The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-05-09

Mr. JONES said In reply that he was willing TO
concur IN the amendment proposing an appsopria
ion sufficient To cover the whole amount due 20 the
laborers ~ work t4F
Il appeared, however, that while the Committee
and Chairman prepared TO pay the debts to the
workmen they opposed to appropriatng any thing
for the continuance of the work and putting up the
materials already here. The building commenced,
and continued thus far, at great expense, to
ce stopped from the miserable motive presenting
low estimates
The course of the administration in wasting 10
much money useless projects and leaving the
public buildings to be suspended, powerfully cx-
posed by Messrs. Adams, Stanly, Lincoln Thomp-
son and Marvin
The amendment for increasing the appropriation
from S5 600 to $iO5 900 to provide for the pay
ment Of the Governments debts to the workmen and
also for the preservation and continuance Of the
building, was adopted. The burden of making this
appropriation was thrown the House The Sc
cretary from the demagoguc desire Of presenting the
estimates lower than the wants Of the Government
demand, and with view to deceive the people into
the idea that the administration u really for econo-
my, asked for only @5l O00nine thousand less than
was actually due to the workmen and asked for
nothing to carry the work on the building The
Executive and his Cabinet would prefer that the
work should stop-that the materials already procur-
Cd for il should be destroyed, and the building itsrf
70 down, rather than they loss chance Of making
conference.-the deonsfrafion Of economy; for il all
on the surfncc-there is nothing real in it.
The item Of appropriation for the furniture of the
Presidents house, the grounds &c, was next
sidered
Mr. OGLE, of Pennsylvania spoke at considerable
length contrasting the lavish expenditure for the above
purposes with the professions Of economy clamor-
ousy made by some of the supporters Of Mr.. Van Blu
ren and with the practices under the administration
Of Mr.. Adams, which was put down on the principle
that there necessity for retrenchmen and reform
in these very particulars.
After some remarks from Mr. Lincoln, Of Mass,
and brief rejoindcr from Mr. Ogle, the committee
passed to the other items Of appropriations many Of
which were agreed to without discussion.
of the Diplomatic Representatives, of the nation abroad
being taken up, Mr.. Jones moved an amendment, the
purpose of which was 10 provide for Charge dAE
fairies at Spain instead Of Minister.
debate arose, which was continued until eleven
o'clock, when the Committee rose without taking the
question,
The following items of the Civil and Diplomatic
Bills were passed by the House
For the payment of artists engaged in executing
four historical paintings for the Rotunda, 49, 900
For statues to Persico and Greenhough, $4,000.
For the Penitentiary in the District Of Columbia,
$l4, 1900.
For the payment Of the expenses growing out Of
the sixth census, $725, 600.
For surveying the public lands, $2l5 600
For closing the survey Of the public lands $l8 $40
For retracing certain old surveys of public lands
$1,000
For completing the surveys Of unfinished por
600
For surveys in Louisiana, $40, 900
For completing the New York Custom House,
Slls,7 TOO
For the Boston Custom House, $i2l 900
After which the House adjourned