The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-07-19

quent'y, less EXPENSE; az Well az . more th0-
rough supervision by the assessor. and fewer
temptations. TO evade or violate the law.
These reflections are worthy Of consideration
In such vital change a. that by which We are
now threatened We hope the law may realize
everything hoped from it as we believe 1t will
do II 1t be properly administered
GOVERNMENT CONTACTS In another column
will be found some interesting extracts from
TIE report Of the Congressional committee on
the contracts for the purchase and charter Of
vessels, ~ well as army caps. to which we call
the special attention of our readers. The cor
ruption>, extravagances and swindlng that
have been carried on since the commencement
Of the war are gradually being uncovered and
placed before the eyes of the public who have
been swndled ard rIundered in every direc-
ton. FRS: we had the Cataline contracts,
where several politicians figured quite con-
spcuously, to their own profit and to the loss Of
the government. Then came the linen pants,
straw hats ale and porter. with confding Cum
mings' profits. Next in turn we had the :" tea
table commission" with Geo. D. Inorganic two
tNu Hdlt Vct CtUL tsbHltiitS>tous AuVu OautC WIZ
extravaganza in the st Louis department. un-
der General Fremont with the purchase Of re
iected guns and ca bines at an enormous figure
In due time ex-Secretary Cameron was ar
raigned under long lst Of extravagances. and
\ condemnatory resolution passed by the lower
branch of Congress, followed by re.ort from
the ex-Secretary in Ids farewell speech to the
citizens of Harrisburg, throwing great deal OF
light ON the jobhery of Congress All this
Spiced with the Tribune gun contract, and by
shoddy uniforms and sboddy blankets, under
this and Pennsylvania State authorities. Ard
now we have a supplementary report. giving
additional particulars in the charter and pur-
chase of vessels, both under the Navy and War
departments. and additional commissions, with
some interesting facts in regard to army caps
by way Of a variety.
All this we can readily see is not very pleas
ing news to the masses of tie people, who
are now to submit to the burden of taxa
ton It would seem as though every person
who has had anything to do with the purchases,
or supplyinc the army and navy, had taken this
hour Of adversely Of our nation to swindle the
government and dcp!ete the Treasury in every
possible manner. The operations of officials in
free wool legislation railroad grants, sales and
purchases of tes for forts and sales Of reser-
va.ions. and the stealings Of Floyd and other
officials under Buchanan. sink into insie mfr
canoe when compared to these recent two and u
half and Eve per cent commissions and attempts
to rob the government in its present critical
and trying hour. Well may the people ask
what next.
The extracts referred to above. furnishing g.
they do some interesting AMI important facts
in reference to the operations Of George D..
Morgan. under the authority Of the Navy De.
partment, and John Tucker, the General
Transport Agent Of the War Department" in
the char'ering and purchasing of vessels, in
clndng the varuna Constitution, Union and
Governor, not only show how the public money
has been squandered, but also how the lives
Of the gallant soldiers have been trifcd witt
and the interests Of the government endanger
ID. When the agents Of the government and
contractors are thus spending their time il
leyising ways and means to deplete the Urea
Suty pOChct tUclT COlIITllSslONs Is ~ W Nv
wondered that when our army after tho fe'nt
upon Manassas returned to TIE transports for
lie purpose Of proceeding to the peninsula, they
we're obliged to wait for three or four weeks,
and until the enemy had suspected the plan OF
General Mcclellan, far the reason tsss no fue
lad been provided to get up steam. When the
history of this war is carefully and cafdidly
written, il will be found that tie delays and
slow movements that have been charged upon
our generals will be accounted for, to great
extent, by the swndling operations and commits
sions Of department agents. in their efforts to
add to their profits and increase thor commits
sions.