Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-02-18
ed to whisky, shall also be applied to
ALn-.
THE ooEpuur OF TIE KAR.

war, have reached the conclusion tina
there was no occasion for any investigs
tion into Gen. stOughs course at Alexan
dris. He shut up the liquor shops on &C.
count of the soldiers, and the liquor.seIl
ers raised all the trouble.
1t is expected that a joint resolution
empowering Mr.. Chase to sell gold when
ever he chooses, will come up tomorrow
Mr.. KassOn of lows, in speakingot it to-
day, said that the operation Of the pres
ent system was to make Mr.. Chase the
biggest Bull in the market; that is, that
his being compelled to hoard these large
sums Of gold, had a constant tendency to
put gold up, end that it was this defect Of
our own laws, which in part accounts for
the present large premium on gold.
The Conference Committee on Conscrip.
tiou this evening agreed on a report which
will in all probability be promptly adopt
ed by both Houses. They retain the SEQ
tiOn drafting slaves, but provide that in
stead Of masters giving him q Deed Of
mHuumIssIon, ne SNAIL be free by law Of
the United States, on entering the service.
They also take the House section relative
to the $500 Communication, which payment
shall exempt that quota only; that is to
say, shall exempt probably for one year.
Garfield, of Nd, came before the cleo
ton Committee to-day, proposing to con-
test the seat Of Creswell, and asking to
have his memorial printed. Creswell pro-
tested vigorously, on the ground that he
had never given notice Of his intention to
contest, and it was now too late to procure
evidence. Crisfeld urged that the
military was such as to utterly violate the
election.
Garrett Davis continues running the
Senate. When he'll run down nobody
knows.
Mr.. Kasson has introduced bill pro
vlding that where Chsplsins, Quartermss-
ters or Suffers shall be doing active SER
vice ia any battle or skirmish, or shall be
killed or fatally wounded, the same pen
sions shall be allowed as in the case of
Second Lieulenants.
The following confrmations were made
in the Senate to-day; Edward H. Durrell,
to be Judge of the District Court for the
Eastern District Of California; Thomas
Veeley, Iowa, Register of the Land or
fee at DesMoins; J. Hirsh, Nebraska, Su-
perintendent of Indian Affairs for the Ter
ritory Of Utah John H. McMsnsgh, Cal
ifornia, to be Hospital Chaplain; Ralph
H. DsFr, nominated BY the President for
Receiver of Public Money in California,
was rejected by the Senate. The follow
ing nominations were made: Lauren
UpsOn, to be Surveyor General Of CslifOr-
MIA, and VIM. Irvine to be Consul at Lou
ensburg, Germany.
From communication from the Secre-
tary Of the Navy. concerning statements
of Bureau Offices relative to the mode OF
obtaining supplies. it appears that consid-
erable divergence from the contract sys-
TEN was obtained, resulting mainly from
the peculiar exigencies of the public SER
vice. In the Bureau Of equipments,
about forty per cent. of the purchases were
made in Opsn market mostly by navy
agents. In that Of Yards and Docks, forty
three per cent, attributed to the lateness
in The passage and approval of the appro-
pristion bill. The Chief Of the latter Bu-
reau notices disposition in some navy
agents to confer government patronage on
certain favored parties, and recommends
modification of the law regulating
naval supplies. In the Bureau of Navi
cation, it is deemed unsafe to attempt to
obtain nautical instruments and charts by
advertising for proposals. Most Of the
instruments formerly imported are ssmade
at home, since the beginning Of the war,
of better qualities than foreign work
Ships Libraries were bought by contract.
The purchases are made by contract in the
ordnance bureau, which is exempted from
the operation of the contract system now
regulating the department.
1t is suggested that the manufacturers
of ordnance being few in number might
combine if notified by advertising. Some
articles might be secured by contract with
we'll known manufacturers. In the Bu-
resu of Construction purchases are mostly
msde by contract but the novel and pecu-
liar character OF many vessels precludes
the possibility of making this the usual
custom.
1t is asserted that contractors combine
high and low prices in the came bid to
complieate the awards and deter others
from bidding; that middle men often un-
derbid manufacturers and that this ex-
clusion might lead to q combination Of
manufacturers. It also suggests that
guarantees that bidders who accept shall
fill contracts should be required,
and that classes embrace articles
of general character. The Chief Of
! Clothing Bureau recommends further leg
islation to exclude irresponsible and de-
signing parties, some of whom propose to
furnish half a million dollars in stores,
aud their bids must be taken, if the lowest
The Secretary furnishes draft of law
creating disbursing and purchasing
agents, naval store keepers, inspectors
and receivers, and prescribing the model