Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-11-24
YANKEE contracts AND BRIBERY.

It's already known that at the last session Of the
Northern Congress, sn Investigating Committee was
created, whose duties were prescribed in the fol-
lowing resolutions:
ResolUsd, That committee Of five be appointed
to ascertain and report what contracts have been
made by any Of the departments for provisions,
supplies and transportation for materials and ser
vices or for aRy articles furnished for the Of
/ Government without advertising for proposals, as
required by the statute of 1861 tine parties to whom
given, the compensation aad terms thereof and the
reasons therefor.
Also. when proposals were received, if contracts
were awarded 10 the lowest bidder, if not, the rea~
son therefor.
AIs0. whether the contracts as let are in accord
ance with the specifications inviting proposals, and
! If any alterations, the reasons Tor the same.
/ Also, whether any person or persons have any
interest in tie contracts thus made and awarded, or
obtaining the same, or profits tLersfrOm except the
/ contractors
/ That said committee shall have power to send for
persons and papers, 10 administer oaths and exam
I me witnesses. aud % report at any time
The following amendments were offered and
adopted subsequent TO the passage Of the above
/ resolutions
Isss5lUed, That the provisions Of the resolutions
appointing the select COMMITTEES to inquire into and
report IN relation 70 csFtain contracts made by the
/ department for provisions supplies, Gc- be so ex~
tended IS 60 embrace an enquiry Into al the facts
and circumstances OF all contracts and agreements
hereafter 20 be made prior TO the final report Of the
Committee, by or with the consent Of any depart
ment Of the Government, ia any wise connected
with, groWiag cat Of, the operations Of the Gov
l erEmsHt IN suppressing the rebellion against its
/ constituted suLhority
Res0lUsd Thst ths said committee be authorized
to sit during the recess Of Congress- at such times
ald places as may be deemed proper.
This Committee was composed q the following
members; Hon. CHAs. Van WIcz, Of Nov York
Hon. EEIHU B. WIsHHURSE Of Illinois; Hon ". s.
IloLiAy, OF Indiana; Hon. r. EFEaToy, of \. York;
Hon. HENRY l. DAVIS, of Massachusetts; Hon. WV
C. STEELE Of New Jersey, aad Hon. JANIS S. JACK
sos, Of Kentucky. The Committee held Their
3rst session in New York city, aud during their
seven weeks stay n that city received two thou
sand two hundred pages Of testimony in relation to
frauds and Impositions en- the Federal Government,
from which there were evidences OF OverCharging
on Government supplies, and general Ioose1es
in the management Government affairs. y part
Of the Comnit.as-1icssrs. W4suBCRNE, HOLMAN,
Dawes. and STEELE, with the Sesgean.>1.>Arms and
Cleek-repaired to S. Louis 70 inquire into tie
condition Of affairs in the Department Of the West
Tacy have been N session il that city since the 10Th
Of Ocsober-fourteeu dsys-worzing twelve hour
each day, and examining one hundred and twenty
slree Witnesses. The manuscript Of evidence, IN
legal csp, numbers two thousand four hundred snd
eighty pages.
We see it stated that tas entire testimony ELECTED
by this Committee has been sent to Washington to be
laid before Congress at its next session, aud that it
77IIl expose 10 the world such system Of bribery
and corruption as was never kncwn in the history
Of Government. 4 New York paper gives the
foovirC synopsis as faithlul abstract Of the evil
dence before the committee emitting Of coarse,
the miuor details:
The first act Of f-aul ELECTED by the Committee
wSs the presentation ars BrigEdi5r GenerakAlC-
Kinstgy, ca the 20,h OF September, of q complete
set Of silver service OF Jenny Lind pattern which
service cost 50 600 and upwards, and being q e
finest ever made n the West took the premium at /
the State AGRICULTURAL Fair, held in St Louis. The
service presented by parties exclusively interested
in Government contracts, among whom were Major I
SelOvar T,eOaidas Haskell. John N. Cruul. +. l. T.
was QIRrlscmasser General of the Western De /
partaent by appointment of Major General j. O.. Z
Fremont, and IS such 9aartcrWsster General. con-
trolLed the horse and mule contracts, building OF
barracks, and all supplies and purchases appertain
ing to that Department. The committee, 10 their
report ssy. The frauds il contracts in The Guar
Transfers Department are numerous, and have
been clearly proven and extend through all branches
Of his c5atrci End s1pc-yisiog.
IN relasi3R TO tine pc rche5e Of h0rses-the second
frsui -ti- tstiGl12y extensive as to the various
species e .r - ID grzetiacd, the "old Eoglish
i5cky &. .-As they called, being in this case
Of the essr ms znItgle A party contracts to furn
izh ore Thousand head Of horses, at SIl9-50 per
head to the Government through the QuartermasN
ter. Tae Contractors agent, WHO'S approved by the
Quartermaster, has charge Of the field where the
horses are to be passed upon.
A c0untryman. having horses to sell TO the GOV
agnLleut pays $40 entrance fee to the field, where
bis horses are exaIineds and upon the payment Of
another fee of $40 they are recommended to the
contractor, who purchases the same sc the very
lowest figure, which, throughout the entire eyls
leuce, never exceeded $50 end S90per bead. The
contractor takes Lis purchases to the Inspector
who is also TeizbErse1 by fee, which amount Is
eomputed according 70 The quality Of the animal
The co1rac50r, On Oh siLizS certificate OF the ia
P-c-1r, demands The mo1oy Of the @ lartermaster,
who pays the same when the 50alts Tor said psy- r
neu- IS guaranteed. The evidence dlscloses seY-
rai zl-a schemes ana many other weys in w.licl :
lorses aHd mules are o1tsir5d. The testimony a.
% shows that She b0rses me- Jrity Of instances, =
IRE Of the most inferior kidd, aud have Droken =
Down or fell dead on the road.
Around the dePots, where horsts. were kept thus
purchased, NUM- E0us dead c2rcssses have been Il
CUEu, Omnibus and ataga horses have trOtted cut