cient amount for the supply of their regular customers, and therefore it was necessary for this officer to make some immediate arrangement for furnishing this article. Mr. B. F. Tuttle, a grocer of this city, informed Mr. Mansur's Assistant that he had an arrangement by which he could get coffee parched, ground and sacked, and as many pounds returned as he furnished of green coffee, and that he would be enabled to furnish the same at 13 1/2 cents per pound, although he had refused to take less than 15 cents for what he had on hand when Mr. Mansur first wanted to purchase. Mr. Mansur accepted this proposition and accordingly Mr. Tuttle employed Mr. Herman Bollman to do the work, and he swears that in roasting, grinding and packing coffee, it looses from 16 to 25 per cent, in weight and that to make up for this loss, and pay him for his labor and expenses of packages, boxes, &c., he put 45 pounds of parched beans in each sack of of green coffee, and that he made for his profits, twenty pounds of green coffee, for each sack of green coffee thus prepared; we are therefore inclined to the opinion that the coffee was much more adulterated from a comparison of the testimony of the soldiers of the worthless character of this article, and their statements in relation to an article of ground coffee, furnished by Mr. Andrew Wallace, manufactured at Columbus, Ohio. The coffee, after being prepared by this man Bollman, was ordered by the Commissary General to be put up in 12, 14 and 16 oz packages, as the Assistant Commissary alleged, for convenience in distributing. The 12 oz. packages were counted out at their actual weight, and the 14 oz. for one pound. We are at a loss for any reason for the adulteration of this coffee, at considerable trouble and expense, when, according to the testimony of witnesses, that it is a well known fact to grocery dealers, that beans and peas ruin and spoil the coffee prepared in this way, nor does it seem that the Commissary or Tuttle made anything by this operation, a criminal practice, and crying evil that should be condemned rather than encouraged. The meat, with the exception of the bulk shoulders, has generally been a fair article. The bulk shoulders referred to have been furnished by the Commissary General out of his own pork-house, and the complaint of the soldiers has been nearly universal of its inferior quality; that a large portion of it was light, and that if was all very salty, not well cured, and generally in a bad condition. There is evidence that other meat was occasionally bad, but we regard this as an unavoidable accident. The beans hare generally been of a poor quality, a good portion of them being entirely worthless. A part of the dried fruit has also been very bad; but this is now remedied, and a good article is being furnished. The testimony shows that there are no further well grounded complaints as to the quality of provisions.
THE MANNER OF MAKING PURCHASES.
The Commissary General deserves great credit for the zeal and energy which he has displayed in making purchases in his department at the lowest market price, with the single exception of the meat furnished by himself and brother. The testimony shows conclusively that he did all in his power to produce competition in the market, and to purchase all other articles at the lowest cash price; but that he made no offer to any one to furnish pork until he was told by Israel McTaggart that if he did not afford him an opportunity to furnish a part of the pork meat he would expose him in the public prints, when after making some further objections about Mr. Murphey, the inspector, making contracts for the purchase of pork, he consented to purchases being made of other parties. Mr. Mansur had been furnishing his own meatbulk shoulders at 6 cents per pound, and bacon shoulders at 7 cents per pound, when all purchases since have been made for bulk shoulders at 5 12-100 cents per pound, and bacon shoulders at 6 12-100 cents per pound, and the testimony is that plenty of good quality could have been purchased at this price, if not at less rates. It is but just to Mr. Mansur to state that he refused at all times to sell for a less price than he furnished for the State; but he should, instead of remarking as he did to Mr. McTaggart, that the Commissary's duties were hard, and if there was anything to be made by the sales, he had as good a right to make it as any one, he should have used the same dilligence to procure the pork on as good terms for the State as any other article of provision. The meat furnished by Mr. Mansur was weighed by his brother, and no accounts kept except the vouchers and a cash account, therefore we have no means of ascertaining the correctness of the weights. Mr. Mansur's brother swears that it was correctly done.
THE ACCOUNTS.
We find no errors in the accounts except for the sum of $166 48, for which the proof was not satisfactory, and we are unable to find the person purporting to execute one of these vouchers. We have no doubt but that it is a forgery perpetrated on the Commissary. When the matter was brought to the notice of the Commissary, he withdrew the vouchers numbered 323, 538, 550 1/2, 562, 567 page: 150[View Page 150] and 597, covering the above amount, for the purpose of investigating the same, and says "unless a full explanation can be had, he will never present them for payment, as he intends the State shall lose nothing thereby." The Commissary has been in the habit of taking from a part of his customers two receipts for payment for the same articles; and at the same time, some of the witnesses say one of these receipts was blank, and eme testify that both were filled up alike. The design of this officer in taking these receipts in this, was undoubtedly that one should be a duplicate for the purpose of retaining in his own hands, and that the original should be filed in the office of the State auditor as a voucher, but the manner of taking them, no indorsement of duplicate being made theron, has given rise to various charges of his designs to bring in double claims. This, with the fact of his withdrawing a part of the vouchers from the Auditor's office, after the committee commenced their investigation, made it necessary for us to examine the books of the persons furnishing provisions, where any such books have been kept, and making a careful comparison of the accounts with the vouchers on file.
