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

then, II Is proper tndt Tue BoVcIh"e'
occupy them. II thew were not necessary why, 'ne
Congress in making this appropriation can INA re-, ,Sa
arrangements to have the rooms vaealeu, ~ ". .s
as he sees 1T. But il seems to perfectly clear that
the BILL As it now stands places the proprietor Of ine
building in most ,nju eSu.d BY the Secretary Of the
Treasury were rented expires on the fourth OF March
and of that portion of the building occupied by The War
Den,mrnt think the term expires previous to the next
session of Conrress-some time during the approach
ing summer Well. in this condition OF things, the
Of the building sn Ssx ns
certain portion of the building they give the Secretary
of War no authority TO negotiate with him either for
rent or for purchases they will not vacate the rooms
This the precise situation of affairs at the present mo-
men; and il is for Congress to determine whether
they will embarass the department and the owner OF me
building by the bill 1t stands, or accept !he
alternative proposition submitted in the amendment winch
have offered. think it Just and fair, and that It is
incumbent the government to make some arrangement
which will be convenient itself and just 10 the party
Mr.. CAGEkoN. shall oppose the amendment, sir,
for the that 60 against all these speculalons OF
individuals which prey upDL the wants or whlms OIL
government There many OF these spectators about
us This gentleman has built set OF offices for his own
purposes and for the government Some ofhceIs oil
the have taken into their heads that these
much more pleasant than those FURNISHED by
the government and have been induced to take posses
sion OF them The building under circumstances ought
to have cost than 100000, but am told It cost
three or four hundred thousand dollars Ihls
however, do not believe. ANY man who knows any
thing about the OF buildings knows that that sum
is far too high estimate. Now if the owner OF this
building does not think proper to take the sum which
the government Offers let him take his house and see II
he do better with by renting 1t to private ndivd-
uals The fact is. Mr. President the whole matter is
wrong. II the government requires building Tor tne
use OF it's officers they should themselves This
government is not poor that cannot erect buildings
suitable for the departments We gave away the other
day 1000 for City Hall Had we not better At once
make the appropriation for proper buildings for the use
of the departments! If we carry this system OF pay
ing private individuals for the use OF property by the
hall SnulfA
Of the Union; This gentleman has come here with
his money, thinking to make more out OF the gov
eminent than out OF Individuals because individuals
generally look sharply to their own interests and
government does not Sir, am opposed to this whole
system. think we too apt to be led by our sym
strong appeals better feelings. We too apt. in
moment of kindness to give them all they ask for, and
sometimes little more.
man from Pennsylvania will simply remark that this
amendment spuaes only for lease Of five years. until
% That
is necessity for these rooms for rooms OF similar
character will question The proof for that
rooms as,hs present time. The gentleman that the
government should suitable buildings for the de.
Partmsns Win that agree But what Al is the govern
to be supplied! This amendment provides that the Sec
rotary OF War shall be authorized to leas. the building
construct suitable buildings; it authorizes
the Secretary purchase at stipulated price. Is there
any room for speculation in this proposition amy dispo
s'ion to impose upon the iiberay mprovidence OF
the government!
But let us look for moment at the economy of the
thing Inc senator suggests hnt the rent : ex.,aya
at being tar accommodated by the government as to
have his occupied by their officers What does the
government pay for far inferior to these The
government 10 actually paying from four TO eight hundred
dollars per for single rooms; whereas il wants
these for ss n building Of bsb 1o% tss
bottom the top comfortably warmed without charge
a building an eligible situation, just where the govern
my in sending the Secretary Of War and Secretary
Treasury the city for the next FIVE years. until Con-
gress build up dapdaei structure for its use in
this the other points Is that the sort OF economy which
the senator advocaes If this is economy seems "a
me that it is very mistaken economy This building is
every way suitable to purposes The rooms WED
arranged The materials OF the house indestcbe The
government in immediate need OF house room and this
amendment only proposes 10 give the government an OPP
porunity TO make such contract with the owner OF the
building as shall present purposes. II the Con
gress OF the United States deem it economical that
the government should build houses for itself that be
DONE and at cheap rate as be done by ndivd-
uas The whole space Of FIVE years will be allowed to
make the appropriation and the contract.
of Congress. constructing s his building What wa. the
cost OF the Treasury building venture to say IT did not
cost less than four o. five hundred thousand dollars
thousand dollars. and the building not yet finished
MIR. JOHNSON. And this building is not infer or in
any particular either in size arrangement, convenience
private individual, and which is offered to the govern
ment upon terms exceedingly liberal
What is the cost Of the Patent Office building. which
was constructed Out OF appropriation from the treas
ury will venture 10 say not less than four or
five hundred thousand dollars. And yet the senator
from Pennsylvania asserts in the face OF the declaration
of those who better nformeI that this building,
part of which the proposes to let sell TO the
government, did not than 100000; and at the
time he advocates that sort of economy by which
the government probably will appropriate three four
hundred thousand dollars for the erection of similar
edihcc ask, can the government build suitable houses
upon such terms as the gentleman estimates! Has the
government done it? Ors there any expectation that
ii do it, Is not contradcied by experiencesad
experience Of the disbursements of the public treasury fo
similar purposes Sir the owner OF this building does
not insist that Congress shall buy reni his rooms bu
he insists that if you do any portion of the building
you shall rent all and not that you shall purchase
but If you will do neither, he insists that yon shall
cate the rooms and give him opportunity 10 make
and Just, am at loss to conceive what would be.
Mr. CAMERON. The gentleman might as well com
pare this Capitol with OF our Pennsylvania barns. as
to compare that building with the Treasury Department
ci6ce Many OF our barns large as this, but the
cost of them is not to be compared
Mr.. JOHNSON. ask if the gentleman has examined
Mr. CAMERON I have not examined it, but hav.
been inside of it.
MIR. JOHNSON. | venture to say that it is better
house than the treasury building.
Mr. CAMERON II may be a better house, but i
cannot have cost the which the treasury build
ing cost The government can build house az cheaply
as individuals, and think So if they desire it.
DO not understand this the senator from
Georgia understands It, These gentlemen paid for this
building in the first place upon private speculation
and a of from ths n