The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-04-14


ascsrained about the original plan he felt himself bound
to enter upon this plan This being as he understood,
the original plan he accordingly gave the necessary or
ders Tor commencing these two wings OF 27o feet length
each.
Now know il is very easy to executive OH.
cers but have not done 50 heretofore. nor DO intend
10 do 40 now propose to examine bis POSITIONS now
and whether he ought not 10 have acted other
wise. Being in and unorganized department, and
charged with the performance OF various duties thai We're
as alyed upon him, be doubtless did not have time TO
give much attention desirable; but u he had
looked into any portion OF the history of the action OF
Congress, TO the circumstances which surrounded II,
he must have seen that the structure 10 progress was
neither justified by The letter nor spirit OF the appoprIa-
ton II was undoubtedly done mainly under the advice
of the architects and he is manly responsible for to his
principal yet must say, with all due respect, that IN
my Judgment il was the duty OF the Secretary OF the In
terior when he saw the comparatively small amount ap
propriaed OF fifty thousand dollars in contrast with this
proposed enormous outlay, 10 have inquired into the
facts which induced Congress to make It II ne had In
qulred OF his immediate superintendent at the Patent
Odce-the head OF that bureau-he would have learned
from Mr. Burke the nature OF the plan recommended TO
and adopted by Congress; and that il was plan pro-
vidng only for wings one hundred feet in length, at a
cost OF one hundred and fifty thousand dollars II he
had consulted the files OF the Patent Office, he would
have there found the plan OF the ofcer upon which Con-
gress acted II he had looked into the Patent Ohce Re-
ports, he would have found that plan recommended year
after year Now while do not desire 10 be censorious,
The right and usual mode OF proceeding when such vast
results depend and that Congress should not sanction it.
But, whoever sanctions. for one, | wilinot.
will give my reasons why have suggested that this
course is not according to the letter spirit OF the law
the original sketch plan, would remark has been
brought here and presume every one has seen II ana
has desired to look at it. Many senators, no doub
have been mporuned by their friends and influential
citizens residing herei know that haveto have the
present plan carried forward and il were legslanng 10
crafty persoQa friends, and had taken oath to carry
out their Wishes might have yielded to their socita-
tions hut do not understand that have right to con-
suit private feelings IN regard to public measures; and
ntnl
position responsible legislator, and member OF the
Finance Committee There is doubt this original plan
as il is called, contemplated that the building should ex
tend around the whole square, but was just as much
part OF that plan, in my judgment to put up the build
ing street, it to build 7th and 9th Streets
through TO street. Ii there had been discretion in
building, then contend he should have carried out the
original plan FULL to its EXTREMIST limits. Ii he felt
authorized to extend the wings under construction, in
view OF their entire occupancy at some future PERIOD he
should have carried it out entirely.
thought, even under the view taken, the Secretary
might have started only wing, and that might have
been speedily completed for use, and with less
pense and more economy: but he states that he thought
The law required him to start boh because said wings
and wing. and that he had authorized to be
ried no higher than the ground wall sill think that
when this small appropriation made, the Secretary OF
the Interior should have inquired into what was mani
fesy hententon OF Congress- and would have been
Of building in consideration until Congress had
bed But sir it is part OF the practice OF the times to
get small appropriation from Congress in money
whether penny or pound il matters not-and then 10
start off with out door legislation, commence the work,
expend much of the public money is set apart and
go in debt twice much minge up the laborers
OF the country; and then imporiune Congress TO drive
through further appropriations for their beneht The
argument is advanced thai much has been expended
and much done, that il is better 10 sanction II and at
tend to the next abuse is BEST say they now that Is
10 finish 1t otherwise there viii he great loss
Well, sir think that in cases OF character like the
present, we should make IT question OF public moals
and bear the loss We might lose money for the present
though do not believe 1t, by stopping this work II
would be economy in the end, because would be les
Congress TO legisate in the future with
and il would be benefit 10 those who put our laws in
execution, because IL would teach them 10 examine them
with greater care and learn contractors not TO rely for
labor and materials upon This loose and uncertain CON-
pensa uon IN future, which many are pleased 10 term the
faith OF Congress. The external pressure TO get this
through, am aware is very great have been waited
upon by public officers and by committees OF laboring
aud all know that this is part OF the machinery
which is used in of this character deny pay to
no coniraciorto aborer. would give TO the poor
and honest laborer every farthing of his due would
pay 10 every honest and fa contractor his just award
and the should not go down those dues OBJ
liberated but will sanction no departure from what is
the right course oil procedure because o this
external PRESSURE shall the subjects be Connected
so far as Concerned. Let look little into this
question OF allowing the Contractor to proceed at his
pleasure Honest aborers have been for months without
money and but for the assistance OF brokers. almost at
The point Of starvation, because OF the pursued.
praiion and il they worked and as the work was go-
ing on they desired TO work. they compelled to
take certificates for their work, which they forced
TO have shaved 10 their own great pecuniary loss.
order TO obtain for their families Sir, II
was wrong 10 20 beyond the appropriation. think II
the duty OF the executive officer TO have forbidden
the carrying forward OF this building single day beyond
the time when the appropriation became exhausted II
has been Thought otherwise, however The Secretary OF
the Interior says he directed otherwise, and the architect
does not admit that he encouraged II; but, like many
other things IL was nobody's fault
Mr. SEWARD. Will my colleague allow me TO ask
Mr.. DICKINSON Certainly.
MIR. SEWARD do not clearly understand the state
ment thai made by my colleague when he says the
Secretary OF the Inferior directed otherwise wish 10 be
informed in what respect he directed otherwise,
Mr.. DICKINSON He informed them that the appro
pation was expended, understand il, and that the
say, | think he should have forbidden them to 20
be sbouki have prevented them from going unher be
should have turned them out OF possession That is
what think he should have done He did, II II true
direct them not 10 proceed, but they nevertheless went
on The result is have already said that the labor
ers have been left without their pay for number o
montbs some OF them have had TO sell their cerhcates
some have had TO use their credit 10 the market and at
the groceries, best they could for their daily subsis
ence, and II has brought upon them much distress,
thing which The circumstances OF the government cannot
justify This government is neither dishonest nor pau
per government They have disposition as well as the
ability TO pay the labore his hire, and gentleman Of
where he had the conro the withholding OF the value
Of their labor from those who employed upon the
public works And cannot justify the conduct OF pub
lie officers who incur obligations for labor permit them
to be incurred without having the OF dscharging
such obligations making ouays so lar beyond the apTo
IL 4 ..~..fL ....x a.