The Chattanooga Daily Rebel. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1862-1864, 1863-03-25
Ratos Of Advertiaing.
WEDNESDAY MORNING. MARCH IS. 1869

w EDNESDAY MORNING. MARCH IS. 1869
We perceive that the Sennte has passed
bill in reference to the bonds off Quarter
masters and Commissaries, to which we
wish to Invite attention, and upon which We
have tome remarks to make The follow
: ing is tho bill as it passed tn. Senate;
The Congress of the Confederate States OF
america do enact, That hereafter tho bonds Of
qlarterrnasters and commissaries of the Con-
iederate States shall be executed according to
the following form or effect. to-wit:
Confederate sStafes Of America:
Know all men by these presents. that we.
A b, Of the State OF ----, and county Of
f., as principal, and d and E F, Oh.
as sureties. acknowledge ourselves to be
bound to tho Confederate States of America,
ia tine penal sum Of -= dollars, for the pay
ment Of which We jointly and severaIy bind
ourselves. our heirs, executors and admRis
tratsrs, by these presents. Sealed with our
seals and dated this --- day of r-, in
the year of our Lord one thousand eight hun
dfed aud -
"The object Of This bond is TO secure the
Confederate States Of America in the true and
I faithful discharge Of the above found in
~of the Office of to which he has
been legally appointed, and the duties ofwllich
he has undertaken to discharge. and we 10
hereby agree with the Confederate States
Aforesaid. that no viii fully account for all
moneys or property that have come. or may
come to his possession or control under any
order, commission, appointment or re appoint
rnent as aforesaid, IN such
manner or for4n as may be prescribed by law,
and that the delivery Of this bond by either of
the signers shall tender it obligatory upon all.
This being done. this obligation 10 be void
otherwise to haye4ullforce and effect
SEAL
= SIC. 2. That tho bonds of all quartermas-
ters or commissaries for posts brigades OF
divisions shall be given for the penal sum of
not less than fifty thousand, nor more than OF Q
hundred thousand dollars"
Now whilst we are in favor of any mea-
sure that will tend to prevent fraud in these
departments, as our columns will show, we
ask will this bill have that effect, Will it
not rather increase than diminish the evil.
The amount of the bond whether it be for
one hundred thousand or even million of
dollars does not prevent fraud, where the
parties are disposed to engage in it. The
officer who lets out large contracts, and be-
comes partner in them, will not be affect
ell by the size of the bond: Again, an
officer who pays ono price and takes re-
ceipt for greater sum, will not be deferred
from 50 doing by the amount of his bond.
Suppose an officer should use public funds
in private speculation, and thereby realize
large fortune, the fact that she had given
bond for FIVE hundred thousand dollars
would not injure him. because it would be
difficult to prove that lie had used the pub
lie money in that way, and then if it were
proved he would be enabled by his specula-
tions to return to the Government all he
had taken. Suppose an officer should buy
million bushels of corn at one dollar a
bushel, and should use one hundred thous-
aud bushels for private speculation, getting
for it three hundred thousand dollars.
Here the government would get its money
back, and the officer woul make two hun
dred thousand dollars for himself He
might take no receipts showing that he
bought the one hundred thousand bushels
for the Government, or if he did he might
destroy them, and now let US ask would the
amount of his bond interfere with this ar
rangement. Whenever these officers prove
to be defanlters, then the amount of the
amount of the bond becomes matter Of
some importance, but there is not one case
in five thousand, where this happens The
danger is that they will use the public
money for their own benefit, and then re-
turn it to the Government, taking only the
profits themselves. IF nan is disposed to
be swindler the amount of his bond will
not be in the way, because he can secure
his sureties. Dgainst all loss, and appropri-
ate the remainder to himself If Congress
could devise some means of detecting frauds
they could do much towards preventing
them, but merely increasing the amount Of
the bond will do more harm than good.
Under this bill, none but those who are
very wealthy, or who have very wealthy
friends can fill these Offices. An officer
$ may, in order to induce some men Of large
wealth to be sureties on his bond, agree 70
give them valuable contracts out Of which