The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-10

80, 1858. He understood that the estimates fol
those ~ years amounted to million; the House
had reduced il one half
Mr.. HUNTER said that by reference TO the
printed documents, he nscertained that the esti-
mate was ) $50 900 for the present year, and 5 ESQ.,
600 for the next This bill included both years
and gave halt of what was asked for.
Mr.. BORLAND said that it appeared from the
report made by the President in reply to his reso-
luton, that the Administration had gone on and
made contracts for the whole Of the material to be
used in the construction of the work amounting
to one knew how much, and that too upon an
appropriation OF only one hundred thous anu dol
lars These contracts extended over a period OF
five years This large amount of money was to
be expended by an officer in whose appointment
the Senate had no agency, and who, when nomi
mated as an assistant architect for an inferior work,
they had rejected.
Mr. DAWSON said that the remarks of the Sem
ator from Arkansas in relation to the rejection OF
the architect on former OCCASION were Gale ulated
to do much injustice, not only to the Senate, but
10 the architect also. 1t would be unjust to have
II go out 10 the country that that officer had been
rejected for incompetency, when such was not the
fact. lie not at liberty to state what had
taken place in Executive session but he could
state that the office was one OF architect 10 local
custom. house.
The CHAIR said the Senator could not state any
of the circumstances which had influenced the
Senate in it's proceedings in Executive session.
Mr.. DODGE, OF Iowa, said that he intended to
make no iacious opposition TO the passage OF this
bull. He knew il would pass; it would pass as
French spolia,ions would pass-the very amount
would carry it through The subject OF improve
ment oil western rivers would come up soon he
hoped, and then he would see whether money
would be appropriated 80 freely for that purpose
The Senator from Maine had moved no amend
nent TO this bill like that moved by him to the
River and Harbor bill when il up last session.
The Senator now offered no amendment that after
all other subjects provided for, after all the
debts OF the Government were paid, and all the
money in the treasury taken out for other pur-
poses, that then this appropriation shall 60 INTO
reflect.
Mr.. BRADBURY said that he had no objection
10 move that amendment to this bill
MIR. BORLAND then alluded to the opposition
which had been made to the appropriations for the
! improvement of the western rivers, when lie and
property were daily destroyed IN consequence OF
the neglect Of such improvement. He asked why
some OF the constitutional scruples, and scruples Of
| every other kind which were interposed 10 prevent
tho passage appropriations for those works. we're
not heard of when il was proposed to appropriate
this large sum FOR useless work.
tie then condemned In strong terms the heart
less hypocrisy OF those persona in this city who, un
der the pretext OF extending aid to the poor and
destitute laborers, brought outside pressure to
bear upon Congress 10 forward their own private
ends, and who, through their hireling press abuse
members of Congress- and impute unworthy mo.
tlvos to them for not lending their aid to accom-
plish the views Of these interested parties.
MIR. UNDERWOOD was opposed to he amend
ment now offered. He was opposed to the COM
| nencement OF the work, but, as ii had been com
menced, he was for going on with it.
MIR. BORLAND replied at length
| MIR, DODGE modified his motion, 80 as to strike
out 500 900 and insert 8 300 900.
The question was then taken, and the motion
was disagreed to-yeas 10, nays "a, as follows
YEAS.-Messrs. Adams, Atchison, Borland
Bradbury, Brodhead, Chase, Dodge Of Wisconsin,
Rusk, Wade, Walker, and Weller-l6
NAYS.-Messrs. Bell, Berrien, Brooke, Gle
mems. Cooper, Dawson, Fisb, Geyer, Hale, Ham
linn, Hunter, Mallory. Mangum, Miller, Morton,
Pratt, Seward, Shields, Smith, Spruance, Stockton,
Sumner, Underwood, and Upham-2i.
