Mr. Ends, although he is an honored citizen of my own Slate, until I know that he made nothing upon the other vessels that he constructed for the Government. such surely is not now my understanding. It may be so. I have had no conference with him on this subject except what. I havementioned, and that occurred a year or 2 ago. Now. Mr. President, notwithstandin these contractors may have eat something, think We ought not to not here in a matter of so much importance, a matter involving over 2 million dollars, without knowing whether we are disbursing it for the properparties or not without knowing that it is Justly their due and whether they are entitled to it as men who have done so well as the Senfrom Massa. chusetts claims. I recognize their claims. I recognize the great service they have rendered to the Government. But I apprehend that the most of them undertook this work with a view of making something upon it, that they made the contracts with a view of making money; and, as has been very properly said, these men are shrewd, capable men. They know very well how to may ie their contracts. If there was any action of the Government which caused them to lose, if by taking, as in the case of the Comanche, the machinery that was provided for that vessel and putting it in tact er vessel, they were delayedpin the construction of the vessel and loss was occasioned in consequence. I am perfectly willing to allow for it; but I will not allow it upon the report of this board. I cannot do it. I do not understand that it was appointed by a JtResolution of Congress. do not understand we are under any obligation whatever to confirm the awards made in their report. I do not understand that they have taken evidence such as they ought to have taken. I do not understand that both sides of this case have been heard. It is exceedingly difficult to get the truth even when both sides are heard, at you never get the truth when only one side has been heard, and I see nothing to satisfy me that more than one side has been heard in this whole investigation. It is yet to be shown that such is the fact. I have not seen it, and I have yet to learn it. No gentleman has stated it on the floor; and yet this bill is pertinaciously urged upon us. I cannot vote for it, and I hope other Senators will not vote for it until we are better prepared to do so.