The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1861-12-19
VAN WYGK,g REronT.

van 0yck investigating committee
to impure into Government contracts; say,
in their report, they have examined two
hundred and sixty-fye persons. The re-
port embraces 100 pages. Their labors
are far from being finished. They pro-
pose to push Investigations vigorously so
long as they are demanded by the public
interests.
The affair of the steamer Cataline was
thoroughly sifted. There was great con-
fict in the evidence as to what would be
fair price for charter and cost of run
ming her.
The Committee especially call attention
to the arrangement between the Secretary
Of the Navy and Mr.. Morgan, for pur-
chasing vessels for the Government.
The Committee next devoted themselves
to the subject of the purchase. of arms -
The extraordinary demand for them re-
sulting from the conspiracy to overthrow
the Union, has resulted in an extraordin-
AIRY expenditure, and by exciting the Gu.
pidity Of large numbers Of persons. both
in Europe aud America, has opened a
system of unprecedented speculation.
The Government has been the victim Of
more than one conspiracy, and remarkable
combinations have been formed to rob the
Treasury. The profits from the sale of
arms to the Government have been enor-
NOUS, and realized too in many instances
even by our own citizens through sys-
them Of brokerage as unprincipled and
dishonest, and as unfriendly IA the sue
CESS and welfare Of the mutton Us the plot
tings oil actual treason. The Govern
ment and the several States, entering the
market in actise and direct composition,
stimulated, il is true. to some slight *.
tent and temporarily, the importation and
manufacture Of arms, but scarcely com
pensating for the general proAigacy Ia
the Eek penditnre Of the public treasure.
/ The Committee examined into army
supplies and say, in the Western Depart
ment, especially, acquisitions have sup
/ Piled the place Of contracts. The Com
mittee shy in the purchase Of cattle, there
has been gross acknowledgements. and ia
the purchase Of horses and wagons ia
New York they md grsat irregularities.
The Committee also ny that man By
the name Of Wood, enjoying tho conf
dence Of the President, was appointed
Commissioner Of Public Buildings, :
place requiring not only great business
capacity Ut un6inching integrity, and that
4 Wood, from his own declarations made
himself IN instrument for plundering the
Government. The Committee in the dis,
charge Of their duty made : presentation
Of the facts to the Executive, but before
i any action Was taken the Government was
relieved BY his resignation.
i The Committee next approached the
subject Of fortifcations at 81. Louis. The
circumstances which surrounded this work
being Of the most extraordinary charac-
tor and marked by extravaganza, reck.
lessnes, insubordinstion and fraud, they
ttexpress the hops that some means may be
found to make the parties to the atrocious
contract disgorgs the sums out Of which
the Government has been defrauded, and
that the labores who have done the work
!, on the faith Of the Government will moi
longer be delayed In receiving their Just
dues. The Committee found that mosl
L astounding and anblushing frauds had
bssn perpetrated in the purchase OF hor.
sas md nn}cs