Mr.. BoRLAND moved to amend the House
amendment, by striking out ali after the enacting
clause, and inserting the following
| That TO enable the proper officers of the Gov
ernment TO pay the laborers who have been en-
pioyed in the extension Of the Capitol the same
amount of wages ~hich they would have received
had they been employed up the present time, and
one month's wages in addition.
| Mr.. Il said he desired 10 place upon record
reply to the blanderous statements, the lbeous
chambers, which had been made upon him and his
course by paper published in this city, which
had stated that be had in his opposition to the pas
sage Of this resolution, thrown himself before the
mouths Of starving men.
Mr.. HALE said he would vote for the amend
ment II II were proposed TO add II TO the resolution
The question was then taken, and the amend
ment was rejected-yeas Z, nays 33-as follows:
| YEAS.-Aiessrs. Adams. Borland, Brodhead,
| Z.
NAYs.-Messrs. Atehison, Bell, Berrien, Brad
bury, Brooke, Case, Clemens. Cooper. Dodge Of
! Wisconsin, Douglas, Downs, Felch, Fish, Geyer
Hale, Hamlin, Hunter, King, Mallory, Mingum,
Miller, Morton, Pratt, Rusk, Seward, Shields,
Smith, SpTuance, Stockton, Sumner, Underwood.
| Upham and Wade-33
Mr. BoRLAND moved to amend by adding to
the House amendment the following proViso:
Prorided, Nothing herein contained shall be so
construed as TO authorize any officer or agent of
the United States TO bind the United States by con-
tract beyond the amount appropriated by Congress.
or 10 fanction any such contracts heretofore made.
Mr.. CASS said that he was in favor OF the prin-
! cplc contained in the amendment, but he did not
know whether the amendment was necessary. lie
did not believe the power existed in the Administra
ton TO make any contract beyond the appropria
! tions made by Congress
| Mr.. HUNTER said no power TO make such con-
tracts existed except in certain cascs provided for
by law. But, out Of abundant caution, he would
| vote for the amendment
Mr.. UNOERw GOD thoug ht It likely that If this
proyiso be pot in this bill. the power make such
contracts would be claimed in cases where should
be omitted
Mr.. BoRLAND repeated bis remarks upon the
contracts which bad been made for the supply OF
the materials for the construction Of the Capitol
Mr.. MANGUM replied, showing that no con.
tracts had been made for the construction Of the
apitol which did not contain an express condi-
tim that the contracts were TO depend appro-
pfiations to be made by Congress; and that II Con-
gress made no such appropriations the contracts
ceased TO exist
Mr.. HUNTER said that be was informed that all
the contracts made were not for an amount eI-
cecding $4,000. The act Of 1870 prohibited con.
tracts from being made beyond the amount mp
propnated by Congress, except in the QUartcrmss-
ter's Department, the office Of the Commissary Of
Subsistence and Clothing for the army and navy,
and IN cases where Congress shall drecta contract
70 be made and no appropriation be made therefor.
The question vas then taken, and the amend
nent was agreed to-yeas ~, nays las follows:
YEAS - Messrs. Adams, Aichison, Borland 4,
Bradbury, Brodbead, Cass, Chase, Davis, Dodge of
Wisconsin, Dodge OF Iowa, Downs, Felch, Gwin,
Hamlin. Hunter, King, Mallory, Norris, Rusk,
Shields, stockton, sumner Walker, and Wei
lcr-A
NAYS. 80 Messrs. Berricn Clemens Cooper,
Dawson, Fish, Gcycr, Hale, Msngum, Miller,
Morton, Pratt, Seward, Smith, spruanoe, I'm.
dcrwood, Uphan, and Wade-l7.
Mr.. HALE moved an amendment, providing
pay for the lab. who have been out Of employ
mcnt, and who have been waiting here for the re-
commencement Of this work, for the time 90 out OF
, | employ.
Mr. HALE said that this amendment proposed
no new principle. II nothing new for Con
Rrcss 10 appropriate large sums annually 20 pay
men who Tor years bad been " waiting ordsrs ["
I These poor men bad been invited here 10 work
upon the building, and for months had been wait
ing orders They were out Of money, out OF