Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-12-22
THE PUBLIC EXPENDITURES


The resolution of Mr.. Cox, instructing
the standing committee on Expenditures OF
Departments to proceed at once TO the dis
charge of their duties, giving them power
to send for persons and papers, and clothing
them with all the powers of committees OF
investigation, has a much greater signif-
canoe than was realized by the Republican
members. Under the one hundred and
fourth rule it is the duty of these committees
to investigate all expenditures, contracts,
etc., OF the Government; to search out all
cases of fraud in whatever department they
occur; and, in fact they have the power
to develop any and all matters. whether
in the Quartermaster's, COmmissary's, or
any of the other departments, in which
there is reason to believe that enormous
swindles have been perpetrated on the Gov
ernment. Heretofore these committees have
been merely ornamental. having become
practically obsolete. and have been used as
conveniences for shelving certain number
of the members opposed to the dominant
party. In fact, it has got TO be regarded as
a sort Of stigma to be placed on one of these
committees. Having no power to enforce
investigations, they seldom held meeting
during the session. Having now been
clothed with full powers to enable theinto
work effectively, it is understood that they
will proceed to execute their duties yigor-
ously, and the most important and astound-
ing disclosures are expected to be made i'm
the course of their investigations and de-
veloped in their reports. The resolution
was adopted by vote of eighty-nine to
seventy-nine, and its reconsideration laid
upon the table, SO that it will require two
thirds vote to again call it up.
rENrpIr ,r.rr TT NC prDopr f,f
There was very little opposition manifest
ed in the House to-day to Mr.. Cox's resolu-
ton calling upon the Secretary of War to
communicate to the House the report of
General Mcclellan of the operations of the
Army of the Potomac while under his COM
mand, and ordering the same to be printed.
1t is understood that the length of this re-
port has been greatly exaggerated, and that
1t will not exceed three hundred pages.
FERNANDO WOODS PEACE RESOLUTION.
The War Democrats who voted against
tabling Fernando Woods peace resolution
yesterday do not wish to be regarded as ia
voring it i'm the form in which it was offered.
They say that, had it not been tabled, they
intended to have offered amendments au-
thorizing negotiations with the States indi-
vidually; but they do not propose in any
way to recognize the bogus government at
I'm
THE CULTIVATION OF FLAX AND HEMP.
The commissioners appointed by the De-
partment of Agriculture for investigations
to test the practicability of cultivating and
flax and hemp as a substitute for
cotton, will hold their adjourned meeting
on the oath of February. In the meantime
all persons anxious to deyelope this subject
are requested to forward samples of hemp
and flax in different stages Of, preparation,
of the tibres and fabrics prepared by them,
accompanied by statements of the various
processes used and the.eost of production in |
each case; also descriptions of the kinds and |
cost of machinery used, where made, etc,
together with any and all information which
may be useful to the commission.