The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-21

question with precision Ihave answered ii upon seve
al occasions, after making an exact calculation of tins
amount expended ! think The last sum stalled was
year ago-the sum OF $4,000 There is no doubt
thai the work in qnes ion very expensive one II is
necessarily So and would be so under any adminsira
lon IN any country The original calculation was that
100000 would DC necessary to make this publication
which is very extensive, and OF most costly character
being printed IN the finest style Of The art and bound
IKE manner. Congress has already ordered them to be
published and the Library Committee made contracts
many years ago. before either the senator from Mssis
spp or myself were members Of il 10 secure their pub
catlon II s in pursuance OF those contracts originally
made BY the Library Committee that the work is now
gong on We have already published rather more than
hall OF the volumes proposed to be published ana we
have completed much larger proportion than hall OF the
eBgrayngs which are the most expensive part OF the
work. We have now Professor Agassiz, DR.. Forney,
Dr.. Gray, and several other scientific gentlemen engaged
in preparing the residue OF the reports. hope that the
work will be completed in about two years 1t Is abso
uely necessary that the government should make this
appropriation, unless the government is TO break IFS faith
tn the persons who catered into these contracts with
the Library Committee under the sanction oil Congress-
Eight nine thousand dollars OF the amount is already
due. Sixteen or seventeen thousand dollars more will be
due in the course Of the year pay the printers ensavers
RI Mr.. ATCHisoN am perfectly willing to pay for
the work so far as i has been contracted for but will
MI. PEARCE stated that supposed this would not
he the last thiak about two years will complee it, i
think there will % another appropriation OF nearly the
Mr.. BENTON inquired whether the copyright had
been taken on! for the publication OF this work.
MIR. PEARCE. beg leave to say that no copyright
be taken Tor any OF the reports which are about to be
made. copyright was given %. Capt Wilkes for his
narrative, as believe explained beforeCapt Wilkes
having written the narrative IN his leisure nouns; and
with the consent Of the Library Committee, was then
organized, Capt Wilkes was authorized to take out and
da take out copyright Those that are n neM editing
writing; and the manuscript, when completed, is the
property OF the government have had controversy,
as member OF the committee, with one OF the gentlemen
thus employed and have compelled him TO give up his
manuscript TO the government No copyright will be
thorizsd; and If obtained, they would not be worth
farhlng for the reason that the manuscript is the prop
erly OF the government, and will be published without
copyright have understood that scientific gentle
man has asked Tor copyright and has not yielded the
copyright It is not worth iarhng The others have
asked for any, and do not design ask for any This
gentleman distinctly told that he could have
copyright. for the manuscript was the property Of the
government We paid him for writing, and his salary
was the consideration which he received for his work
Blu, one them has attempted to take out copyright and
his is not worth farhIng
The amendment was agreed to. l.
MI. DOUGLAS, under the direction Of the Committee
on Finance moved 10 insert the following amendment at
the end OF the 979th line
"For Purchasing site and commencing the erection Of
suitable building in the city Of ST Louis for custom
house. or the sub treasury the post OH EEL and the
the attorney and ,narsha The sum
Prooidsd That the entire co,t Of said bniding sha no.
OF Missouri"
Mr.. GWIN moved as an amendment to the amend
ment. similar provision for San Francisco.
Mr. DOUGLAS suggested ha, II would more properly
come il, !, separate amendment; whereupon,
MIR GWlN Withdrew it,
Mr. BENTON wish 10 say that public building is
required al 81 Louis for the offices OF the government
The amendment itself enumerates, think, al least
dozen Offices that in use there and tor which, at
present. paid or which are Obtained wthcui rent
OF the public Offices OF The city The appropa-
zion is for $4,000 for furnishing The grounds and com.
the cos OF the building The building will be required
for the various Offices Of the United States therefor the
custom house, post office, cout-rooms sub treasury, SUI
perinlende OF Indian AFFAIRS surveyor OF the general land
office, the lana offices themselves, recorder OF land titles,
commissares, quatermasters. and paymas.ers OF the
United Statesn the whole not less than fifteen, sup
pose, now For these the United States require build
ing that is fire proof, and which shall be large enough to
accommodate the whole OF them. think for the whole
they will require building equal to square OF 100 or lao
building will cost about $500 per front loot Possibly il
might be got for $780, less. But the sua-
bic ground would cost $500 per front foot.
Tni- building proposed 10 be erected at ST. Louis de-
manded by economy well justice. The United
States are now paving rent oil 50 900 year for post
Office building, liable TO be burnt up any moment The
custom house is also liable TO be burnt al any moment
Land Offices, in order 10 procure rent for small SUN,
driven To back streets, and occupy little wooden tene
mens which are lt,le better than kindling for fes
Economy requires H. because you are paying Tor rent Tor
thise wooden building than the interest the
pense OF this that is proposed.
Justice requires II, because II ~ necessary 10 save the
records Of all these Offices from the destruction which
they constantly exposed. The building which ought
TO be erected should be FIRE proof, and should be upon
scale suites to business now Of $4,000, to swell per-
haps to $500 600 In 10 years. and likely TO increase in
wealth and population as long water flows in the Mis-
sisspp river, and long grass grows the valley OF
the Mississippi When that water shall cease 10 flow,
and when that grass shall grow, then shall the
town OF St Louis cease 90 grow, and not before
We have limitation upon the cost OF the building. II
Is put there BY way OF precauon and Tor myself,
ready to say that after the ground purchased and the
architects plan OF the building has been finished IL is
ton oil such building is needed by the United States
there, and as is proper for such city.
Mr.. DOWNS IL seems TO me, MIR President, that
this amendment embraces objects for which IL has
been customary erect buildings at the expense oil
the United States for post Offices, Tor court houses,
for land Offices and such other buildings should like
have gentleman state whether this has been the
practice heretofore | believe that those cities with
which am acquainted have always rented buildings for
houses only has the government erected II may be
question: do not undertake to say how that question TO
be decded-bu il may be question worthy OF the con-
sderation OF the Senate whether shall change the
policy have followed heretofore, OF renting these Of
ices, and whether we shall commence the policy OF
building them. think that 10 say the least OF IT, there
is great doubt upon that subject We all know that the
government Of the United States, and indeed all govern
ments, erect public buildings greater than pr-
buildings have heard complaint Of the practice OF
renting Offices, which has been followed for so long
time. do not know why amendment OF this kind
should be introduced suddenly, the end OF the session.
TO introduce appropriation Of this kind be the
mencement OF new system. Gentlemen must consider