New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-01-11

day, he argued there was nothing to show, as was
sought to be proved by reference to the testimony
before The Contract Investigating Committee, that
unfair means bad been resored TO for the perform
ance If The work.
Mr. DAWES rep, NJ lss.) said that the gentle
man could not expect the people 10 pay heavy war
taxes unless he (Steyens) showed willingness 70
sincere desire TO Gu, off every attempt TO plumber
the Treasury. He hoped the gentleman wonld for,
bear pressing this aPpropraioa nh,. tney coSio
contract. The American-Bank Note company had
already $3O0,0)O =,
Mr.. MORRILL, REP, W. said that Mr.. Dawes
did not show that any officer OF the treasury De
partment was concerned in the contract but snat te
ssistant Secretary of the Treasury MR. Harrington
lied to the man who came hiher TO compete for tne
printing OF the Treasury Notes. lie tMorrilil adVo-
Gated the amendmeot 9,
Mr.. WASHBURNE remarked that no man had
conducted the Treasury Department better than ar
Ch.se. not even Alexander Hamilton, OF whom
Webster said, ''He touched the corpse of public
credit, and it sprung into llfe." Ono prominent
pont the select committee on contracts brought oui
was TIA, ia connection with an official OF tne GOV
eminent named Wood who at that tine occupied the
position of Commissioner OF Puohc Buildings, aId
who came bther az racS broker 10 wrlng money
out of The Treasury. The American Bank -Note 20.
was in tuch completely with certain parties tnat
another bank note company was precluued from co-
peins for the contract TO print the treasury Notes.
MIR. BINGHAM rep, Ohic) admitted, with MIR.
Dawes that tue PEOPLE would not be willing TO pay
heavy war taxes unless the Treasury shall be
protected from plunder but at the same time, they
did not demaI that contract should be repudiaed
on hearsay information. ~
Mr.. RICHARDSON Dem, Ill.) was unwilling
to vote for the proposed without investigation.
1t was the duty Of the House to bring to trial and
execution those who have been pundsring the
Treasury from time to time. He regarded such
characters equally "a guilty as those who are
endeavoring TO overthrow the Government, and
they should be sent TO Fort Warren or Fort La
fayette. We can overthrow the rebels, but he was
afraid the sappers and miners at work or the Treas
ury will coon bring us to bankruptcy, 90 TINT we
may MT be able to sustain ourselves.
Mr.. SEDGWICK rep, N. Y. asked Mr.. Dawes
whether there was such corporation % the New
York Bink-Noe Engraving Company.
Mr.. DAWES replied that MIR. Sedgwick beingfrom
New-York, knew what was there better than he
tDawesl did. =,
Mr.. SEDGWICK further inquired whether Mr..
Ormsby a responsible man.
Mr. DAWES replied that what he had complained
Of WAS that fair competition was not permitted.
Mr.. Stevenss amendment, alter Intellectual at
tempts 10 amend IT, was disagreed and the clause
approprla,ing $l00,O for engraving and printing
Treasury Noes was striker ont.
The Committee rose, when amendments agreed 70
therein were reported to the House for their hnal
action.
Mr.. STEVENS asked yea and nay vote on con-
curing in the amendment striking out that appro-
priston saving if the question should be determined
in the Affirmative, self-respect would compel the
Secretary Of the Treasury to resign bis once;
Mr. SEDGWICk said if the House should concur
in the recommendation to strike out the approPria-
ton, it would be the ground that tnere nae oeeh
fraudulent contract between the Secretary OF tue
Treasury aud tue engrayers who have contracted 10
furnish the notes. The result must be that Tue
Secretary If the Treasury must either rest under ,he
,n,aion mr. resi- mis- Office. lie begged the House
10 nanae and consider the evidence before they pro-
nonnced Judgment. lie quoted from the report oil
m. contract in the Investigation Committee 10 show
the utter iusuEiciency Of the testimony on which II
WAS sough, to convict high officer OF the Govern
ment OF fraud.
gentleman iSedgwick), that no gentleman who had
spoken had thrown the slightest impuiaion on the
Secretary OF the Treasury or ATTEMPTED TO detraet
from bis well earned reputation.
Mr.. SEDGWICK replied that the REJECTION oil
the appropialon could be supported on no other
ground than thai the contract wa fraudulent one
lie repeated, that Mr. Ormsby, whose pane had
been roduced into this subject was tie representa-
tive Of a note engraving company which never had
an existence In vindicatiDg Assistant Secretary
Harrington, he said he bad heard OF irresponlbIe
contractors infesting every department Of tie Gov
eminent, relying upon particular Isvofi'l'm ana
personal Importantly in prosecuting their aims until
they obtained contract Of some kind aud then sell
out to some one who is capable OF doing the VOL
He was understood TO say that this Was the way MI.
Ormsby, with his man Hopkins, sought to obtain a
conttnct There was not single word OF reliable
proof 20 show that either the Secretary Assistant
Secretary bad acted improperly. If there was any
reason to believe this justice would require that an
opportunity should DO offered for an explanation.
Without further proceedings on the subject the
House adjourned till Monday.
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