Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-02-12
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. THE oONTMAorF FRAUDs.
sPnHoHi OF Mr. VAN WICK, RBPuBLIoAN, OF
bga aiO3saga 1J.NHW YORK. al. i.I.5.' '.'l.

EAAE OONTAAOE FRAUDS. 14fa
sPRHoH or Mr.. VAN wYoK, RppuBLIoAN, or
Boa sio'sag8 g1NAw YORK. sgl95 .'s5a5..','l.
We take from the New York Tribune Of the
9th inst, the following report of the speech
OF Mr.. VAN WYcK, Republican, of New York,
Chairman Of the special committee for the in.
vestigatlon Of frauds in Government contracts,
delivered In the House of Representa- tives, on
Friday Feb.7. After stating that Mr.. VAN
Wrok commenced by pointing out the material
and other sacrifices the country had made, and
anaiysIng the special cases that had come before
the committee, the Tribune report proceeds:
a contract was made il this city by the De-
partment With DWyer, Laughman, Sibley a.
Tyler for cattle, from two thousand to ten
thousand, at SO per hundred, live weight, de.
livered here, and $5.75 in Pennsylvania. What
facilities had DWyer & Co. Tor transportation
which the Government did not posssss2 Gov.
eminent could lay its strong arms upon rail
roads, and use them; could plant its gathering
armies to guard the bridge and track. At
shat very time an agent was sent by the Depart.
ment into Maryland, who, without difficulty,
purchased cattle, to be delivered in Washing
ton, at So SO per hundred, live weight. Besides,
direct navigation with New York was not OBJ.
structed by the Potomac. Sill more, II the
danger OF transportation through Maryland was
an excuse for hiScontrAct big with profits, Why
provision that portion should be delivered in
Fennsylvania II the Department desired, and
Why were nearly fifteen hundred received In
Harrisburg, while scarcely eight hundred were
delivered In Washington Notwithstanding
the lions in the way, Dsyer g. Co. Immediately
sub-let the contract to New York men, 90 that
without any hazard or periis they realized over
$4,000 on about two thousand head.
On the 2lst day of April, the Secretary of
War, although he well knew the great ability
and experience of Col. Tompkins, Quartermas
ter, and Major Eaton, CommIssary, in New
York city, wrote two letters to Alexander Cum
mings, Esq. In one, he wants him to aid the
Commissary In purchasing supplies; to assist the
Quartermaster In pushing them forward" The
other letter states that al p
Inc department needs at this moment an
Intelligent experienced, and energetic man, in
whom It can rely, to assist In pushing forward
troops, munitions, and supplies" ~ .-.4-
| No man knew better than the Secretary thai
these qualifications were already possessed By
the army officers In New York, on whom It Wat
safe 70 rely. Armed with letters of approya
from the War Office, he was for the time su
preme in the department marked out for him -
Instead of rendering aid and assistance, he eff
feetuaily superseded the army Ofaoers.- Majol
Eaton distinctly informed him that his ser ices
were not needed In the purchase of supplies
still the Doctor commenced buying over $2l ,00(
worth Of straw hats and linen pautaloons
which were worthless to the army, and not re-
CURED by the regulations. lie employed
clerk OF whom he knew nothing, had neve
seen before, In his evidence, at fret, he die
not know who recommended him; then b,
thought he vas recommended by Mr.. Thurlov
Weed-fnally said, "I remember now that Mr.
Weed teld me he knew all about him, and upol
his recommendation / took him" This olerl
Mr.. Cammings Bnffssed to do 7all the busines
and make all the purchases, except what wer
made by George D. Morgan sdi 7.ii.i 5I
ME- Cummings next appoints Capt Comstool
70 charter Or purchase vessels,, The Captain
with friend, goes TO Brooklyn, inspecis tn
lCataline, and learns that her price ia from
$l6,0Q0 30 $2O,000. Instead of purchasing o
ehartsring,o or Recommending CunminRs to d
90, from tine owners, his friend suggests to Mi
i DeEelin that there sf,is nice gopuoFttnity d
make something by good management" Capt
Comstock knew that Cummings was agent ia
THEW Department, still be couuseis freel
with Mr.. pevelin about the value of the Cata
lime, and giVesan opinion what will be paid fo
her charter, Hadshe been cheap at $I9 600
his Government was entitledto the purchase.- =
After yielding to Mr.! Develin all the time b,
lrequired TOR the negotiation, on the 26.h tb,
boat vas chartered by Col. Tompkins, he rely
ling upon Capt. Comstock, the authorized agea
of Cummings, the agent of the War Depart
ment, paying tor her use Sl0,0 900 per month 70
three months, and If lost BY war risks, the
4 lGovefnment to pay $4,000! Col. Tompkin
would not sign until Capt. Comstock assure
him that she was worth $50, 900, and that
was all right. The testimony of Capt. Com
stock shows the vast number and almost unlim
tied power Of persons at that time assuming :
act as agents for the Government. He ssys:
n"E was sent for by Mr.. Weed to come to th
i Astor House about the time Of the commence
ment Of these troubles. He stated that he wa
Ian agent oflthe1 Government, and had troop
and munitions Of war TO send to Washington b
way Of the Chesapeake, and that he wished I
charter vessels for that purpose" . - Ct
I"Afterwafd, Cummings called upon me an
showed me the same authority that w Weed ha
shown. II had been transferred to him TO pe
4 form the same service" "I shoul
think that Weed chartered from six to ten Vel
ssis.n'-Io5' 'lg1i4 tq 80 ~ sa'ao a4asds
| This testimony was given on the 25th day
December, and up to that time the committe
2 bad no evidence or intimation that Mr., Wee
= had been an agent for the Government, or ac
ling as such. y The commibtee are not able [
show BY whom heryesSel was loaded; but CO
lector Barney swears that, on the 9Th Of Apri
. Mr.. Stetaon, in whose name the title had bee
6 taken, callsd on him; demanding clearance
AnnapOlisa When asked how she was loade
and to whom the cargo belonged, he replied 81
was loaded with -four and provisions and b
& longed to eeveral of his friends Mr.. Barn,
, refused to clear her. Stetson then said the pr
visions were for the army. Barney replied tha
as tie properly was not Government propert
: but property Of individuals, he could not Gle
her except by q request from some Governme
/ oflcsrs sItls bnt just to say here, that Mr.. D
velip was evidently induced to purchase Il
vessel az the suggestion Of those who were &C
ing for Government, and that Mr.. Stetson,
everything he did, was frank, candid, and ma
B no coneealment. When Mr.. Stetson again ca
q ed on the collector, che brought note fro
Mr.. Weed, stating that the cargo consisted
4 supplies for troops, andrequesting clearance
7 Mr.. Barney declined, but saw Mr.. Weed e
explained why elearaioe could not be granite
Nj. Weed said "it was oil right, and would
q arranged ln some other way A pass was {
Z ltained from Gen, Wool, which he regretted; |
!, Ion Monday morning he sent an order to the O
lectOr revoking 1t; but the fugitive had cscap'
, Her voyage was an unfortunate enc; after 1
. months' service she was destroyed by hse,
D The question 'recufs, who were the friends
9 Ifetred 70 by Mr.. Stetson as the owners Of 1
Ieafkola Mr. sEfeemGb, who bad one-tsnth
2 terestin the pro6ts, sEeafs, after fret declini
4 \ TO do 80, that he received as part security
the purchase.money Of the Cataline, four not
/ nt Al6nn aaah aa fofIhWes 1na nate hv T.