The national Republican., 1869-02-04
s3,112 AZ


& O'Toole are S9.45H below Coyle & Tow
ers, while in the aggregate total they arc
S4,9l2.1S above them.
1t was by this system Of bidding the sta
tionery contracts were given to Dempsey Il
O'Toole, whose bids aggregated $32, ,S5O.S6,
instead of Blanchard d Mohun, whose bids
aggregated ss,8l6.97.
Another method has been to have good
understanding at the source of orders, and
have them shaped for your benefit, calling
for few, If any, goods where your bid is be-
low cost, and for large orders where the
profits are large; to be sure and have a large
stock OF all such ordered at the close of your
contract, and change your bidding next time,
going below cost where you have oyerstocked.
The great reliance for profits, however, Is in
the purchases outside the contract schedule,
which, for the Interior Department, (exclud-
ing the Patent Ohice,) has been about Is
per cent, and In the Patent Office near 75
per cent. All articles not In the schedule
are charged ut fabulous prices, though the
contract provides they shall be furnished at
the lowest market rates. A recent order
from the Patent Office for 30 dozen gold pens
with silver handles was not complied with,
and became q subject of correspondence be-
tween the Secretary of the Interior and the
Commissioner Of Patents on account Of Its
extravaganza, when 1t appeared that 80
dozen gold pens with silver handles by the
contract cost but s2.10, and less than fifteen
dozen wooden pen-handles.
The greatest abuses have been In the Pa
tent Office, where heretofore Congress has
exercised no control over the expenditures.
We find that, In violation of the express pro-
visions Of the law, blank books have been
procured, from July /, 1867, to August 81,
1868, amounting to s1s, ,20l .02, and at prices
outrageously exorbitant. We also find that
they have procured printing against law, and
In defiance Of 1t, to the amount Of $32 ,329,
at prices which become staggering by their
extravaganza. This was the practice under
Mr.. Theaker and continued by Mr.. Stout.
When Commissioner Foote entered upon
| the duties of the office, his attention was
called to stationery bills for approval. Find.
| ing such quantities of goods charged, and at
such prices as to excite his attention, he
took time to make inquiries in regard to
them, and became convinced that the prices
were beyond reason, and the quantities un-
called for by the requirements of the office.
| Further examination convinced him great
frauds and abuses had been practiced In the
supplies. He made complaint to that effect
to the Secretary Of the Interior, who ordered
a commission to investigate his complaints
consisting Of B. F. James, Norris Peters
and L. W. W. Grifln-one appointed by the
contractors, one by the Commissioner, and
one by the Secretary. He discharged the
messenger, 8. j. Frasler, who certified to the
delivery Of the goods, and placed Mr.. Chas.
| X. Thomas In charge Of supplies and pur.
chases on the oath of September. He re-
quired all orders to be entered upon an ordei
book, and all heads of rooms to keep a pass
book, upon which their requirements were
entered, and the result is that the bills have
averaged less than t285 per month, with
abundant supplies, and a larger stock OF
hand In January than when the system wal
commenced in September. This does not In
clude blank books and printing, which ART
now procured where required by law. Th'
average bills for the three months preceding
this change was 81, ,99l IA, Of which a, 1855!
was for blank books and printing, or nea
fifteen times as much as the same article
now cost.
The inability of the Patent Office to &c
count for the articles paid for Is a still NOR
disagreeable matter to consider.
Forty-six caveat books have been charged
and paid for since February, 1868, at $40 ant
S41 each, while not one of them can be fount
In the office. This is book of printed form
u which could be of no use outside the Office
as testified by all parties.
Five hundred and eighteen thousand
printed blanks, consisting of letters, decl
slons, &C., were charged and paid for, whel
less than 2O0, 900 could be accounted for b.
the requirements of the office.
OF fe-wrappers, $4,000 were charged an
paid for at cost of $57 per thousand, an
after making liberal estimates for thos
used and on hand, $1,000 cannot be accounte
for.
or MANILA and large brown envelopes,
by l2, $4,000 were charged and paid for
while the quantity on hand and used coul,
not exceed 10000, leaving unaccountcd 70
105, 900.
OF cards for models, 900 were charge,
and paid for at $40 per thousand, while bu
40, 900 can be accounted for as used and Of
hand, leaving 10000 unaccounted for.
The above articles could be of no use any
where but in the legitimate business of III
Patent Office, as sworn to by all parties.
Vast quantities of other articles cannot b
accounted for In the ofiicej but as they Nigh
have been made useful elsewhere, may hav
| been purloined. We give q few cases of tn
many In evidences; OF eyelets, $50 boxe
were paid for, but only 800 boxes would b
required for the business of the office; A.
dozen press copy books bought and paid for
but none to be foundi 800 sheets Frencl
tracing paper bought-seldom, If ever, used
and u sheets on handi III reams yellow en-