American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-06-18
labor and the Public Works.

To the Editors of the american Telegraph.
GENTLEMEN: | have read with appreciation
and pleasure the articles you have written re-
specting the affairs of the city, and especially
upon matters relating to the interests of work
ingmen. l am one of that number, and have
all my interests in common with them.
Your remarks yesterday commenting the
memorial to the President were well-timed and
very just; and it gives me pleasure to know
that you at least can speak without waiting to
learn what is popular. The Capitol is a monu-
ment of the wisdom of avoiding the contract
system. That building will stand for ages, and
bears the mark Of " well done in every part of
its workmanship. Two millions of dollars were
expended in building; and expressly to perform
the work good men and good workmen came
from all pnrts Of the world, and made their
homes among us, and their children are yet
here, and here they will remain. Two millions
of dollars were expended, but not uselessly.
Every dollar has been at compound interest for
the public good, and population was gathered
here that have made the city what it is. Would
it have been so if that Capitol had been built
by contractors? No, gentlemen; they would
Ilot have desired to remain beside their work
and see its imperfectons, and their journeymen
would not have relished our city so well as to
remain here. Our Capitol would at this time
need to be pulled down, or make many of us
wish to see it taken down. AS it is, / hope it
may stand for ages to come. You spoke truly,
when you said it should remain untouched.
Erect your halls at the north and at the south,
and let this stand for ever. When they are
completed, all will see how beautiful the COM
bined effect will be, and there will not be a man
willing to have n stone of the old pile removed.
Mr ho oh n
great architect, and man who will be true to
his duty; our commissioner of public buildings
has the ability and courage to act right; we
can have good and honest superintendent for
each department Of the labor, and American
mechanics can act well their part. Let us then
have the work well done, without any man s
keeping a part of the journeymen's wages, or
taking the money of the government for sighted
work. If the contracts are taken at high rates,
there will be no economy; if at low rates,
wrong will be done in this manner to one party
or the other, or to both, or else at the end the
contractors will come to Congress with a petit
ton, and get rs much additional money as
would have paid to do the work in the legitimate
way in the first instance.
| have no jealous feelings toward any one who
is looking after his own welfare. If men are
needed in this city, | am, for one, always ready
TO receive them with O warm welcome. But
am opposed to spectators coming between the
Government and its citizens, and making
profit out OF either side. 1t is unnecessary il
is mischievous, it is anti-republican, it is un-
just. Good workmen, good pay, and good faith,
is my motto; and let the workmen build their
houses and raise their families among us Such
men will improve our city. They are neither
| Shylocks nor spendthrifts, but honest men, who
can perform all the duties Of citizens and bene-
fit any community.
In conclusion, thank you again, gentlemen,
and hope your agreeable, frank, and candid
paper may meet with the encouragement 1t de-
serves so well ut the hands Of every citizen Of
Washington JkKIr.