Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1862-04-30
Speaker House q Representatives..
ST. LOUIS. March 10, 1862.

ST. LOUIS. March 10, 1862.
Won. T. NJ. STANTON, 6scre,aryof Var.
The undersi Gucd, commissioners ap.
uo,u.el to examine aud decide upon
claims against the military department Of
the west, originating prio, to the l4th of
October 1901, have the honor to submit
the following report;
l,Iore follows several pages showing the
monstruus funds practiced at st. Louis in
rhe building Of boats, furnishing supplies,
Gci hut We can only give the concluding
portion
"TuJRsrAY. March 6.
"C,1,n, ef b. T. Noodey d Co., $500, 630l
"Licut. Col. T, p. Andrews. pay master
in the army, called on part Of the govern
ment by J. H. Shepley, Esq.
Question by Mr.. Shepley. viii you
p,es'a state what rank you hold ; how
long you have served in tue army ana
what Is your present post Of duly.
Answer. hold the rank Of heuIen-
ant colonel; have served in the army
nearly rorty years am the senior OF the
two deputy paymaster generals and lam
at rrosent az the head Of tie pay de,
partment in the department Of the Mis-
souri
"Qucs,ion 10y Mr. Shepley. Col. An
drews. hold in my hand an authority
given by General Fremont to Col. BuSsey,
nrthc 81 Iowa cavalry, authorizing him TO
clothe and equip his regiment. VIII you
,.lpaso state whether by law General Ere,
mont had or had not the power 10 give
such authority
Answer. suppose al tnat time that
General Fremont had power u authorize
Goloucl Bussey to raise the regiment, but
had no authority to interfere With the tis.
cal affairs Of the regiment, or contracts
for the regiment.
"Qucstion by Mr.. Shepley. We have
before Us variety Of orders from General
Fremont on different persons to furnish
ordnance and ordannca stores. Will you
please state whether or not Gen. Fremont
has any authority TO contract ter ord
uunce aud ordnance stores
"Ans~er lie had none unless under
an express POKER from the Secretary Of
War
DIGESTION hy Mr.. Sheploy Is there
srnnng in the law or regulations of
:ae atmy authorizing the commanding
general to contract tor mules horses, or
forage?
answer. know Of none. The guar
t'rnastcr is Tho proper person to make
these contracts.
Question by Mr.. Shopley. II the com.
mar1ng general deems fortilcations nee
essary nj particular place, in whom is
81 "a. 81 10, ,,tv ~ Far
slructiOn?
Answer. Forti fcntions have never
boeu, to my knowledge, contracted tor,
except in st. Louis. The materials are
contracted for, and the construction has al.
ways been under tho direction OF the en-
gincey department proper.
Question by Mr. Shepley. Do you
know any reason,o or did YOU ever hear the
late commanding general of this depart
ment give any reason, why the rules
and regulations Of the army were thus
disregardCdy
Answer. ! was never informed Of any,
norwasthcre any obligation on bis part to
give me The information.
"Question ny Mr.. Shepiey. Did the
commanding general ever make to you
any remarks showing that he knowingly
violated any Of tho laws and regulations
of the War Department?
"Answor. He did ON one occasion, in
NJ Office make remarks showing that he
iuiolled to disregard tho ordinary III
stTucuoNs and regulations of the depart
ment at Washington.
"QIcslu1 by Mr.. Shepley. Can you
-cpeat the substance of these remarks?
"Answer, can. This conversation was
'ato in August or tho early part Of SepS
tcmhcr. Gen Fremont came into my Of
fee w..h General McKinstry, and after
General McKinstry left, he commenced
the conversation without anything calling
for il. t.as am aware OF. He spoke
pleasantly, but said, The people Of the Uni
,sl States cerc in tie fsH; that he ,cas al their
lead; that he meant 70 carry ont such measures
q, hsy ,Nt aeoph) expected him to carry out,
vth9A sqard to tic ret tape Of hc Washing
ION people, Ny only reply was in few
general words, that as well as ! could un>
iers.and, the term red tape meant sys'
,em f govern ment. which, in its details,
n.'sA. - carried too far by subordinstes,
but Aad always been Of the opinion that
our general system was a wise and good
obc, and that he who undertook TO set it's
l..aclples or general details aside would
sooner or later become eniangled in diff
oultie9 by disregsrding all system. He
relded by repeating his general remark,
(fcr | think the third time pat the pespk
reyc in Tho f<lS, and nat rs ,0Gs at thar head,
dsd vOuH have everything io-e according %