The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-06-25
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF HON. G. $. HOUSTON,
or ALABAMA,


Oas Deficiency BH dsipered IN e House OF RspTessas
atpeS March 22, 1852.
The House having resolved itself into Committee OF
the Whole the state OF the Union, and taken up the bill
10 supply deficiencies in the appropriations made for the
wear ending June 80, 1852, uISn which bill Mr. HoUs-
TON was entitled TO hour TO close the debate on
MIR. HOUSTON said
Mr. CHAIRMAN; Ii will be impossible for me, within
the hour allowed to me. 10 take up each and every item
in the bill under consideration, and besow upon
them brief explanation. will not. therefore,
tempt il. must rely apon being able 10 give the
sary explanations, aided by other members of the Com
mttee OF Ways and Means, when shall have passed
under the rule allowing hye-minules speeches. l will
this occasion confne my remarks 10 those leading
and important items which seem likely to obsirnct the
speedy passage OF thu-bll
will take occasion, however fret TO call the aiten-
ton OF the committee TO item OF $2795I7 for subsist
in kind which appears IN the bill, and which, with
out an explanation, may be regarded deficiency,
e %ee q Was Means ha
shall pass law authorizing the Subsistence depart
ment 70 use that amount Of its appropriations for the
army appropriation bill. The Committee of Ways and
Means regarded this proper, and intended TO
enable the department TO use that sum. in the months OF
March and April OF this year. in the purchase of supplies
for the fiscal year ending 3Oth June, 1853 that the de-
parlment may be enabled to have them of for
wardness TO meet the demands at the beginning of that
fiscal year. Again il is thought by those best acquant-
with that subject that the spring Is the best season OF
The gear for making such purchases. This course has
been heretofore pursued was recommended by the de-
parlment at this session, and concurred in by the
mttee. This item, then, is no deficiency, is II
OF the appropriations Tor that branch OF the
vice. Tke amount Of the item has been deducted by
the Committee OF Ways and Means from the regular bill
for the army
In the beginning of this investigation may be proper
for to inquire how aud why does this deficiency
is, '-by whom. and in what way it brough htabou
Some gentlemen attempt 10 account Tor il by saying there
not suficency given in the bill of last year. and
that deficiency could not have been ayoided others
has wasted il.
will speak to both of these points. Our friends over
the way say the appropriations under these heads Of last
year being reduced one half by Congress- insufficient
10 meet the absolute wants OF the government Admit
this to be true, whose fault Is Is i the fault of this
side OF the House, Clearly not The administration
made ts estimates to the last session OF Congress for the
present fiscal year, and when those estimates being
considered and examined into, distinguished friend OF
the administration proposed to cut them down one half
upon the ground that one hall was sufficient Tor that
branch OF the service His movement approved and
sustained By several Other m un Of hs
ica party with which connected did not propose the
reduction-many OF them, however, sustained il;
upon the ground that they believed the amount amply
sufficient, others upon the ground that they had not
had the opportunity 10 investigate the correctness
OF the estimates the particular friends of the Execu
tiven whose possession the most reliable information
was to be found-were willing to reduce whenever and
wherever the party in power might say reduce. When
the friends of an administration shall say in their
places in this hall that they can get along efficiently with
one half of the proposed be appropriated, the
course OF the other side should be 10 the reduction
unless they kaoW such reduction will njure cripple the
interests and operation Of the government II Is evident
them that il the appropriations IN the last bull were really
too small the responsibility is upon the other side OF the
House, and upon thisihe friends OF the adminstra
ton are themselves TO blame if wrong has been done,
and,hey should be the last 10 complain that the reduction
made.
repeat, il the sums appropriated were TOO small they
are responsible for the reduction and il they not
TOO small, then IL follows that they have wasted and
squandeed the money, aud are responsible for 1t 10 the
country.
Allow me- then, 10 inquire whether there abuses in
the expenditure OF the public money in the Quartermas
iers service; and in answering the inquiry. will be
compelled TO say what every member who has al all
looked into the subject knows quite well as do
that there have been and now enormous abuses in
The expenditures OF money through that department
The FIRST abuse 10 which desire 10 call the attention
oil this committee is that growing out Of the npropero
cation OF the various posts upon long line OF from
tier. am glad TO be able 10 say that IN some OF these
cases. the Secretary OF War is endeavorng 10 correct the
error that has been comfed and prevent others OF
like character Many OF the posts located in towns,
villages. and other improper places inconyenen, to
water fuel grazing, and forage OF all kind1S and,
legitimate consequences OF such improper l6vahou, they
have haul all OF these things considerable distance
and al enormous prices.
One OF the posts 10 New Mexico is established 10 Santa
Fe-a most exlrayagant psoe-a place where all the
supplies for the army, where all the forage, and every
thing that keeps up the army.men and hotses-cosis
considerably more than it would have cost had the post
been located ae frontier, and in place more
convenient for supplies OF every description
\ mention only tltS one pOstt might mtDuOn Olneft,
to which these remarks would apply with equal force
Col. Swords, who belongs TO the Quartermasiers de-
psrment, reports that bali dozen OF these expen
sive and unsuitable posts have been abandoned and
sites selected.
Another item OF abuse to which I cali the attention
OF the committee, IN the oil making
for the supplies for the army Contracts made by
the Subsistence department, in pursuance OF law, under
the direction Of the Secretary OF War Those supplies
Often il not always, contracted 10 be delivered at
points from the place where they be used
supplies intended for the posts the Texan frontier
frequently delivered and received al Baltimore, Pha.
depha. and New York. thereby increasing the distance
and the cost of transportation 10 very large extent
The cost OF transportation Is Of the heavy items that
absorbs the money appropriated 10 the qnauermaser's
service
But there another thing We find that contracts to
deliver supplies at distant points only increase the
cost OF transporting them 10 the points Of consumption
but that another abuse arises oil II; and that ~ IN
the OF packing up The provisions preparatory to
Their being received by the Quarermaser's department
In many provisions packed up casks or bar
rels weighing one ehird much as the provisions To
sustain this statement, will read an extract from the
"Asa means Of reducing tho expenses, would suggest
the packing OF the subsistence Large
OF and hard bread been packed
IN heavy barrels the weight o the barrel being foryv
70 one hundred and eightydvo Of the bscon and thirty
i've to nneyvc Of the hard bread OF The latter article
convenient 70 pack, aud generally prepared by the
men. Hard bread might he made ia the county when
necessary would also suggest that the Hour and bacon
sent Torn the Missouri frontier be purchased st Fort beayen
Leavenwoh furnishing supplies OF good quality and
At as cheap rates. as they be purchased at ST. Louis
This would tho Of Its nsporston up
the Missouri, and avoid the risk Of m being lost or dam
on "A "a