Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1802-07-28

the report, and as reaion for IecomtHlt-
ment. the fatement of cafe under the
former administration, and the omiillon OF
one precifely fimilar under the prelent, I
have felt myfelfjuai6edas the cafe Of Mr..
Tracy was itated in the report, to fate
the cafe to Mr.. DAYTON in the debate.
need fit fay very little, relative TO the
expence attending the erection of the Ia
boratory in the vicinity Of PhiladelPhia.
The fubje6t has been'well explained by
nv friend from Connecticut. The build
ing was neceaary for the prefervation OF
the arms and flores of the U. States, and
tie expence was therefore properly defray-
ed out of the appropriations for the Quar-
ter Matters department.
The gentleman from Maryland in jnRl-
flying the erection Of flores at Warrington,
has furnifhed ample authority for the
erection of the buildings near Philadel-
phia. The public flores lately built here,
are paid for out Of an appropriation for
making a wharf. The gentleman how
ever, has contended that the articles of ma
val equipment, could NOT be Ir ierved,
without the covering & protection flores,
and thence he infers an authority to erect
them. am not difpofed 20 quefion the
foundnefs of the argument, but it applies
with equal force in vindication Of the ex-
pence incurred, in erecting the flores, or
the laboratory as it has been called, which
it the fubject of animadyeriion in the re-
port. We commended on the committee,
that the cafe of the flores erected in this
city, ought alto to be fated in the report,
on the fame ground with that of the labo-
| ratory, but ditinetions Satisfactory to the
mind of the majority, excluded it.
ak pardon for having detained the
houle 70 long at this late hour. The fub-
jetf is of comfortable importance, and |
confels, have felt not little anxiety, to
prevent falle impreilion being made by
the report upon fome points. fee no
realon which ] had the means OF explain.
ing, why gentlemen fhou!d NOT agree to
the recommisment. 1t is not propoled to
act upon the report this felton,. The COM
| mittee coafels their talk is very imper-
fealy executed. Why fend out fuch an
| unhnifhed work to the world? Sub jea it
10 the labor of another FELTON,. Five
| months, were icarcely Efficient to enable
the Committee to unfold the papers, which
they were ALIGNED to examine. In FIVE
years they could acquire, bat an imper-
feet knowledge OF the feyeral accounts on
the files of the different Offices. Upon
yaf fubjea our time has been occupied
with very fmall details. We have look
ed into half dozen accounts, and dilcov-
cred a few objectionable expenditures. But
as TO the application of the millions, drawn
from the trealury, for the fervice of the
different departments, II is till covered
with the duff of the Offices.
/ mutt confefs, that according to my
view, a committee, is altogether made
quate to the talk aligned to the committee
of Inveltigation. In my opinion, the bu-
hnefs belongs to the fecretary of the trea-
fury, or if you ditruf him, create a fand-
ing commifion, with powers equal to the
object. Wewere charged to examine In
to the accounts of ali the public money,
which had ever been drawn from the trea-
fury. Our duty confines US the greater
part of the day to the floor of this houfe.
How was it pofible for committee offe-
ven,. having every thing to learn, with
the fragments of their hours, to accom-
plilh an object which would require the
regular work Of years. conceive the
fubje6, if gentlemen have ferrous impref-
iions with refped to it, lhould be fent TO
the fecretary OF the treafury. He has al
ready more knowledge relative to it, than
committee would acquire during whole
congrels; and if any Important diicove-