New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-01-28
THE SIMPLIFYING BUSINESS
SEC. WELAES AND Mr.. E. 0. aORSAN.
REPtGT OF TIE SENATE'S CQmMITfEE.

New.Yoyk TO prvchass yessels for tie Government.
ak leave to report
Tbat they have given 10 the subject that careful
consideration which Vs important cl aracter ssemed
20 demand snd they rev submit the result OF their
Termination TO the senate. by the letter cf the
Secretary the COMMITTEES aud the Senate ale relieved
from All embarrassment IS TO the evidence OF She
transactions under cOu.I 3eiation, The lacts
rlainy stated BY the Sc Tdary, who, WI bout eIi-
deavoiing 10 conceal or ever up .ny Of tho promi.
nent features OF the case cl ms IN his letter thai II
l. natter for pIaise rather Man cen.ur., ana tn1
Ina conduct WAS faithful rolllln ent OF hrs public
duty, AID Mr. George ID. Morgan, tue agent em-
ployed AND who admits i'll Las letter 70 The Cbaif-
man OF the Committee ON Naval Ahhir5 IN the
ilouse Of Representatives, witch the Secretary OF
the Navy adopts and makes part Of 81 report to
tie Senate, that he has already received eO,IOO for
the brief period Of a few months in which he was
employed -olennly declares upon his character ana
responsibility as "a merchant and man OF bueiness
thai he regards the sysem adoi ted by the Secretary
az wise and. if Faithfully and well csrii out al
tits tine, highly conducive to the public Interests.
III this he true and the transaction &c praiee,
and is tie faithful fufimeut Of pubic Duty aud, i!
faithfully aud well carried OUT highly conducive to
the public interesfe then it ought TO be Incorporated
into our ordinary and regular mode Of furnishing
supplies for our army and navy, and extended 10 as
= ny branches OF tie pa c service as y0ssible.
In order 10 form proper es'iDae Of this sysion,
90 much landed by the Secretary aud bic agent, lct
rs see in the fret place precisely what II -. The
Government Iropcses 10 buy a large Duuber Of ves-
sels and employs an egent 10 purchase them, allow
ing him 10 receive from the seller y yer cent on TIE
Price paid for each yessel-in otter words, one
iortieth of al tho money IN by tic Government
for each and every vessel bought ID raid the agent
thgs emplo ed That is The contract fairly stated, IN
biief aud timple language. Ii tie Secretary lad
lot raj ed The quetiOn, it could hardly have ac-
milted OF Il doubt that tits compensation IL wholly
and exclusively paid by the Goeernment from The
TuOhc Treasury. But tie Secretary labors under
the hallucuaion That this money does not cone IRON
The Government ard admits that II IL did. or If bis
agott bad been paid by fixed falary, ora per-
ceAfage, however moderate, payable 10y The Govern
nent, it would unqucsuonabiy nave been Ia violation
q law. HE language l.;
Law b., rot been ylost.1 by the establishment ard
operation Of the ,ysts al ~ouii have e'c
u hsd srpolieJ selt 70 DO his ~olk % liked
sa.sTy, CT ~ pcrce.tsse ho~tvr' modersie.'
| IA tie Secretary Of tie Navy here admits that If
this percentage bad been paid by the Government
tic tran saCtion would unqnrsii onably have been
violation OF law, your Committee ass lie attention ol
the Segse TO bTief examination oil lhat question, II
question may be called.
/ 90 tbc Minds OF your Committee, nothing can te
plan r. than that every seller hxes the prcc a The
eriite Aoh lie proposes to fell ~ ieleie.te 70 Tie
cot II the same ~ 10 tie time OF sale IL a. We
81 ,or exsuQc Las 10 be roagh' from one place 10
another be- - the sale 10 completed, or If tax ID
le, i.i b. tie Government On the ealr, or n PER
cef,arc Is tayablc 10 the Stale or National Gov.
effne,t or 10 any elee, on tie amount received
fr tie yes.el csu II be necessary 10 argue tie pop
oiion tis. the cot Of such transportation OF Tie
fax or the percentage Il considered by the selier ia
rlt.c LIS ice aud j. faid By he purchaser Mr.
