Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-02-27

''''ii Nll1 government DuCi menus m
human shape care not for exposure, fcl.
on's doom through life should be theirs
and the labors of your Committee will be
Of little practical value unless Cong ess
shall by law punish with severe penalties
such enormites
coNTRAcT BROKERAGE.
AT one time it would seem there was an
intention TO establish huge contract bro
kerage system. The testimony Of Mr..
John Smith Of Kingston, y. Y, powder
manufacturer, shows that in the month Of
May he proposed to give Mr.. Weed a
percentage for . powder contract That
he went to the Astor House, met Mr.. Da-
wilson, whom he had never seen before
inquired Of him for Mr.. Thurlow Weed.
i During the conversation he asked what
Mr.. Smith wanted Of Mr.. Weed: on be-
ing told, he enquired Of Mr.. Smith what
he could afford to pay; he replied five per
cent. Mr. Smith also says that NIr.
Weed asked him what he could afford to
pay.
That afterward at Washington, he
handed his propositions for powder to
Mr.. Weed, who took them to Mr.. Cam.
eron. The result was that Mr.. Weed was
authorized TO write letter to General
, Ripley, the head Of the Ordnance Depart
mcnt, to divide the contracts for powder
between the States manufacturing. It is
somewhat strange that the Secretary
should appoint Mr.. Weed his messenger
to carry his wishes to the different bu-
reaus. Mr.. Smith understood that lie
was to pay Mr.. Weed five per cent.
Mr., Latin also testified that his powder
firm dcmurred to paying Mr., Weed five
per cent; that Mr.. Weed gave them au-
thority to make l 900 barrels Of powder,
but they preferred having the authority
directly from the Government. He also
testifies that the patriot Dwyer, who fig
ured in the cattle contract in May or June,
at Washington, told him if he would
give five per cent. he would sell all the
powder he could make; but Latin de-
ciined.
Favo!ites obtain contracts when fire.
| Quently they have not the pccunary re-
sources to fulfill them, and not manufac-
turcrs of articles to be delivered. The
professional politician or the retired cx-
member of Congress, who has a large
contract which requires much machinery
and great mechanical ingenuity, evidently
takes it as a speculation takes it to en-
rich himself, or extort from the pockets
of honest industry takes it to sub-let
to skilliul manufacturers at reduced pri-
ces. The departments which give con-
tracts to men knowing that they have not
in and of themselves the facilities for ex-
crutng them, are reprehensible and de-
serve severe censure. What excuse is
there for an honest department to pension
this gang of middlemen All the i'll
gotten gains found in their pockets is so
much stolen from the Treasury.
In the Treasury Department-pure and
upright as | believe the Secretary to be
what business man could Justify, or who,
IN his own transactions, would allow that
a contract of over half million expend.
iture should be competed for by only two
firms, who could combine and unite? 1t
is no answer to 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 all de-
partments of labor are cheapened by the
stagnatlon OF business. In this matter
OF the bank-note contract, as in some
others, underlings control the affairs of
the Department, they say who shall APP
proach within the charmed circle, they
say whose papers shall be put on file,
and whose shall be gladdened by the eyes
of the Secretary.
A SPECIMEN TRANSACTION OF MORGAN.
The soldier, who, borne down by dis,
ease aud overcome with fatigue, is found
sleeping at his post, you punish with
death, while the mscreant who holds his
festival at this carnival of blood, rides in
his carriage, drinks champagne and
dimes with Cabinet ministers, you treat
with deicrential respect. Do You say
Government cannot Danish treason and
punish crime?
On the 4th of July, 1860, at Occoquan,
Va, Mr.. Underwood raised a pole, un-
iurled the American flag, and a banner
with the names of Lincoln and Hamlin.
jackson, the slayer Of Ellsworth, with
"oOu' iOi' ilNh, Nul ~ NONH, bOlC VI INC
stars and stripes, and carried the banner
as a trophy. One of The ringleaders of
that mob is this day in the employ of the
Government in this city.
The laboring men who testify against
officials are removed, while the wretch
who has been robbing the Government is
worthy Of better place. Is it possible
that this monstrous system of wrong, eX-
tending from the Atlantic TO the Missis-
sippi, from the Potomac to the Lakes can
not be checked? If that be so, better
disband our armies, and let the olig0rchs
of the South rule and reign over us.
This committee las been in session for
months Government officials must be
aware of its power of examination; still, |
at the commencement Of this session, in
spectors of horses were colluding with !
contractors; superintendcntS, rejoicing in
the title ofcaptainS, were selling Govern !
mcnt horses to private citizens, taking
diseased and worthless horses from the
commons, branding them in the service
of the United States, SO they might re-
ceive fall pay for the same city butch.
ers buying meat from Government sup
plies.
Your Government retains in this capt.
tai, in seats of honor and profit, and