Through  this  trio  of  "director,"  "superintendent,"  and  "agent,"  the  steam-
boat business  of  the  government  seems  to  have  been  conducted.  Boats  were
purchased  and  charteri-d  without  advertisement  or  chance  of  competition.  The
ownere  of  boats  which  had  been  "hid.  np"  from  the  troubles  of  the  country
suddenly  found  their  rates  advanced  by  these  unsalaried  officers  to  those  nsnal
in  prosperoas  times.  Thb  liberality  was  extended  yet  farther,  and  "deck  1"""^^
before  contentedly  working  at  815  per  month,  had  th«r  vagee  in  the  United


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WIB  CLAIVS  AT  8T.   L0MI8.  11

States  service  nised,  without  Holidtation,  to  830.  Of  the  Beveral  cluaes  of  boats
employed,  that  in  which  the  crewe  and  BubBistence  were  sapplicd  by  the  United
States,  appears  to  have  presented  uniiBual  opportunities  for  speculation.  The
commandeis  were  appointed  by  the  "superintendent,"  wbOi  in  a  large  majority
of  cases,  bargained  to  have  half  the  profits  of  enbaieting  the  crew,  the  allowance
ibr  which  was  fixed  by  himself.
It  is  quite  probable  that  emei^encies  may  have  existed  requiring  deviation
irom  the  ordinary  routine  of  the  army  regulations  in  piocnnng  boats,  and  if
Bucb  had  appeared — which  they  did  not — in  the  evidence  given  before  the  com-
mis^ioD,  duo  allowance  would  have  been  made.  With  the  knowledge,  however,
which  we  have  as  to  the  stagnation  of  the  steamboat  intcreste,  the  abundance  of
suitable  steamers  out  of  employment,  and  the  high  prices  paid,  we  cannot  with*
stand  the  conviction  that  the  operations  of  this  branch  of  the  service,  under  the
supervision  of  the  officer*  named,  were  marked  by  looseoese  and  improvidence.