MORGAN, i must te remembered N every lneianee
iu which lc naCe lur base Informed TIE r.rron 81
whom he Proposed 10 buy thai y % cent on The
amount ps.d must 80 70 himi ard u nvl -aIl 10 your
Commute. 10 be An impeachment Of common seize
l. lrctapd thz. the seer Jid no. Include tlHt COM
n.i ii il she price for Mhcn lie oomented 10 sell.
lie rlo-s amount for winch the fese 10 10 te pnf,
rlas.i including tia; which goes g. tie stn~ aud
mat which Dr. Morgan retains ia bis own hahcs, ali
comes directly ffoin the Treasury Il ihe U.iNd
Sia'cs and part Of II from any other source; aud
j. Il iml sible for your Conluitee 10 Conceive how
The most ingenious and subtle sophie ~ impose
pgon the simi let understanding the impression or
be ho. that tie United states dOes not Gnecuy pay
ll.i- mouey L. tbs cost vi The y,s;es 10 the Gov
eminent l. no. increased by tie ~ per cent connie
zion exactcd from the seller, IL would not to ia
creased Iy.a commission Of yer cent ioper eel g.
OF even ~ per cent.
IL I, claimed lht this arrangement is IN accordance
with ihe usual mercantile custom. However that
nay lie, ana the Committee will say somcihipg #
that Ler,aiter your Committee arc o opinion, 10 tue
labg lage OF eminent hnd n4hiy Tes eulule gentle
uaa O; New York WitA WHOM tbey have had Occl-|
10. 10 correspond, Tat the making Government
nan, Tor uarchagrs eepordCnt upon tie seller for s
coruens,,ion, aud making thAt oompe, -li,on de-
reIaon, nlon the estout and costhne.s 4 DIS pu.
,l ascs, rs immoral mud coruping and tolds 70 ex-
tfayirnnce, 80 COLLISION ard 10 iisuo."
Human ylstue H. irsil enough when surrounded
bv all tie l. ducemcnIs 40 honesty which can lc
thrown around It lie siieguardr, And accordingly II
ms een fount 90 lie the Wiscst policy IN the conduct
4 = ordinary ahairs Of lie, far as practicable,
% make duty and interest 10 coincide; bat 10y tbs
syrfon Of the Secretary direct fecuulary premium
Is offered 10 dishonesty ana treatbciy. Jrstead OF
s ben, Tor the interest Il the agent oarclnlly %
cnlrd and protect he rights and Interests Of tho
Government for which be- ucys, and TO rurrbaFe th'
vessel ior the lowest priCe TT which sic can Dc
bought. 20 hGe - direct peculiarly interest ia
paving ibe lrge-t possibc price which tie
scllcr eau with auy show OF cec,ncy demand,
AID thus his interegtl are brought IA 0hec'
oul.iict with his du,y. NOW, tlLodgh A'. ".9t
gan, with tie $1,000 ia his po' kel, AYERS MON i'
I" character a4d responsibility ns . merchant and
man oi business tlnt this is - u wise system aud.
II well and feth.ully carried oI at this tue, highly
conIu, i've 20 lG public i1tcrefui !e, u ui'f-
turaicly happens that tie universal judgment oi
mIIhi.d ~ o. very dIieseht character. mus TO
I'D e or inrog Is allowed to sit IN case wAefe b.
Ilnsiho shtest Iecuni.ry inttTetii and u 1t were
known mai a referee, arbitrator, or umpire between
tyo parties was TO have hia conpensaiion doI enient
upon tDs amount which he should adlddge ibe one
pty - pay To the OtLer all men every where wOnii
ioiu an a., bouncing hir decision, II not as Chhoneat
and ..,,urf ID least ~ unworthy Of any confidence.
Tho rfol III, IN that one MN should act rs asert
for afotner and have direct lecunary interest ba-
/ y.rse tn his employer, ard prompting lim 10 make
lgo p1 ctases at high prices, with hscoml ensai.n
constantly increasing in diTect proportion TO TIC
puuiber oil hia purchalCs aud the extravaganza OF
IA. prices which he compeb bis employer to pay,
sc,i's 10 your Committee TO be a proposIionso moG.
,irons AZ 10 require argument TO demonstrate Ii
in.N ~ ediency aud immortality.
Al Tie time this arrangement WAS mado there
were many other things Of which tue Government
was Ia pressing want as we'll u vessels such as
Lors.s, b9ef cattle, arms, Ne, aud, II the system
ado..ed BY tie Secretary oil tle Navy Tor Tie pnr-
chase Of vessels were WISE ond faithful discharge
OF public inty, why would !, not also be roper