WHAT IS LEFT UNDONE.
We have been unable to investigate the ration receipts, for the reason that there has been no book account kept of them. The receipts are on on file, but the book-keeper of the Department swears that it would take two weeks to exam'ne them; and there are no means of ascertaining what amount of provisions are on hand without making an inventory. There being nothing in the office showing this fact, for these reasons it is impossible for the committee to report whether all of the provisions have been faithfully applied to the use of the troops, but your committee know of no facts tending to impeach the honesty of the Commissary General in this respect. We herewith append a list of the vouchers, with the numbers, date and amount of each, that we have investigated, amounting in all to the sum of $22,798,23 after deducting the numbers specified as not satisfactory. We also append a statement of the amount of money drawn by the Commissary to date of report, amounting to $32,047,55.
We also append to this report the testimony of Lieut Jefferson C. Davis, the Government Commissary at this time for this State, showing that he estimates the cost per man for each day at a small fraction over sixteen cents, for regular army rations.
We can not close this report without remarking that the haste with which the troops were brought together, and the large amount of provisions necessary for a supply, and the number of inexperienced persons necessarily employed in attending to the troops, rendered mistakes unavoidable, and that no person connected with the department ought to be censured, unless mistakes have occurred through fraud, ignorance or wilful neglect. We herewith append the testimony taken in our investigations. We would however remark that we have, in addition to the testimony taken of the soldiers, visited nearly all the companies and received their statements, which correspond in every particular with the testimony taken. We have also personally inspected the provisions on hand in the Commissary's department, and have come to our conclusions as set forth in this report, from personal inspection as well as from the testimony.
All of which we most respectfully submit. JAMES S. HULL, T. J. CASON, ROBERT PARRETT, HORACE HEFFREN.
STREET RAILROADS.
Mr. BEESON, from the Committee on Corporations, returned Senator Newcomb's bill, [No. 28] introduced yesterday, recommending passage without amendment.
On motion by Mr. NEWCOMB, the bill wag considered as engrossed and read the third time.
Mr. MARCH, by unanimous consent, amended the bill by adding: "Sec. 11. This act may be amended or repealed at the discretion of the Legislature."
The bill then finally passed the Senate by yeas 32, nays 4.
QUARTERMASTERS AND COMMISSARIES.
Mr. MELLETT, by consent, introduced a bill [S. No. 38] entitled "An Act requiring quartermasters and commissaries to execute an official bond, and directing where the same shall be filed," which was read the first time.
RAILROAD TAXATION.
Mr. CONNER offered a resolution "that the Committee on Finance be instructed to inquire whether there are any defects in the law for the assessment and collection of taxes, whereby unjust discriminations have been made, and if so, that they report by bill or otherwise."
Mr. CONNER. I learn that the Auditor of State has instructed County Auditors to omit railroad property in the assessment-of taxes for township purposes, which is manifestly wrong. All property should be put upon the same footing.
The resolution was adopted.
DECENDENT ESTATES.
Mr. CLAYPOOL introduced a bill [S. No. 39] entitled "A bill to amend the 12th section of an act regulating decenderits and the apportionment of estates, approved May 14th, 1852," which was read the first time.
ATTORNEY GENERAL.
Mr. CLAYPOOL introduced a bill [S. No. 40] entitled "An Act to amend sections 6 and 7 of an Act entitled 'An Act providing for the election, fixing the compensation and prescribing the duties of the Attorney General of the State of Indiana,' approved February 21, 18-55," which was read the first time.
REAL ESTATE OF DECEASED PERSONS.
Mr. DE HART introduced a bill [No. 41] entitled "a bill for the execution of conveyances by commissioners in case of deceased venders of real estate," which was read the first time.
RAILROAD COMPANIES.
Mr. COBB introduced a bill [No. 42] entitles "An act to amend an act providing for serving process upon the officers, directors, attorneys or agents of any Railroad Company, approved March 4th, 1853," which was read the first time.
page: 151[View Page 151]SALARIES OF CLERKS, SHERIFFS AND ATTORNEYS OF COURTS AND COUNTY OFFICERS.
