINDLED.


The report of Mr Van Wycks layestsarng Comoit-
Gurrruurut contracts shows that ihey have bel
,iuiuss in al te prlulpa cities, and Travelled o'OJ
miles Many cx'priious aud abuses n the purchase VI
arms ana vessel. have en- discovered and exposed 10y
the nni teo r ihe bHurd 0f the Governments and the
hubble Tine i.,roit,i4r intn the chartering u the
steamer Csanc dsisrs ihr ftc that she was charter
cd Tor SllO month flr not less than three mouths
aud case ~ her loss - COZ was p hr paid Tor her.
although shr just previously sold for SIS eOl This
latter osi-ou he committee deem wholly indefensihle
the C0mul'tce call especial attention 90 an arrange
meut between ihe secretary ~ me NAVY ana ht. Mot
Gam Tor purchasing vessels fp the Gnvornnrht by which
Mr Morgan rao.i. cd n weeks the Of $50 1si
bY his own admission Of he Committee and the same
o ni.,i ha4 brtn nll nim since sept c. the date of
hi. CXamnaiiYn hr total sum received hy hun 20 date
will reach ht enormous amount of $40 00l for services
as agent NJ me Government fr four months and half
The sIiu-rt OF the purchase Of arms developed the
fact that ne Government and the state. in direct
competition leading o. extraordinary cupidy on the part
n those hty7g SUCH for sale bth In Europe aud Amer
lea aud 20 remarkable combinations 20 rp the treasury
The pfoh's have been c"nrmcus and realized in many
instances hk c1kens through system Of brok-
crave IS unurnciplcd dishunest and friendly TO the
success " the nation the p0t'lngs OF treason The
purchase or srm. by the recommendation OF the eom-
mitee placed in the hands ~ single bureau ofih
War Department though earlier adoption o It's sug
gestious would have save millions 10 the treasury and
would have secured the OF at points where the
public safety was most 10 peril
Major Hagner, the ordnance officer who was engaged
in the purchase and inspection of arms, testified as fol
lows: The agents nf Gen Frcmout of the Governors
II states Of the Cities Of the Union Defence Commit
army IRE all here in New York may be in treaty for
AIMS and first thing hear Is that the arms are sold
To some agent Some men who h ld arms, suneumes
think are rather disposed not 10 have bonahde sale.
They like keep the h. the market in order 20 ad-
vance he price | think they have been gambing IN
arms lst as they do ia stocks. &c"
The committee report in numerous cases which nave
come under their observation. the price paid Tor arms
was nexcusAbly exnrhitant In instances the arms
we're worthless and in others exornitant price was
coupled with other evidence OF purpose TO deauo 'he
Government,
The committee examined into the subject Of army sup
ply contracts The ~ Congress prohibiting cnnracts
without adyerii.ug except in where the public eN-
ieency required immediate delivery. has been almost
dead letter Immense supplies, both in the Navy and
War Department, have been purchased privately ana
hout any competition In the Western division OF the
army this law has been totally dsregarded In the pur
chase of cattle there has been gross mismanagement
and great rr guaros have been praclieed ID New YORK
in the purchase Of horses and wagons. The oiIcum
stances Of The erection Of the oriihoatons at 81 Louis
were marked BY extTayagance recklessness, nsubord
nation and fraud and the committee hope some means
may he found make the parties 10 these attociou'
frauds dsgorge the sums out OF which the government
has been svinded and that laborors be longer delay
ed from their pay.
The abuses ia the Western Military Department are
nrominently eliminated including those relating 70 th
shipment of ice the diversion Of moneys from the Pay
masters Department for which they were appropriated
rotten and condemned blankets the roofing Of the Ben
ton Barracks. transportation, &c. 49, 49,
4 The report is signed by Messfs. Van Wyek, wash
hume Holman Fenton. Dawes, aud Steele Of Ne'
Jersey The other member, Mr. Jackson, Is absent II
Kentucky,