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

/ tant, In some Instances the arms were worth
less, aud IN others exorbiahce in price was cou-
pied with other evidence of purpose to de-
fraud the Government.
| The abuses in the purchase OF Austrian aud
other firearms are noticed IN the testimony ap-
pended.
| OFFICIAL FRAUD.
| The Committee call attention to case of the
official prostTatIoR Of official position to the base
purpose OF illegal gains, as set forth in the evi-
dence of Samuel A. Hopkins; and in this con-
EectIon the Committee say that man by :he
! name OF Wood, enjoying the confidence Of the
| President, was appointed Commissioner of Pub
| lie Buildings, place not osly requiring great
business capacity, but unfiinching ategrity; and
! that Wood, from his own declarations made
| himself an instrument for plundering the Gov
! eminent. 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 Of
| the Qualifications al ST. LOUIS. The circumslau-
| ces surrounding this work being of the most ex-
/ !Ta1rdinafy character, and marked by extrava-
! gance, recksessaeSs, INSTRUMENTATION, and fraud
:bey express the hope that some means may be
| iound to make the parties to the atrocious con-
tract dlsgorge the sum out of which the Gov
ernment has been defrauded, aad that the la
! 5orers who have done The work on the faith of
/ the Government, will not longer be delayed in
/ receiving their Just dues.
! TAE PURCHASE OF HORSES AND MULES.
! The Committee found that the most astound-
/ ing and unblushing frauds had been perpetTaled
! 10 the purchase ct horses and mules, aud mat
/ terS were so arranged that it was impossible for
the original owners to sell either horses or mules
! directly TO Government, but all such sales were
made by certain middle-men and go-betweens,
| who, 1t appears, alone could get any horses or
mules taken by the Quarternaster's Department.
ARMY SUPPLIES.
| The act OF Congress Oh The subject Of adver-
| tising for supplies for the various departments
| OF the Government was designed to correct a
great public evll-a system OF corrupt fayorIt-
ism in Government contracts. To prevent the
provisions OF the act from operating preiudicral-
| ly to the Government in cases Of unforeseen
l---5--s-y 5gszss-
versal application; and The exception, permit
| ting contracts TO be made without advertising
for proposals 10 cases where ''lmmediate dsLiDe-
! ry," has left the enforcement of the law to the
option of the public officer on whose Integrity
the law IS, III the man, dependent for It's eff
cheney. Ii he would act corruptly, he will,
under the exception, fail 10 invite competition.
But the exception was necessary and, at the
| beginning of the present nalIonai difficulties,
the purchase OF supplies at once, to meet the
wants OF an army suddenly brought into The
! field, was unavoidable. No Sagacl1us foresight
! could, In the ordinary course OF events, have
! guarded against ii aud IN Judging the acts of
puoiIc officers, In connection with the questions
ct integrity and economy, the extraordinary
emergency must be considered. Yet The Com
mlttee are compelled to state that, either thro'
corrupt motives, or for want OF reasonable
prudence, the act Of Congress has been almost
dead letter, even in that large class OF cases
where It might have been property applied.
Immense supplies, both in the Navy as well as
the War Department, tile necessity for which,
IN the ORDINARY ol ;hlngs, was easily fore
seen, have been purchased privately, under con
tracts expressed OF implied, without any compe-
tltion b1ing invited. In one important division
Of the army lne Westerly the law has been al
most totally disGegarded, and even the safeguard
OF the responsibility Of public officers has, in
many cases, been unnecessarily removed by the
employment Of Irresponsible agents in the pur-
chase OF large quantities Of supplies, even where
responsible and experienced aud upright public
officers were ~ position 10 perform The requl-
red duty. 4 vast amount Of supplies have been
made on what Is called 'a reqplstion" III the
Western Department, especially, ''requisitionS''
have ppled the place of contracts, and were
generally IN the following form;
HEADQUARTERS, QUARTERMAsrERs' DGp'T,
ST. LOUIS, September ,, 1861.
Messcs. LIVINGSTON, BELL S Co. will furnish
QuarteTmasters' Department with-5 600 pairs
OF cavalry boots, 5000 suits infantry uniforms.
5000 canteens, 10000 infantry hats, 10000
army shoes, 10000 army overcoats, 5000 KNAPP
sacks, 10000 pairs socks, 10000 undershirts,
larmy paltcrn.) All to be made of the best
material, and conform TO army regulations and
requirements; the cost OF manufacture, mate
ria and transportation TO be furnished to this
department, upon which the quartermaster will
allo" TAR mercantile profit 10 the contrat =.
MesSrs. l.. B. & Co.
]. McKINsTRY, I
Major and QUarermaster.
"A true copy:
II. w. q. CLEMENTS, Chief Clerk.
Ga such Tequisii ions a single firm in ST. Lou
1.-The firm Of Child, PIatt & Fox-furnished /
lm time TO time, ordinary army supplies 10 (
lhFalue of over $500 600, apparently with
Quite price of single article being previous
~ 'termued. What is meant in these Gre
customs as "a fair mercantile proft' NAV {
oe Juged Of by the testimony Of Mr.. James P.
Gogha, the book-keePer Of the firm of Child,
Fralt ad Fox, who testified as follows
! "Qaaion. What would be the per cent of .
! Proht ouhat sale OF blankets?
Answs About forty cents