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

m p.,s,,s n The House Of Representatives 90 explained
h AZ shown by the senator from New York, Mr. DICK
mse, made the appropriation Now. Fir undertake TO
say that II You could bring those members OF the House
Of Representatives before you as Witnesses you would
not find among them that heard OF this Elliot
Plan or ever thought Of il before. The introduction Of
the words "the original PLAN Yankee trick, done
for the purpose OF deception. Some did for that pur
pose
Somebody will not say who--not the Secretary of
the Interior, for he was not herebut somebody slips into
this bill the expression according to the original plan,
venture 10 say, thought Of this Town 4 Elliot plan
The plan presented TO the House the $3.50 900 plan,
Ut may adopt that expresson) Not word said about
100000, after the patent fund should be exhausted
But some Yankee somebody who had learned Yankee
tricks, pulls out OF the pocket of Mr. Elliot the old plan
OF 1896, and that is pronounced the original plan. Now,
sir, it is not important to who is TO blame il is not
my business TO impugn the conduct OF the Secretary OF
the Interior. any other member OF the administration
Such my position in relation to this administration that
have no motive to mpugn their course and certainly
am not under the slightest obligation 10 defend them
Whether the Secretary Of the interior is in fault not
not question for TO settle. 10, sir what COM
plain OF 49, that this old PLAN which had lain dormant
for years, and which not contemplated should be
substituted for the evidently intended when Congress-
nothing else than the plan 10 which have alluded the
expense of which would be $4,000, and which was
dra wn from the patent fund We somebody who resides
those Of who brought here in political capacity
somebody who had been here and witnessed the proceed
ngs longer than most OF permitted to do, and who
knew Of this old plan, brought in the expression the
Now, Mr. President. that the purpose was to use the
patent fund to deay the exp enditure one can doubt
let il go there" Very well let it 60 there If the SEN
ate chooses But unfortunately, Mr. President. the pa
tent Office fund will not deay onefourh OF the expend-
iture the other hreefourths must come out OF the
treasury Now, sirsmy objection is this there was, in
my judgment, imposition upon Congress in the intro
duciion Of this phrase e. according TO the original plan
gether different from that which intended by anybody
who voted for it. Here is the objection Now, sir my
friend from Maryland Mr. PEARcEl says that we are
get into trouble by marching up the hill, the best way
is march down again. II we find ourselves betrayed
into nudcious and mpotc measure by any OF these
little Juggling Practices which are. in truth, as fruitful
about this Capitol in any quarter in this wordif we
find ourselves led into error, from any such cause is
mol as vel 70 %asn as NIL aSaa q 70
caution in future legislation, shall we not get out OF
as well as we can?
into which We have been led BY artice, and incurred
proessedy in ignorance, the part of Congress- of the
meaning intended to be applied to the language Of the act
we led into Of h Rad
should, perhaps, be more disposed to wink at it, but,
where see il is matter Of systematic speculation upon
upon limited estimate, and then commence an expend
ure upon scale that involves three or four times much
am fairly disposed to arrest the Of this spirit Of
ere
by the hnal trumpet which shall announce the consum
maon Of all things, il would be, perhaps, saving to
mementol will not say Of the stupidity ndiscretion
Of Congress-but as an illustration of the facility with
which your public treasure is sapped Sir one OF the
co%miitee feel bound l. TO ress, such an abuse.
tlemen choose to call nggardly economy. Sir, the
question is whether shall determine for ourselves
what shall be DONE or whether we shall when we au-
thorze the expenditure Of $780, 900, be led into further
expenditure Of 100000, without our knowledge con-
sent II is not a question OF economy, Mr.. President
standnsy deliberately given, shall be required for an
expenditure OF public money. This is in my Judgment
the inquiry II we had been told in the outset that the
expenditure was extend million of dollars, and
Congress had seen fit TO authorize that expenditure GER
tainy for one, would have raised objection upon the
score Of economy. My objection is not that in
gsrdy system Of economy building for example. log
cabin for the accommodation OF The public Offices; sir
il is that would not permit this perpetual depreciation
upon the public treasury by men who hang about
this Capitol and this city. hanging upon the public
patronage and studying how and when, and where they
can involve Congress in unexpected expenditure OF
money OF which they may take advantage. Here is the
difficulty Sir had we not placed the seat Of government
here Providence would have put nothing here The people
here must subsst upon the patronage OF the government
be filed with men who are looking after the patronage
OF the government, and rely upon nothing else.
There Is occupation here, which can be followed,
which does not look directly indirectly to the public
treasury as the grand fountain OF its Exposed
to be led into this sort OF expenditure, wish
to guard against it. Sir, remarked in the outset that II
unimportan TO me who, IL anybody, was in fault;
but cannot overlook the position OF this architect This
author OF many plans for great buildings 10 ornament
the city OF Washington had nothing TO do with the org
nal plan made by Town & Elliot as early the year
1896 but early ls4l, or earlier. he (Ms)
called upon make estimate for another and very
different plan. He made an estimate that estimate
presented TO Congress. That plan recommended by
the Commissioner oil Patents, and was distinctly explain
ed on the floor OF the House. He must have known
what that plan when the act passed making the APP
preparation This expression, according 10 the original
pan," introduced IN H. evidently upon the SUPPOSE
lion that il identified the plan which had then been sub
justified upon the ground that he had nothing
but the act OF Congress to govern hun Sir whom
did he set 10 work The same Robert Mills goes 10
work upon basis of expenditure which cannot fall short
according TO his estimate before the committee, OF
the OF 100000, knowing. as he could not fail TO
know, that, when the appropriation was made, Il was
made upon totally different estimate than this made by
be permitted 10 say that he must have been extremely
reserved-he must have lacked that communicative dis
position common TO all, who never satisfied
with hiding our lights under a bushe, but are 50
ready TO impart the inesmable treasures-the fruit
OF our cogtations--he must, say, have possessed
very little OF this propensity, or he would have made
known these facts to the Secretary As said be-
FORE not about to censure the Secretary II Is not
my business 10 find fault with him Bot, air. find fault
with somebody who acquainted with the previous
history OF this Patent Oicesomebody who had furnish
ed the material upon which Congress acted for that
somebody should have disclosed to the Secretary OF the
Treasury the state OF the case In plain language,
49,. -. a.