The committee was formed due to controversy surrounding a committee report filed by
Representative Charles Van Wyck, a
Republican from
New York. Rep. Van Wyck, as the former chairman and a member of the
Select Committee on Government Contracts submitted a report on March 3, 1863, with his minority views of the committee's final report submitted previously that day. Rep. Van Wyck was no stranger to criticism, as was the entire Government Contracts Committee during its existence. Van Wyck had been deposed as committee chair after periodic absences from the committee and other activities. which per instruction were to be inspected by the other committee members. However, when the time came to review the report, it was nowhere to be found. The new committee chairman
Elihu B. Washburne,
Republican from
Illinois, objected to Van Wyck's report and its printing, claiming it had been "abstracted," or removed, from the clerk's office. However, the committee was appointed shortly before the House adjourned
sine die, so it had no time to report on its findings. ==Members==