, 1872-10-24

was no change, trade continuing dull at former
prices. Sheep were more active, and firm.
---%--=
THE sECoR FRAUD,
A1r. Trumbull, in his speech at Cairo, dig
posed Of Speaker Blaine's quasi defence Of the
investigation Of the great fraud committed by
the Navy Department in the secor claim.
The facts relating to that Secor case ought not
to be forgotten. In the year 1862, the Messra.
secor contracted to build three war vessels for
the Sum OF 81, $780, 900. In their construction
there was some alteration, for which the
secors asked s521, 1856 extra. They we're paid in
full, both the original price and the charge fof
extras, amounting to 81, ,901 1885, This was In
1864. and the Secor accounts we're closed. In
1865, the secors asked Congress for an additional
allowance, which Congress refused. resoln-
ton was passed, however, directing
Board Of Naval Officers to inquire no"
much vessels Of war contracted 1oT
in 2,-'63 cost the contractors oyer and aboTe
the contract price and allowance This Board, IN
1866, made report including great many cases,
and among others reported in favor OF paying
the Secors $119,O2 This report YVES rejectedby
Congress; and in March, 1867, a law was passed,
directing the Secretary to Investigate the claims
of all contractors for building vessels of war
prior to 1864, and ascertain and report the addl-
tional cost which waa necessarily incurred by rea~
SOD Of any changes in plans and delays OCCASION
ed by the Government, which we're not provided
for in the original contract deducting therefrom
whatever sums had been paid the contractors
over and above the contract price. The report
under this investigation allowed the secors S115-
5s9. Upon this report Congress, in July, 1863,
appropriated the money to pay the secors and
others the SUMS found due them, adding thereto,
which shall be in full discharge Of all claims
| against the United States on account of said
vessels" The Secors were paid this money.
/ There we're forty contractors having claims of
| the same kind Us the Secore, all Of whom we're
| paid in the same manner.
After Mr.. George ". Robeson became secre-
tary Of the Navy, he, without authority OF law,
appointed q new Board to investigate the claim
/ Of secor alone. He gave orders to open the
original claim OF the Secors, which had been
closed in the Department for over five years, and
which had again been closed by the act
Of Congress- The Board found that one Miles
| Greenwood, who had built vessel Of the same
kind built by the secors, had been paid S93,oo9
| more for extras than the secors had received :;
and the Secretary Of the Navy at once, without
any authority Of Law or any appropriation OF
money by Congress, drew his order on the
Treasury for that sum, and paid it over to the
secora. The money to pay the secors was
taken from fund appropriated by Congress to
pav the current expenses Of the Navy Depart
ment.
The fraud in this case was, that the whole
contract price and bill for extras was paid BY
the Department in 1864, and the account closed
the Department having, by law, no further con
, trol over it that Congress subsequently votet
!. an additional sum to forty contractors, inciud
ing the secors that the law appropriated
. the precise Gum to be paid to each, ant
| stimulating that it was In tnn OF al
claims on account Of those vessels. Th'
Navy Department, without further legislation
had no more power to allow or pay the secor
. auy more money than had the Comptroller
the City of Chicago. That the Secretary
angling out the secors from the forty contrac
: tors. not only opened their case, but allo"e'
I them s99,o0Q, on the plea that Congress ha'
/ eiven some other contractor more than it ha'
the secors. That the Secretary had no lega
. authority to use money, appropriated by Con
: grasa for one purpose, for another and very dlf
ferent purpose, and could not legally pay an
I money without the direction OF Congress and
: specific appropriation therefor. That Cong1es
: was in session when be paid thl
/ money, and it was within his power to nav
I asked the needed legialation and appropriation
? he had choaeu to do SO.
I That is the history Of the Becor fraud, which
I destined to stand, for all time to come, as IN
r frat nrecedent OF an established fraud to Wh1c
/ a ,nanher Of the Presidents Cabinet was an 81
? tive party, and Of which he was. fully cognazan
= In no other age of the Republic, and under
other Administration, would the Cabinet Office
guilty OF such an act, be retained an hour. r.
Il far less palpable, but perhaps in the aggrega
J" greater, frauds, A1r. Lincoln dismissed Sine
y Cameron from the War Department Tltho1
10 notice OF even explanation.
=
n THE CANADIAN HO4SEDI3EASE.
, The alarmingly virulent disease, which is no
"a raging among the horseH in many OF the 1are
=. cities Of the country, is spreading with Bo'
h rapidity that it has become 8 matter Of Il
ia gravest importance, and one which should COZ
70 mand the immediate attention Of all owners
horses, and especially Of the veterinary surgeon
u It's spread has become so rapid, that it may
o. termed an epidemic, and its results are fatal