The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1885-1888, 1885-05-19

contract. / replied to that letter on the
2Sth. See exhibit X. | had experienced
trouble and delay in having certain ofmy
vouchers passed upon by the Department,
which had involved me in loss and delay,
and had deprived me of the resources re-
CURED to close with most favorable pur-
chase at low figure. This had to some
extent embarrassed pc in my business.
But responded to the demand, by de-
liverics on the 2Sth, Both and 31st of Jan
uary; on the 9TH and Dist of February,
and on the 9th of March. On tile
10Th of May l received from the
chief of the bureau q percmp-
2. Crippled as | was by the un-
necessary delay of receiving my payments
from the Department, | responded with
deliveries on the 9th of May and 18th Of
June under both contracts. See exhibit
q, parts and Q. And on June 30 made
the last delivery under the contract of
1889. Exhibit c. On the goth of October,
n portion Of my contract of 1883 being I'M
delivered, | received peremptory letter
from the chief of the bureau informing me
that unless made immediate delivery the
articles would be purchased in open
market at my risk. See exhibit VI. To
this demand responded with delivery
on the 29th of October The chief of the
bureau then went into open market and
sary to meet the demands of the service.
These articles ] paid for ut Il great loss
upon my contract, viz, $500 per barrel.
And now | desire to state that my total
losses upon the contract of 1883 amounted
to Sl.44 per barrel on the 800 barrels of
pork and will amount to 81 .35 per barrel
ON 500 barrels of beef, or q total loss of
$685.. ! was pcrcmptorily ordered to buy
upon losing market by the very official
with whom ! am alleged to be in colu-
sion, and he involved me in the loss above
stated. But it was not convenient for the
1VCrlFs correspondent to pursue this con
tract, as it did not suit his purposes.
Finally desire to show why was slow
in delivering the contract of 1888, as my
character as q dealer and contractor are
there involved.
There are two causes: First. The scare
ty of the pork and beef in the New York
market; and secondly, the rejection of ar
ticles which ! brought and rendered to the
inspector and which were rejected, al
though Ward & Co., the largest and most
responsible inspectors in New York, GER
tilted that the goods were up to the re-
quircmcnts of the specifications.
In the early part of 1884 the inspectors
were asking for deliveries, and in the
spring of 1884 the chiefof bureau was urg-
ing me to comply with my contract. did
my utmost to comply. telcgraphcd con
York for the articles needed, and call
attention now to exhibit n and maintain
that the correspondence therein contained
from my broker and buyer will amply
show the difficulties of the market and
the scarcity of the articles contracted for
by me. This correspondence compared
with the date of demands by the INSPECTOR
and by the chief of the bureau will show
that | made honest efforts to meet every
requisition made upon me by them. And
the scantiness of the pork market contin-
ucd through 1884 at intervals between
January and November.
Two deliveries We're refused by the in
spector for the Government at New York,
although the articles were inspected with
the utmost care by Ward IL Co.
And now / have no more to say with
regard to these contracts Fully and faith
fully | have told all that could be said.
have now and ever have had moth
ing to conceal in my transactions with the
Government. My books, papers, CORE
spondence are all ut the service of the de.
partment mt any and all times. ! invite
the fullest investigation and closest
scrutiny.
Some such trouble as this has occurred ia
me ut intervals for the past fifteen years,
with the installation of each new admin
istration. ! presume it will continue to
occur rs long as | deal in Government
St'pIIitSi anu o'liNi iil'i llttItStctl
parties behind them desire to break up
my business that theirs may thrive ON its
ruins.
] beg your pardon for this very lengthy
intrusion upon your time. Nothing of less
Importance than my integrity would have
induced me to crave your indulgence in
this plea for my good name and business
standing. Very respectfully
Your obedient servant,
AUSTIN =. Brown,
Commission merchant, general dealer and
contractor for Government supplies, 1i2j
+ street northwest, Washington, ID. G..
TO Hon. w. G. WHITNEY,
Secretary of the NAVY