The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-02-17

unqualfedly negatives the provision OF the bill as
comes from the House, and we might JUST as Well
and Just much increase the appropriation from Ss9!o
to S2 000 to 25 900 II you please as 10 anopt is
amendment, If il carries with 1t this construction ana
that will and does carry with thus construction seems
stand in this respect precisely It came from the House.
and that nothing will be added to it.
MIR. DICKINSON. should have voted for the amend
ment of the from North Carolina Mr.. BADGER,]
had IT not been adopted without objection ! shall vote
for the amendment proposed by the senator from New
Jersey, [Mr. DAYToNl and, whether adopted or not,
shall then vote against the original proposition do not
know the of the OF this building and can
have prejudice or favortsm concerning him. but think
the very extraordinary character of his deserves
that few words be said about H. and will pro-
coed to say them This individual residing outof the Dis
tric OF his voion private enterprise uninvted
or unencouraged by government had the sagacity TO
and required great stretch OF that faculty to perceive
it-tha he could buildings here, aud rent them to
the government quadrupe the rent he could obtain
here or elsewhere OF individuals; and he and
erected this he had perfect right to do fashonng II
throughout for the OF the government and he now
seeks to set up and allege something in the form
of contract with the government through the agency
OF the Secretary of War. Sir, there was no con-
tract of any kind appearing upon the lace
known there was made, and none intended to be
made. He applied to the Secretary OF war upon tnat
subject and that officer answered hun in manner be-
coming his character for prudence and careful attention
to his duties and In substance that ne had no auhory
for the OF rooms, or to pledge the gov
eminent in any form or to any extent oat lnat Tue
CURED additional rooms; that II he should erect those
which suitable for government purposes, the Secre
tary would recommend to Congress that authority snou
be given rent such as wanted; and this is all
there OF IT, This gentleman, therefore, knew
for he inormed-that the Secretary did not pre-
tend to conlracthad authority TO contract, and dId
not contract, but expressly dsclaned dong so; and
yet he evidently seeks to call thus disclaimer con-
tract with the government Now, SIR the sooner TINS
hath n
bringing it TO a close at the earliest possible day For SO
brief acquaintance promises altogether too much TO
justify duration. The House OF representatives have
authorized the renting of sixty OF his rooms, which are
all the officers of the government deem necessary at one
hundred dollars each per annum, which partial occupa
ton gives him. it is said, between fifteen and twenty
lure, and dollars, I have no doubt, than he
could get shngs for another purpose of any other
tenant and yet he satisfied but begins to complain
of harshp in advance--to insist upon contract which
has been made; and because government is willing to
rent sixty which it wants, at four times what they
worth for any other purpose, he wishes to compel 1t
to rent thirty more which not wanted, at the same
rate and at the time commences entering wedge
for the ultimate sale of the building to the government
Now, sir ! am for cutting this whole acquaintance as
abruptly possible by the close OF the next
fiscal year-and letting this individual enjoy his own
property in his own way and manner almost had my
sympathes excited in his behalf when the senator from
Virginia [Mr. MAsoNl was reciung the wrongs and IN
justice he had sustained at the hands OF
do not understand that he has been wronged at all
All that | suggested was, that there should be some
Nns We further sun
standing, and afford perfect security against injustice,
desire TO the gentleman his tenement and let
him do best he with it; and all know ne could
not rent it, or any considerable portion OF it, for
any sum whatever, except for the use OF govern
ment. The plea that the unoccup'ed rooms cannot
pied by government clerks regard sheer pre.ence
Do they fear that the public documents will suffer in
room from individuals in another or that ssch indiyld
ual. will be injured by the public documents wish TO
put end, far may be- to this ceaseess struggle
between the government and individuals; and to that
end extravagant deem system of expenditure,
will vote in this any other appropriation bill for an
appropriation OF money to erect all necessary and suitable
edifces for government purposes; and will do It as
and national pride The senator from Virginia has
told us that chairman of the Committee OF Claims,
he has great wrong and delay and injustice on the
part of the government IN ITS neglect 10 pass upon the
applications of claimants before Congress-. l. too have
the same, while acting in the same capacity, and
bear witness to the truth of his remark But how
have these just claimants been delayed 1t has been
because host of suspicious and Specializing claims,
urged on by those who have MEANS and address, and
the channels of national justice, while the poor and
worthy claimants with small amounts and less facilities
for pressing on, are overlooked and neglected. if not
forgotten, because they have none to put them into
the troubled waters of legislation But If mistake not,
shall long, the necessity OF more rigid econ
omy in public expenditure. The government should dis
2,
point beyond which it cannot and ought not to go. 1t
has not the power which was ascrlbed TO the tabled
Aidas-to all substances with which 1t comes in
contact into godalthough it has often proved its ability
to turn gold into dross
The question was then taken upon the amendment sub.
united by the Senator from New jersey MIR. DAYTON
which was agreed to.
Mr. BADGER moved to strike out that portion refer
ring supposed terms of agreement and to insert not
exceeding si5oper room"
Mr. HAMLtN suggested TO him to limit the amount to
the number of rooms actually occupied, by modification
of his amendment.
Mr.. BADGER. Mr. President, purposely avoided ma
king that limitation, because think there Is great force
and Justice in the remarks of the honorable senator from
any injustice directly or indirectly to this gentleman
1t that shall not be likely TO need all the
but will impose great inconvenience upon HIM to have
some sixty of his rooms occupied by the department,
leaving some thirty or thryhve rooms unoccuped aud
so think it will strike every gentle at once 1t pre-
cludes any disposition of the residue BY him.
think this consideration, also, IS OF great weight Ii
il highly important | apprehend therefore, that the
government should have the possession OF the whole
Building, If they have the possession OF any part of IT,
There other dangers to the archives to be guarded
against than that of fire. think it altogether more
proper il the government has possession Of any portion
of this building that it should have possession of it all
We should therefore, pay for ALL and for that reason
limited the amount to be paid per room to $3.50.
Mr. CAMERON. should wish TO limit the amount to
$4,000, either for the whole building or for certain
number OF rooms. The owner might add new rooms,
until he thinks proper to stop, and thus make the amount
much too high $3.50 per room may be very fair price
for 60 rooms but it may, at the same time, be very
high price for 1870 rooms will TO add 10 the
amendment" provided the whole amount shall not
exceed $4,000 per annum" That will leave him 10 per
cent upon his investment, and perhaps Is per cent