The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-12-28
The Arms Swindle.

The Arms Swindle.
We print to-day the history give1 by the
Joint Investigating Committee, in their re-
port Of the Ring swindles in connection
with the enrolment and organization OF the
militia, and the employment Of an armed
force "for the preservation Of the peace"
The State was profoundly Tranquil, but by
Joint Resolutions OF the General Assembly,
under date OF February 8 and March Is, 1869,
Governor Scott was authorized "to employ
ian armed force (of one hundred men or
"more) for the preservation OF the peace"
and "to purchase two thousand stand OF
earns Of the most improved pattern; pro-
"yided that serviceable and satisfactory
EARN cannot be procured from the United
States" The Adjutant- General 81 the
State, Speaker F. J. Moses, obtained without
difficulty from the Secretary OF War; General
Rawiins, ten thousand Springfield rifles as
gift to the State. There was, the efore, no
necessity nor authority for purchasing the
two thousand stands OF arms contemplated
BY the Joint Resolution OF March Is, 1869;
but one thousand Winchester rifles were Or
dered to be bought, and the ten thousand
Springfield rifles, as soon as delivered, were
semitic the North to be converted into
breech-loaders. The entire cost OF the or
ganization OF the militia, and OF the purchase
and alteration Of arms, is given, by the COM
mittee, as follows:
Eurolment sand organization of the
militia. ................ ............ .SlVo,4iL
Expenses of the armed force for the
preservation OF the peace. ..,..... 23,747
ouo- ruousuHs- w'ruvtrrutor- rievr- uITrr
ammunition. Observation-Disclosures. 3e,ie9
Adjutant- Generals Department. $4,000
State Constabulary 33,46S
Alteration of ten thousand Springfield
muskets and ammunition. ......... 2o2,602
Total. ......... ss4ZU,Vio
This amount, as shown by the committee,
is equal to a capitation ta.r Of 81 IS upon
the echole ootirg population of the State.
There was no earthly authority for the ex-
penditure of this vast sum. Where did the
money go tor The Joint Committee say
that the large sums, charged as militia ex'
penses, were used in paying the expenses OF
the friends and hired advocates OF Governor
Scott, TO secure arhoSe reelection, in 1870,
about one hundred thousand dollars Of the
State funds are belieced TO haze been en-
ployed
But the most glaring robbery is detected
by the committee in the job Of converting
the ten thousand Springfield muskets into
breech-loaders. The muskets were thor
oughly serviceable, and the only object in
converting them was to give Governor
Scott, Treasurer Parker aud Speaker Moses
what they call commissions, but which we
call ssstolen moneys OF the State" Con-
tracts were made with the Roberts Breech-
loading Arms Company for the conversion
OF five thousand muskets, at SIS S5 each, and
and with the Remington Arms Company for
the conversion OF the remaining five thou
sand muskets at 50 each; also, with the
American Metallic Ammunition Company
for one million cartridges at s37 thousand.
The amount OF the three contracts was
Roberts Arms Company. ......s 44,25O
Remington Arms Company. .......... $4,000
Metallic Ammunition Company. $1,000
Tota'. '................. ..'........ .sl-o'|oV
But the amount charged was S202, COZ.
What became of the difference of $4,000, il
we may assume that the sums contracted
for were really paid? The committee can
only say that they are assured that $50, 900
of the plunder was paid to Treasurer Parker.
The committee, however, print affidavits
showing that commission OF $4,000, upon
anomina outlay Of s2O2, 900, did not satisfy
the rapacity Of the Ring.
Mr.. Isaiah Woodbury., OF No. 4S Broadway,
New York, who was, at different times, the
Treasurer of the Roberts Arms Company
and of the American Ammunition Company,
swears that his company were furnishing
cartridges to other parties at S3l thousand
aC tle LlLne IL was aSieeu W supply SSot''
Moses & Co. at s37 thousand; that the
Roberts Arms Company gave receipts for
s44,25O, while they only received $500;
that the American Ammunition Company
gave receipts for s37, $50, while they only re-
ceived s2l, ,s17; that the actual work OF con-
vertiug the arms was to be done by the
Providence Tool Company, who were to be
paid Sc gun. The further statements OF
the Joint Committee enable Us to gauge the
plundering. For the work done by the
Roberts Arms Company there was nomi-
nally paid So SIS gun, but the amount
actually paid Was Sc so gun, viz: so
cents to the Roberts Arm Company and Sc
to the Providence Tool Company. For the
work done by the Remington Arms CON-