New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-01-18

behalf of the Navy Department. eighty-Dine
vessels of various kinds and sizes, from q
steamship costing 5000, 900, down to a tug
boat worth but S5,00o-for all Of which the
Government has paid about $500, 900, or
some $1,000 less than the asking price Of the
We Judge from all the testimony furnished that
the vessels were we'll bought, and that the
Government could hardly have obtained 80
large an amount of seryiceablo vessels at so
moderate q cost by any other mean, than the
employment of a single capable and vide.
awake merchant and shipper to act as its
purchasing agent. We do not find it even
asserted that Mr.. Morgan paid IN eIorbitant
price in but one instance, and with regard to
that his defense is conclusive.
s. There remains but single question-that
of compensation. The Secretary contracted to
pay and tho Government has directly paid moth
ing to Mr.. Morgan for his services in the
premises. So far as would be inferred from
the face of the transaction, Mr. Morgan has
given the Nation the benefit Of hi, services for
nothing. But in fact, he has in every instance
given tho sellers fair notice that no should ex
pect of them and he has accordingly been paid
"a per cent. commission on every vessel thus
purchased BY him for the Navy Department,
though we understood fOm his letter that there
have been instances in which ne has accepted
lower rate; for he makes his entire emoli-
ments from his agency but little over S6O,oVo
while the House Investigating Committee est
mate them at about $4,000. Considering
that the times are very hard, and that The last
Summer was an exceedingly dull one for trade,
that he incurred DO pecunnry responsibility
and that his time devoted TO tbs duty cannot
have exceeded three or four months, II must
be conceded that Mr.. Morgan has been 'ery
well paid. Nor can we realize that this none!
has any less truly been paid BY the Govern
ment than if it had been paid by the buyer
instead of the seller. When an agent goes to
q shp-owner, saying 81 want TO buy such or
such q vessel; if you sell her, you must pay
" me u per cent commission; What will you
" take for her 2" he who don't know that the
seller add, that commission to the price he
would otherwise ask or take for her, cannot but
have a sovereign contempt for the four simple
rules Of arithmetic.
Mr.. Welles lays great stress on mercantile
rule and usage in the premises-we think more
than the case viii warrant. That he who
wants a coal.boat, tug schooner or scow. and
has not the time or lacks the Medication to
make his own bargains, should employ com
petent and trusty ship.broker and pay him, or
require the seller to pay him, "A per cent
may be ever 40 true without being
conclusive. Suppose W. II. Aspinwal George
Law, Cornelu. Vanderbilt. or spchcrd a Tiles
ton. were in want OF whole fleets or flctillas
10 the value of millions OF dollars, would the,
employ al agent at such a rate If not
where is the analogy
On the whole, our judgment j.. aad We think
that of the public will be, that the Secretary
ought to have said 10 Nr. Morgan: " I want
" ysur services in this very responsible business
" of buying vessel. for the Government. for
" know your capacity and experience, AID
- can lhOIouSbi1 tlust .'u' D"' ~" ni' III!
a. relatye--you are rich aud have been .gnAlly
. pro,perous while the Government 10 needy
:. and tbs Country in imminent peril, and it
- would not be an appalling sacrifice Il you
" should give to the land OF your birth two or
- three months easy and safe service Tor
nothing Go forward. then, and buy vessels
% a. they shall be- needed. charge 10 comms
:. sion 10 any one but do the best you honestly
- can for the Country, and LET Congress pay
or not pay you as It shall think proper
We cannot realize that Mr.. Morgan would
have been really one cent poorer to-day Il tie
matter had taken this course, while we are
cure Secretary WelIes would have been in far
better circumstances. The People, who for
generations are TO pay heavy taxes on nearly
everything they eat, drink or wear-on oil
they save and al they spead-to pay the cost
of rnt.lng down this atrCcOus rebellion, are
certain 10 hold to rigorous accountability ali
who make money rapidly out Of the public
m,,fortuues with all Hho AID them 10 do 30.
1t j. hard enough 10 be squaldy Door but he
who shall inherit wealth made through con.
tracts, comm sions or agehcit, out Of this
war, will be even less subject Of envy than
he who makes coarse living by mauling rails
at dollar 4 hundred or choppiDg kno,iy fire.
wood at fifty cents cord.
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