The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1862-01-10


less, and in others exorbitance in price was cou-
Piled with other evidence of purpose to de-
fraud the Government. .
| The abuses in the purchase OF Austrian and
other firearms are noticed in the testimony ap-
pended.
OFFICIAL FRAUD.
The Committee call attention to case of the
official prostralon of official position TO the base
purpose of illegal gains, as sci forth in the evil
dence Of Samuel A. Hopkins and in this con-
Gectlon the Committee say that man by :he
name OF Wood, enjoying the confidence OF the
President, was appointed Commissioner of Pub
lie Bulldogs, place not only requiring great
business capacity, but unlincbing integrity; and
that Wood, from his own declarations, made
hlmself an instrument for plundering the Gov
ernment. The Committee, in discharge OF their
duty,. made representation of the facts TO the
Executive, but before any action was taken, the
Government was relieved from the presence OF
an unworthy Official by his resignation.
THE FoRTIFICATIONS AT ST. LOUIS.
! The Committee next approach the subject oil
the Notifications al St. LOUIS. The circumstau-
ces surrounding this work being of the most ex
| iracrdinary character, aud marked by exirava-
gance, recklessness, ihsubordination, and fraud,
.hey express the hope that some means may be
| found to make the parties TO the atrocious con-
tract dlSgorge the sum out of which the Gov
ernment has been defrauded, and that the la
borers who have done the work on the faith of
the Government, will not longer be delayed in
| receiving their Just dues.
| The PURCHASE OF HORSES AND MULES.
The Committee found that the most astound-
ing and unblushng frauds had been perpetraed
! 10 the purchase OF horses and mules, and mat
ters were so arranged that it was impossible for
the original owners to sell either horses or mules
directly 10 Government, but all such sales were
made by certain middle-nen and go-betweens,
who, il appears, alone could gel any horses or
mules taken by the Quarterinaster's Department.
ARMY SUPPLIES.
The act OF Congress on the subject OF adver-
tising for supplies for the various departments
of the Government was designed to correct
great public evil-a system OF corrupt favori-
ism in Government contracts. To prevent ihe
provisions OF the act from operating prejudic,al-
| ly 10 the Government in cases Of unforeseen
emergency, The terms OF the act are not oil unI-
| versal application; and the exccptun, Prrini.-
| ting contracts to be made without advertising
| for proposals in cases where "ammediate deJtUe-
ry," has left the enforcement of The law TO the
option of the public officer on whose Integrity
the law IS, in the main, dependent for its eff
cheney. Ii he would act corruptly, he will,
| under the exception, fail 10 invite competition.
| Bot the exception was necessary and, at the
beginning of the present national difficulties,
the purchase OF supplies at once, to meet he
wants oil an army suddenly brought into the
field, was unavoidable. No sagacious foresight
could, in the ordinary course OF events, have
guarded against it; and in judging the acts of
puoic officers, in connection with the questions
of integrity and economy, the extraordinary
! emergency must be considered. Yet the Com-
mlttee are compelled to stale that, either thro'
| corrupt motives, or for want OF reasonable
prudence, the act of Congress has been almost
a dead letter, evea in that large class OF cases
where il might have been properly applied.
| Immense supplies, both in the Navy as well as
| the War Department, the necessity Tor which,
| in the ordinary course OF ,hings, was easily iore-
seen, have been purchased privately, uoder con-
! tracts expressed or implied, without any compe-
! ttion b1Ing invited In one important division
of the army Qhe Westerly the law has been al
mos, totally dlsregardrd, and even the safeguard
OF the responsibility OF public officers has, in
| employment OF Irresponsible agents 10 the pur-
chase OF large quantities OF supplies, even where
| responsible and experienced and upright public
officers were IN position 10 perform the requl-
red duty. a vast amount OF supplies have been
made on what IS called ga requisltion." lh the
Western Department, especially, 'requisiiions"
have ST pplied the place of contracts, and were
generally in the following form:
| HEAD-QUARTERs, QUARTEawAsTERs' DGp'T, !
Sr. LOUIS, September 2, 1861.
| MeSsrs. LIVINGSTON, BELL & Co. will furnish
| Quartermasters' Department with--5, 900 pairs
of cavalry boots, 5000 suits infantry uniforms,
5000 canleens, 10000 infantry hats, 10000
| army shoes, 10000 army overcoats, 5,Goj KNAPP
sacks, 10000 pairs socks, 10000 undershirts,
(army paltern.) All TO be made Of the best
material, and conform TO army regulations and
requirements the cost of manufacture, mate
rial and transportation 10 be furnished to this
department, upon which the quartermaster will
allow fair mercantile profit 10 the contractors,
Messrs. L. B. & Co.
]. McKINsTRy,
Major and QvarermaSter.
A true copy:
II. w. G. CLEMENTS, Chief Clerk.
On such acquisitions single firm in ST. Lou
is-the firm of Child, PIatt & Fox-iurnsbed
from time TO time, ordinary army supplies 10
the value of over $500 900, apparently with
out the price of single article being previous
ly determined. What is meant in these Gre
quisitions" as "a fair mercantile proff' may
be judged Of by the testimony of Mr.. James P.
Goghan, the book-keeper Of the firm Of Child,
Pratt and Fox, who testified as follows:
"Queston. What would be the per cent. off
profit on that sale of blankets!
Answer About forty cents.
Question. Would the profits of The remain
der OF the goods sold by Child, Pratt & Fox to