New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-02-08

lOO%s
,o.,;cut had been subjected TO calumpy. That Pres
"a. nj. before the committee, testified that alter
taking $40 900 in profits from bis country ne was 30
xious 10 serve her ~ his the hour OF her eAre-
ty. that he appropriated nearly $s,oJO OF lis COZ
es eues money to bis private ue 40 he coma uevre
.oe machine 10 take all the Southern cities, ana no
one GET hurt The Department which has allowed
consnraeles after the bidding had been closed 10 de
fraud the Government OF the lowest bld, ana ny
ao wing the guilty to reap the fruits OF their CRIME
has tself become parti'sps r'minis' VINO Pie'eno'
any public .xigency for giving out ny private csu'
tract without hids over 100000 muskets, al iaou'
io,s n,ices3 Who preends public exigehcy to
make a private contract for nning cannon 10 the
amount of $500, 900.
HORSE CONTRACTS.
Nv colleague Oh the Comnitte lMr Dawes d few
DAVIS sine. spoke of the aceotferings OF lHnnsyl
wanna politicians and referred 10 the horses of Col.
Williams regiment. There IS ye' abo,her case.
contract. not made upon the responsible iy OF the
Bureau as the late Secretary said, but by his eI-
mr., a order and refused H. lie made until ordered
refer TO the contract 10 pursfsse loo horses 20
be delivered at Hun'ins On, Pennsylvania. Snch
horse market tn world pever saw Horses, with
running sores whch were seen by the and
branird; and ii one outraged common decenoy he
would lie rejected and opportunity sought the same
day 10 pars and brand bin. ImmeGiateiy the horses
were subsi.ted by private contract TO iaVortes, Al
- cents Ier day, and they subject TO arIneis iroD
" to DC cents Over 40 of these bOrses We're sebt
with Col. Wypkoops Regiment, and rbe papers at
Pittsburgh report some actually 20 worthless they
were leit on tie docks. The remaining JUO were
left at Hunting ton Tor the benefit of contractors. In
that single rapsaction over $5o,OOO were stolen
from the Government.
CONTRACT BROKERAGE
The testimony Of Mr.. John Smith of Kingston, n.
Y. uowder manufacturer, shows that in the month
OF May he proposed TO give Dir. Weed percentage
for powd contract; that be went TO the Astor
Iiouse, met Mr.. Davidson, whom he had never seen
before; inquired OF him for Dir. Thurlow Weed.
Duiing the conversation he asked what Mr. Smith
wanted Of MIR Weed; on being told, he inquired Of
Mr.. Smith what lie could afford to pay replied
FIVE per cent: Mr. Smith also says that Mr.. Weed
askrd lin What he could afford 10 pay. That after
ward a. Washington he har ded his proportions for
20 der To Mr.. Weed, who took them TO Mr. Cameron.
The result was that Mr. Weed was authorized to write
letter to Gen. Ripley, the head Of toe Ordnance De-
ptneBt 10 divide the contracts for powder between
The States Manufacturing. lt Is somew bat strange
that the Secretary should appoint Mr.. Weed as bis
messenger TO carry his irhes TO the different bunaus
Mr.. Suib Understood that he was TO pay M Weed
i've per cent. Dir. Latin also testified that his /
powder firm demnrred To paying Mr. Weed five per |
cent; that Mr. Weed gave tnem authority 70 make |
900 barrels OF powder, but they preferred having
the author ty directly from the Government. He
alec testhes that the patriot, Dryer, who figured
in the cattle contract ia May or june al WGchns tOn,
told him if he would give five per cent, he would cell
all the powder be could make; but Latin declined.
THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
Even in the Treasury D-partuent-pure end up
right rs | believe the Secretary TO be-what buti-
ness man could justify, or ~ho. ia his own trans
tons would allow, that O contract of over halt
million expenditure should be competed for by only
two frms who could combine and unite Ii 10 no l
answer 10 say that the work Is done as cheaply as
before; the spirit OF the law has been violated and
the millionaire enriched; besides, the products Of ai
deuartmentr Of labor cheapeDed by the sagna-
ton of business. In this matter Of the banknote
contract as ia come Others, uDderlngs control the
affairs Of the department, they say WHO shall
approach within the charmed circle, ,iey say whose
papers rhail be pat file, and whose shall be glad
dened by the eyee Of the Secretary.
GEORGE ID. MORGAN's OPERATIONS.
Mr. George d. Morgan has prepared an elaborate
naper showing the benefits # his agency and relies
npon the fac that In nearly every instance be paid
lees price than the owners asked. We can test the
strength of his portion by the Stars and Stripes.
10 build her cost $i60OO; by her charter the own
ers realized $4,000 from Government; they then
asked s6O 900. Mr. Morgan paid $4,000, 5000
lees than they asked, but s9 900 more than abe COST
While viii he Potomska and Wamsutta the own
.rs realized S.. 900, the Government paid 6O0O0
although Mr.. Morgans papers allege he was asked
SS 900 ibis seetns the reverse " the proposition.
The Onward WAS offered TO private parties for
sc GOO Mr.. Morgan was asked $50 900, aud psid
-
Committee will show by a further examination, TO
which they are invited by the Secretary, and direct
ed by resolution OF this House. Mr.. Van Wyck
proceeded TO give many asiapces Of extorion III the
purchase OF vessels, aud then refers to
THE PURCHASE OF ARMS.
Another remar katle transaction the eae by |
the rdnance Bureau, TO Mr.. Eastman, of ZOO Hall
esrbiner ne AL whi,h needed some alteration 10
be useful tor g. 20 each THIS private sale wa
made at n time when the Department was buying
,ch h.ii Loan nod .uda fb.l
arsenal. of Europe. After expenditure Of from
rs cents 10 4 IS they were sold 10 mon Ste
vens for si2 80; then TO Gen. Fremont Tor 81
No wonder our expenses arc S2,OOO,OJO per dav-
Government sells AT 81 80, aud III short time
buys back At 81. Dr. Cummings bought 700 OF the
sane carb.ncs for SlJ. The evidence Of Maj. IIag-
ner shows that MIR. Stevens agent or aid Of
Gen Fremont. Ils Mr.. Stevens denies. How
ever the relation was one OF q warm personal char
act.r. lie had probsbiy just leit him with nstruc-
tions TO purchase. HIS dispatch 10 Fremont was
just such as An agent would send, or one who had
the assurance of the necessities Of the West and that
the arms would be taken. At all events, the bar
gain Was an Uncomfortable one, whereby Stevens
was 10 make about so 600 in one day, without in
curing any risk investing any capital. Sir. Van
Wick next referred 10 the Department Of the West
ana charged that Child, Pratt 4 Co. made from -
to 80 per cent on contract OF $i,Vn'Oo0.
ARMY TRANSFORMATION.
Another item OF reckless expenditure was the
order Of the War Depa iment allowing two cents
Der mile for the transportation OF troops, and liberal
prices for baggage and horsee. so enormous were
the profits that railroad companies i'll the West bid
and paid from 81 800 to e. 500 10 nearly every reg
meu for the privilege Of transportation. IL Id re-
m. rkabe that the late Secretary who was himself,
by long experielce and observation, 30 convsrssnt
with he manug cement of railroads, who reoiced In
the confidence of friend, who was intimate with
railroad connections especially iii PenIsy AHA,
should have allowed railroad companies such large
amounts that they could lavish thousands for the