Worcester daily spy., 1861-12-18
THE VAN WICK COMMITTEES RE
P1kGT.

WASHINGTON, Dec l7.-The report OF the
Van Wyck investigating committee into gov
erumeut contracts shows that they have held
sittings in ali the principal cities, and travelled
600 miles. Many extortions aud abuses in
the purchase OF arms and vessels have been
discovered and exposed by tile committee, for
the benefit OF the government and public.
The investigation into the charlerlng OF the
steamer Caulme discloses the fact that she was
chartered tor SO 0OJ month for not less than
three months, and III case of her loss $4,000
was 10 be paid Tor her, although just previous
ly sold iOr SlS 900. This latter provision the
committee deem totally indeienslbie.
The committee call especial attention to the
arrangement between the secretary Of the ma
Wy and MIR. Morgan Tor purchasing vessels for
the government, by which MIR. Morgan re-
Celved IN seven weeks the sum OF Sol 0o4, by
his own admission TO the committee, and If the
same commission has been paid him since Sep
tember 6lh the date Of his examination, the
total sun received hy him 10 date will be the
enormous SUN Of S90 OOU for services as agent
OF tie government Tor four months and half.
The subject ot the purchase OF arms devel-
oped the TACT that The government and the
states were IN direct competition, leading TO
extraordinary cupldity on the part Of those
having sucL for sale, both in Europe and
America, aud remarkable combinations were
formed 10 rob the treasury. The profits have
been enormous, and were realized IN many in
stances by our own cIlIzems through sy TEN
OF brokerage as unprnclped, dishonest, and
unirlendy To the success OF The nation, as the
gluttings OF treason. The purchase OF arms,
by recommendation 0! the committee, was
finally placed III the hands OF Il single bureau
OF the war department, though an earlier adop-
ton ut lis suggestion would have saved mil
lions to the treasury, and would lave secured
the use OF arms at points where public safety
was most iii peril. Major Ilagner, ordnance
officer, who was engaged in the purchase and
inspection OF arms, testified as follows =
Tie agents of Gen. Fremont, of the govern.
ors OF states, OF the cities, OF the Union de
fence committees, OF cOiOneis OF regiments, aud
0t the generals OF our army are all here in New
York. may be i'll treaty Tor arms, and the
first thing ! near is that the arms sold 10
some agent. Suue men who hold arms, |
sometimes think, are rather disposed not to
have bona 1ide sale. They like to keep arms
in The market in order 10 advance tile price.
think they nave been gambling in arms just
us they do III stocks, &c
The committee remark in numerous cases
which nave come under their oOseryatIun that
the price paid tur arms was IneXcusably eXor-
blldnL. Ia some Instances the arms were
wo tnless, and IN others eXUrbitant price, coup
lSu Nltti N'ANShSS "a " pNi BNSS " NSAi"ON ti'O
government.
The committee examined the subject of
army supply contracts. The act OF congress
prohibiting contracts without advertising, eX-
cept in cases where public eXigencies require
immediate delivery, has been almost a dead
letter lmmense supplies, both in the navy
anu in the war department, have been pur.
chased privately without any competitlOn.
In the western division, this law las been to.
tally dIsregarded. In the purchase OF cattle
there have been gross mismanagement and
great irreg guiarites, and III the purchase of
horses and wagons The circumstances OF the
erection of Notifications at ST. Louis were
marked by extravaganza, reCklessness, nsub
ordination, and fraud, and the committee hope
some means may be found to make the parties
to these atrocious frauds disgorge the sums
of which the government has been swindled,
aud that laborers be no longer delayed from
their pay.
The abuses in the western military depart
ment are prominently eliminated, including
those relating to the shipment OF ice, the dl-
version OF moneys from the paymaster 5 de
partment Tor which they were appropriated,
rotten and condemned blankets, the roofing the
Benton barracks, transportation &c. The
report is sigued by Messrs. Van Wick, Wash
bum, HOLMAN, Eenton, Dawes and Steele.