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

Again, il is complained that he should have used free
stone In the construction OF the building Now sir ihe
word plan refers to the draft or drawing which Mr. Elliot
made, and which Gen Jackson adopted II has nothing
10 do with marble or freestone know very well that in
the original act which appropriated for the Patent
Ofhce, one fourth OF which has cost $45o000-I know
because no cheaper material could be got But that
time Congress- by the action OF its commees has
peatedy determined that this freesone is cheap nor
suitable Tor any public Offices II requires committee
TO nd that out Everybody who has looked at this Cap
ito knows how crumbing il is how easily il pees Off
from The action Of the weather II is not only aglla
ceous stone, but II is permeated with iron II absorbs
pounds q water 70 cubic foot Of stone, and must be
kept constantly painted This crumbling has been going
IN wS q s nass
top o the Patent Office building are crumbing away in
consequence Of the friable nature OF the stone. The
treasury building is already in The space Of
the fourteen years that ii has been erected In regard
the erection OF these wings. the report OF the Commission
er will show that is built OF marble, the least costly
material which could be adopted II is quarred thirty
or forty miles from here, easily worked and 10 perma-
nen stone. think no one can blame him for his choice
Now, IN regard to-" outdoor egsation," Of which the
chairman OF the committee has spoken, know OF
know not how it is that Congress is to ba ntcrfered
with BY out Of door legislation. not willing to ad
mit LOT one that have been influenced by out-ofdoor
legislation IN advocating this appropriation, and suppose
that every member of this body will reject such charge
for himself But is true that there has been some inn
building not to do that which the chairman desires us to
DO, TO throw all those people out OF employment and
waste the whole Of the money already expended and all
for nohing for, most assuredly if Congress shall stop
this building now, from considerations OF pay economy
the time will when shall rush into the Op-
Poste extreme and become more exravagant than ever
The chairman of the committee is in favor of pulling
down part OF this building, and erecting different wings
Of one hundred and OF seventy feet in length hope
that plan will not be adopted In the first place, we do
not know what il is going to cost to down the build
ing that has been erected and to fill up the great chasm
that yawns at the western end of the present strucure
anu knew all that, for what purpose shall do
m Ii the Commissioner Of Patents does not require The
whole OF the new portions Of the edce for his bureau,
there are an abundance OF purposes to which it can be
converted 10 great advantage. There pub
lie officers whom you may accommodate in the wings,
built in the way in which they are going up admit
that it will cost large sum, but i will not cost
gress, in my opinion, did not know when they made the
appropriation at the last session, what they about
that s there was no proper and sufficient inquiry at the
time with regard to the probable expenditure to be
CURED; but that is nothing than has often happened
before; and in my opinion the building is 10 be only such
q y e Decomg il and % the
ernment. We are fond, sir, OF calling ourselves q
great people; and hold. sir that it would be simple
and dsrepuable thing, If we to cut down the ex
pendture Of the nation that Of petty State while on
the other hand, should be unwilling any see
the government going TO the opposite extreme Of extray
cessary purposes wish to the government LIBERAL
but not pofuse preserving the justs isu in its course
OF procedure in this respect hut think that nation Of
the wealth. and power and high desnieso of should
have building as spacious and respectable, magnh
cent you w as other nations 10 all time have erected
for the accommodation Of their public officers and the
transaction of their public business. III
Now, sir, we have gone upon this plan in other in
stances than ths--l mean the plan Of beginning with
instances perhaps, an extrayagant expenditure Take,
Tor example, the Boston custom house. In 1884, Con-
gress made the first appropriation for that custom house
OF $4,000. The senator from Massachusetts knows
that they authorized to sell the old custom house,
and apply the proceeds OF it, together with the cash APP
preparation OF S50o00, to building the custom house.
fha chaan al aosfa and
other expense Ii understood that no further ap-
preparation 10 be made; and this in the times
Of that same liberal and magnificent old gentleman, who
was understood to do pretty much he pleased Very
WELL in due time Congress made another appropna
ton OF $l50000 10 complete the Boston custom house,
and then S2Ooooo and then saooooo again, until an az
gfegaie OF between S500000 and Sa00000 reached
for building winch originally TO be built with an
appropriation from the treasury OF only $4,000 There
growing about in Congress-, recollect but
never heard as sharp lecture the extavagance Of
the in the House OF Representatives, where
then was, the honorable senator IRON New York has
inflicted upon us here this morning Now, sir, hope
that Congress will be liberal about this thing believe
they will be liberals and il is better for them to go on
with this building IL is, and take the money out OF the
Patent Oce fund and II that is not sufficient. then ap-
propflale II out OF the general fund.
Mr.. DAVIS, OF Massachusetts, (interposiHg) The
New York custom house furnishes another instance sim
Mr.. PEARCE. Yes, sir; that cost Sl,l63, 900. By
building tins edihce upon the plan originally desgned we
shall be able 70 accommodate large number OF public
y
shall in that manner contribute 10 a genuine economy
hope the proper appropriations will be made.
Mr.. CLARKE. Alter the remarks made by the sena-
tor from Maryland. Mr.. PEARcE1 it seems hardly me-
cessary TO enter particularly into the question: TO
satisfy the Senate that the recommendation made
by the Committee Of Finance should be rejected. AS
member OF the Committee on Public Buildings, beg
leave, in very few words, TO say that that COMMITTEES,
in the progress OF business which they have had under
consideration have bestowed attention 10 this sub
ject; and |, of that committee, have thought
my special duty to examine with care the cause o COM
plant against this appropriation and the legislation upon
which is founded, and the consequent proprey OF Con.
gess stopping all further proceedings in the erection
OF the proposed additions TO The Patent Office.
II has been said, and repeat il merely matter Of
the history of the subject that in 1896 plan deter
mined upon for the erection OF the present building, and
the additions which in process OF construction
Under the direction OF President Jackson the south 'front.'
and that only completed. have the dimensions
before me, and will give them. The whole design was
BY Elliot, and the erection superintendent by Mr. Robert
Mills The length s 270 feet the width Is 10 feet at
either end, and in the centre lat feet
Now. sir, il seems that the late Commissioner Of
Patents, Mr. Burke, who, however much may be said of
his strong feelings as party man, il cannot be denied was
excellent and efficient officer, deemed il necessary as
Of additional wings to the Patent Office And why, sir
did he recommend t Because the present building was
found to be insufficient 10 accommodate the accumuang
collections and the increasing business 10 be there trans
acted II seems by what my friend from New York says,
that this Commissioner of Patents recommended an add
ton OF two wings OF them so and the other 10 feet
In length One OF these two wings not as recommended
by tie Commissioner, but in conformity with the oF-
gina design is being added to that beautiful struc