Mr. MARCH introduced a bill [No. 43] entitled "A bill to ascertain the amount of the fees and salaries of the Clerk of the Supreme, Circuit and Common Pleas Courts of this State, of the Sheriff of the Supreme Court and of the various counties in this State, of County Auditors, Treasurers and Recorders, of Circuit and District Prosecuting Attorneys, and to provide punishment for a violation of its provisions," which was read the first time.
LEVEES AND DRAINS.
Mr. CONNER introduced a hill [S. No. 44] entitled "An act to authorize the construction of levees and drains, and the improvement of any river, creek or other water courses," which was read the first time.
THE STATE PRISON AT MICHIGAN CITY.
Mr. DICKINSON introduced a bill [S. No. 45] entitled "An act to amend an 'act entitled an act to provide for the erection of a new prison north of the National road, election of officers therefor, making appropriation, and for the regulation of the same,' approved March 5, 1859, so as to provide for the appointment, of officers thereof,'' was read the first time.
SECOND READING OF BILLS BY TITLES ONLY.
On motion by Mr. DE HART, the rules were suspended - yeas 39, nays 3 - in order that the bills numbered 39 to 45 inclusive, may be read the second time by title only.
The bills S No. 39, 40, 41, 42 and 43 were severally read the second time by title only, and ordered to be engrossed for the third reading.
Senator Conner's bill [S. 44] was referred to a select committee, which the PRESIDENT makes to consist of Senators Conner, Shields and Mellett.
Senator Dickinson's bill [No. 45] was referred to the Judiciary Committee.
ASSESSMENT FOR TAXATION.
Mr. SHOEMAKER introduced a bill, [S. No. 46] entitled "An act to amend section 123 and 136 of an act entitled 'an act to provide for the valuation and assessment of the real and personal property, and the collection of taxes in the State of Indiana, for the election of township assessors, and prescribing the duties of assessors, appraisers of real property, county treasurers and auditors, and of the Treasurer and Auditor of State,' approved June 21, 1852, and to repeal sections 138, 139 and 140 of said act;" which was read the first time.
CLAIMS FOR SUPPLIES TO TROOPS.
Mr. HULL offered the following joint resolution: [S. No. 6.]
A joint resolution requiring the Inspector General to audit and allow the claim of Chester Falkland for supplies furnished Capt. B. F. Myers' company in the county of Ripley.
Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
SEC. 1. The Inspector General be, and he is hereby required to audit and allow the claim to Chester Falkland, of the county, of Ripley, for supplies furnished the company of Capt. B. F. Myers, of said county, which said company was retained and quartered in said county of Ripley, in pursuance to the instructions of the Adjutant General.
SEC. 2. That it shall be the duty of said Inspector General to investigate said claim and allow the same, provided said allowance shall not exceed per capita, more than the cost of keeping troops at either of the camps at the Capital.
Mr. HAMILTON moved to amend so as to insert the companies of Captains Humphrey and Link, of the county of Allen.
Mr. CARNAHAN moved to indefinitely postpone the bill and amendment.
Mr. SLACK. Capt. Myers was told to rendezvous his troops, and supply them the same as they would have been supplied had they been here at the Capital. Under these circumstances the claim is unquestionably correct, and they should be paid the same that it costs to keep the troops here, for they were detained by virtue of the order of the Commander-in-Chief of the army. I understand the object of the mover of the resolution to be to have the resolution referred to the Committee on Claims.
Mr. CARNAHAN. I have no objection to its going to a committee, and I will withdraw my motion.
Mr. HAMILTON. I do not offer any factious opposition to the resolution. The Adjutant General ordered the company from Allen county not to come till further orders, but to hold the company in readiness. They were kept three weeks at the expense of the city, and I shall insist upon my amendment, including the companies of Capts. Humphrey and Link, of the county of Allen.
Mr. CLAYPOOL. I shall move to amend by including Capt. Marsh's company, from Fayette.
Mr. MILLER. Capt. Bailey's company, of Plymouth, was held in the same way as the companies of the Senator from Alien [Mr. Hamilton,] and were finally ordered to be disbanded. I suppose this case to be as meritorious as any other, and I move to amend by inserting Capt. Bailey's company.
The PRESIDENT. There is an amendment to an amendment now pending. The amendment proposed by the gentleman from St. Joseph [Mr. Miller,] is out of order at this time.
Mr. CLAYPOOL. I will incorporate the company named by the Senator from St. Joseph, in my amendment; and also the company suggested [soto voce] by the Senator from Cass, [Mr. Dehart.
On motion of Mr. WILLIAMS the joint resolution and pending amendments were laid on the table.
And then the Senate adjourned.
