The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1852-06-17


congress, and that appropriation has, rs wa
stated ny the gentleman from Virginia, been i
part, absorbed by preliminary reconnossanc nc
OF survey, and as was set forth by the head q
the ToPosra phca! Bureau, and as the committe
will see. fully illustrates and sus,ans the nredic
uon endeavored to enforce upon The House
day or two since. That is, when we make al
appropriation in advance Of q survey, we saw
nothing by 1t. The survey has still 10 be made
ano al 'ne same expense. Indeed, in The Ian
suage OF the head Of The Typographical Bureau
1t is attended with more expense. The r.ntlc
man who reported this bill saws, that Of IN,
S4o,oo0 appropriated for this work, there hst
been some $ 900 expended up to the date o
nus COMMUNICATION Now, it would have beer
Just as easy for my friend from Virginia, IMr
faukner,] and it would have been as easy fo
The gentleman from Minnesota, mr. Sibley.1 ts
have gone to the Department and ascertained se
az TO be able TO inform the committee the eIac,
amount that still remains in the Treasury. as q
balance, or that did remain there, as a balance
on The hrst day Of the present quarter, which wal
the FIRST day Of april.
MIR. SiBLEY. The gentleman is under mis-
Apprehension ia relation to the time necessary 70,
communicating with Minnesota; during the " inter
season We cannot receive a communication from
there in less Than three or four weeks.
Mr.. HOUSTON The gentleman from Min
nesota does nor comprehend the point make
Mr.. FAULKNER. | believe | have already
furnished the gentleman the information he asks
io!, that there was balance Of $22, 800
nave stated what was the balance in the Treas
ury at the date Of this report, and no surveys
have been made since the date of that report !
presume that 10 the balance now unexpended.
Mr.. HOUSTON. lsupposc the gentleman is
correct was going to present that view Of the
case. The gentleman from Minnesota, however,
Is mistaken IN supposlng that he could no, obtain
the information withou; sending 10 Minnesota for
II. The money is drawn from the Treasury as it
Is wanted, and charged to that appropriation; 4 and
within ten days of the end Of every quarter the
gentleman can go and get the precise balance
when remains TO the credit of any particular ap-
preparation in any Of the Departments You can
tell precisely what has been expended, and what
remains undrawn. But, take it, there are some
S25,0O0 or S2s, Coo yet unexpended, and re-
naming, as balance in the Treasury, 10 the
credit Of tins appropriation. The fiscal year now
lacks but abont a month Of being out; and 1t
seems to me that II Is premature iu his Congress
TO make an appropriation for this object admit
ing that the principle is right, which do not, by
any means. But admitting il 10 be right, it
seems TO me not only premature. bu, unneces-
sary 10 make an appropriation now for these
roads. when there are some $4,000 or S2S 900
III the Treasury liable 10 be drawn in the next
fiscal year.
Mr.. SiGLEY. II the gentleman will allow me,
here is copy Of letter from the United States
Engineer in that Territory, who is charged with
the superintendencc of these roads, II is dated
the Sd day Of April last. lie makes the inquiry
Of me, when the bill making appropriations for
these roads is likely 10 become law. He saws
II would be pity il they should lie made avaia-
bic too late 10 be Of service this wear.
Mr.. HOUSTON. Tha, shows ,ha, the gen.
tetnan who wrote the letter knows nothing bou,
the matter.
Mr.. SIRLEY. He is the engineer, and well
understands his duty.
Mr.. HOUSTON Il is very singular that ar
engineer should write a letter, saving. that unless
an appropriation be made scoa, il would be una =
vailahle for The year. The appropriation pro-
posed is not TO be expended this year lfthe bill
were TO pass immediately in the precise phrase
o.ogy in which it presented To the committee,
not one item could be touched until after the SOth
day Of next June.
Mr.. CAMPBELL. Of Illinois He mean, the
mex; year, " her he says "ihis year.
Mr.. HOUSTON. If he means the neat year,
he is IN just grea, an error. Whoever heard
of an appropriation being passed too late to he
made available for the year, Why, the latest We
ever 81, Is the last of September
Mr.. CAMPBELL. II i. to he used 10 the
sumner They cannot work in The winter
Mr.. HOUSTON. But the present appropria-
ton, according to lhe showing of the gentleman
from Virginia, Mr.. Faulkner, :, will carry the
work beyond the present sumner, aud the begin
ming of the fiscal year There are, as | said
twenty odd thousand dollars yet on hand ready to
L. L. C - .i- u'e-,,- -
! be drawn from the Treasury
/ Mr.. SlDLEf. must be allowed 10 interrupt
the gentleman for moment. will say that the
contracts have been made probably TO the amount
Of the balance OF appropriation yet on hand, and
the engineer is now only waiting to hear the re-
-ul' OF this attempt 10 procure further ap-
preparation 10 continue the contracts on all these
roads.
! Mr.. HOUSTON. Then / am willing TO take
it upon that view Of the case. Contracts are
! made, according 10 the gentemans statement, ,e
tie amount Of tho appropriation. They cer.ainl y
are no, made beyond that. But II made within
the appropriation, the appropriation still remains
unexpendcd. Now, how can it be that YOU wan,
an additional appropriation, unless the amount Of
the appropriation shall be expended before the
! work Of the season Is out: Ii the contract i.
made the work will no; be done AS understand
the state Of the case, the work will not p.cbably
be donc--before the beginning Of the next fsca
year. But if you admit that /. be done, they have
| Ht east Z0,CcV or SIc, ,OOVt 10 20 upon IIVun now
until the season when it Is said they cannot carry
on the work,
Bu,, Mr. Chairman, have another objection
TO this system Of Legislation | object 10 it i,
principle. in the FIRST place. believe it is inter
nal improvement by the Federal Government, il
IT'S most cdious form. believe 1t brings up ina
system in all its length. breadth. and hearings
and for that reason have always opposed these
appropriations. But ! do not intend 10 make al
argumen, upon that Here is The principles: W,
have appropriated $40 900 already, and now
we asked TO make another appropriation 70
the same work. 1t viii probably :equlre Sl0G.
600 to complete it. Now, if that is the fact, yot
might well appropriate the whole 100000
at once. According 10 the report Of the cnsi
neers, that amount Will he necessary 20 complete
the roads. II, then, are 10 embark in TIM
system Of internal improvement. let US make ih'
whole appropriation at once, and lst the work b'
carried on under The direction Of the Secretary o
War. Why should we appropriate SIS, 600 nov
to one road, and $4,000 TO anothsr, when ~
have got S25 600 on hand appropriated to these
roads s'ready' In the next place. the seilernal
says they work only during the sumlne
months.
Mr.. SIBLEY. ] beg to interrupt the gentle
man once more, lam not a little aston.shed J
the course Of argument the gentleman from Ala
i,, frr h. haa ham