The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-01-25
More Government Frauds...Our State
Officials in the Business.

OmClalS IN the BUSINESS
The business of public plumber seems to
have become mania so all-pervading, |
that scarcely an official who has been en-
trusted with the disbursement of govern
ment funds can be named, who is not
more or less contaminated. We gave last
week an instalment, and this week on our
outside form another, Of the revelations OF !
the Van Wyck committee on this subject.
We have now to add to this disgraceiui
record some of the doings of our own
State officials.
The extra session of the Illinois Legis'
lature, called together in April last to
provide for the extraordinary exigencies
which the war just then initiated had
brought into being, after fully surveying
the field, proceeded to make the following
provision to meet the case before them.
Six regiments from this State had just
been called for by the general government.
knowing that these troops were needed
instantly, and that the government was
embarrassed to feed, clothe arm and equip
on the instant all the men the public
safety demanded, the legislature proposed
to aid the U. S. by advancing 100000 to
purchase arms and clothing for our own
regiments. The legislature also, with
forcaste that did them honor, Judged cor
rectly that six regiments would not be all
the safety of the country would need from
this State, and therefore made provision
for the organization of ten additional regi-
ments, to be recruited, differed, and
placed into camp for instruction for the
space of three months, and if not needed
within that time, their pay was to cease
and the regiments were to disband. To
meet the expense this would involve,
another appropriation of 100000 was
made And to meet extraordinary con-
tingent expenses in the Executive Depart
ment which these operations might involve
$4,000 more were appropriated all the
appropriations of the extra session, there
FORE except few thousand to defray its
own expenses, amounted to $780, 900,
and not a dollar more To raise this
money the legislature authorized the issue
of 81, 100000 State bonds
The 100000 were abundant to arm and
clothe the first six regiments, and wee
probably thus expended The 100000
for the ten regiments was more than was
needed for long before they were all re.
cruted and in camp, the government had
accepted them into the L. s service, and
wasiready to assume their clothing, subsist-
ence, and pay. So in regard to all other
regiments or corps from this State accept
ed into the L. s. service. The government
was not only willing and anxious TO relieve
our State officials of all further care and
responsibility in the matter, bat was ready
TO, and actually did refund to the State
all she had up to that time expended in
her behalf
Here, then, in contemplation Of our
legislature, and of the general government,
and according TO all plain rules of common
sense, the whole function and military
machinery of the State government, in the
way of recruiting subsisting, arminr and
equipping troops for the L. S. service came
| to an end. Gov Yates whole army Of
| Adjutants, guar termasteIs, commissaries,
! forage masters, recruiting sergeants, con-
tract mongers and hangers on gene
rally were now ti1rctAs otIci9-done with,
and should have been discharged There
was neither law nor common sense to con.
tinue them in pay day longer
But not SO thought Gov. Yates In
spite Of the requests of the General Gov
/ eminent to be allowed to relieve h,ln OF
the whole business, he went on enrolins.
regiments, buying clothing, and arms,
making contracts, and carrying on his
whole military machinery as if his State
was the whole United States, and no army
could be raised without her gratutous and
officlous all. And now the Cons titutional
! Convention at Springfield is smoking out
! the results of the system. According to
official documents already laid before that
body, our State officials have thus far
incurred the following war expenditures:
Audited by army board. 50 303775 4g
| Fied. Dut not auuiteu.. 9ol,12D tN
! Additional contracts-... 91O3gl -
Other contracts supposed. ......... 5000 &C
$3.50 $50 &c
Filed since army auditors report. 1909 O.
si,S25, $50 e
Nearly fire millions Of dollars and except
Sl,55O,0OO, without the shadow of legal
authority from any quarter 1t is true
the general government has sent to Sprin G
field 100000 to assist in paying these
expenditures, but that sum was to refund
the appropriation made by our State legis
lature. For nearly three and half mil
lions of the above expenditure neither has
our State, or the contractors, or any person
a legal claim upon our own treasury OF
that Of the L. S. for a solitary cent OF
upon any quarter except our own irrespon
sible officials in their individual capacity
But it will be said, these liabilities were