The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-27

the clerk q the committee going myself % every de-
paImenl o. The government Nor were We inoimsa o.
anything which would sustain us IN appIopnaung tnc
whole sum asked by the department l stated 70 me
Senate when The amendment was up. that had found
but nnety.hree and half rooms occupied ana ~ an
swer 10 the senators from Virginia. LOUISIANA and otneIs
stated that. far as knew, he bad perfect right TO
rent the rooms 10 other persons. That was my unaer
standing aas % s anoSga ss Here
is letter dated !" War Department, May ~, 1890:
directed to Mr. Wnder the proprietor OF the building IN
which that interchangeable Secretary OF Waf-dechncs
answering the committee but says 10 him that y V very
Objectionable 10 rent the other rooms do not demur az
all at this for Il very objectionable, and = peIseny
true But although exercised all my yigiance-and ~
consdersbein the subjects OF the appropriations
made, this letter brought TO my knowledge unui
since our action Saturday. when learned LOT me hsi
time that this letter written 10 private individua
which ought 10 have been addressed to the committee
blame no about unless TO crtclse The conduct
OF the cabinet officer; and him will say nothing abont,
as he has gone out OF Office will only say that in this
case 10 others, have acted strictly upon the pohcy
had marked out tor myself that would not ACT without
they will address their communications TO chalrmen OF
committees General BaylyShad this letter in his pos
session Il not his property lie delivered II % the
papers again therefore did not receive it.
Mr. HUNTER. cannot complain as TO the vigilance
which the senator from New York has exercised in this
matter. believe that upon this occasion he was per.
fecty right in the first instance butt upon the testimony
which has been brought in since, am convinced that we
should restore the rent 10 what was IN the Pill as i came
from the House OF Representatives hope that we shall
reject the amendment, therefore, without debate.
Mr. BRIGHT. Twas Of the same opinion on Saturday
s f him ana e. changed @
not have seen nothing as yet that induces me TO Oe,
eve that the amount charged here ought to be paid II
presented il earlier think in bad taste, to say the least
after the Senate have decided upon proposal OF this
kind collect additional testimony and present It here
stated when this amendment up upon former coca.
lsOn n ia
for the they occupied and repeat IT, II was
anticipated that the should pay that rent
upon the first and second floors, with Anew upon
the third Are 10 pay $l75 per room for rooms we
do occupy Upon what principle OF justice can such
demand be made upon the treasury II am not mista-
KEN the fact that $75 per the price to be CIV
en- is to come up hereafter, when the building 70 10 oe
sold to the government prefer to eay a. once 10,
do wish pay for it the price based upon an interest
equal TO the rent pays, which think must be ee 90.
Jet il trying to obtain the extrayagant amount OF rem.
twenty odd thousand dollars charged for the rent OF one
building which would make the cost OF the building
the cos oi tina, building WAS anticipated that this
question would arise, and 80 have taken special pans
ascertain VIII cost and assert that the cost OF the
building was less than $95 ,000 Yet we propose TO pay
rent OF $4,000 per annum for it If Congresss 10 make
an appropriation OF this character am IN favor, as
said before OF buying il at once. The amount charged
here extravaganza $175 per room Is more man the
rooms are worth The Secretary of War, under former
administration hesiated for time before he woiid
consent to pay $3.50 We pay now s7a think me
building worth whether the owner has the privilege
Of renting the upper not feel bound myself
woua 81 IN to this mat
ter, far as concerned lam very much opposed to
buying this building OF Mr.. Wnder, for reasons now
senator from Indiana he is perhaps right with regard
the expense Probably ought not to give so much for
the do not in the upper story as We do for
asmuch prevent him from renting them out to other
persons. voted with Tue senator from New York, the
chairman OF the Committee Finance and with The SEN
aior rem Indiana, the other day. but was not aware al
that time of this letter OF the Secretary OF War in relation
10 this matter II now SCENE 70 me that was wrong
and that we ought to make some allowance LOT tnose
rooms we do not use, although perhaps not 80 much
as we give for those in the other stories. AT this
late period OF the session, when we have so little
time we cannot enter mlnutely into what we should
pay; and am therefore willing 10 allow the appro-
paton Of the House Of Representatives II the senator
from Indiana chooses amend the appropriation, so as
allow something for these rooms IN the upper story
though think upon the whole we would better let the
appropriation pass as il from the House. This
is just the question The House spprop,a,ea si'o an ne
committee, from the evidence which he hao, not De-
ing able TO find the chairman OF the committee OF the
House, account Of the pressure OF business, recon-
mended that il be cut down, supposing to be apProp
ated upon plan which he could not approve. sup
posed 90 aso until saw this private letter from the Sec
Tedfy Oh w winch explains INV thc h0sSi osonus
The other rooms are not worth as much. II depends
upon the Senate to say what they will do with the
question, and how il shall be disposed Of think myself
that the rent is altogether too high
| MIR. SOULE There was no occasion, on the part oil
the lessor TO with his private letter, until the ques
ton raised 10 his right BY claiming rent OF all the
rooms OF the House. He could not be prepared TO fur
nish evidence until the question was made Here was
the difficulty now ask the Senate where they will find
power to discriminate between these rooms when
find Mr. Wnder writing to the Secretary of War; asking
liberty 10 dispose OF the rooms, and when we read the
answer OF the Secretary OF War, telling him that he must
not dispose OF them Clearly we cannot refuse the al
owance made by the House OF Representatives. and re-
peat my hope that the amendment made an committee will
| not be agreed 10. tttr s1 N+t
| Mr.. BRIGHT demanded the yeas and nays; which
were ordered.
| Mr. YULEE. | desire to say a single word shall
vote for concurrng with the committee Tor this among
other reasons: Heretofore have paid for these
the OF 81 so per room, which CONSIDER lair and
liberal rent This appropriation raises that rent to sl75
MIR. HALE wepaid si75 last year, il am not mis-
taken.
Mr.. BRIGHT What is the exact question before us !
| The PRESIDENT. Upon concurrence, II the Senate
concur with the amendment made in committee, IL will x
the amount al si6,3eo 5o il not, il will leave the
amount fixed by the House OF Representatives
| Mr.. DICKINSON. shall not occupy any time. !
never waste time in debates upon such matters. have
upon this matter in one respect II shows that the depart
ment has inerfered with the occupation OF the upper
rooms though could not find il out. after the most
full search until this private letter was read This letter
has put different complexion upon the matter from that
on Saturday However believe that 500. or nearly
that liberal rent, and shall, therefore, vote TO retain
| Il In its present shape 4 ~ III
L. .l.~ sI< ~nn-u Jr~nA