The daily union., 1852-03-17
srExon Of nos ma. STAN RON.

Delivered IN s House of Representatives March I2, 1852
The House being in Committee OF the Whole and hav-
ing ander consideration the joint resolution making an
appr ropIation for the extension OF the Capitol
Mr. STANTON said have been instructed by the
Committee on Public Buildings and Public Grounds, OF
which | have the honor 10 be chairman, TO report an
amendment 10 the resolution now pending, BY way OF
substitute. and insist upon It's adoption
The amendment was then read as follows;
That there be, and hereby Is appropriated Of any
money 10 the treasury not Otherwise appropriated for the
fiscal year terminating June s0h, 1853 the sum OF
5000 oo Tor the continuation OF the work on tue TWO wings
OF the Capitol
Mr. STANTON, of Kentucky The necessity which
gave rise 10 the original resolution has passed II
intended only temporary expedient TO prevent total
suspension o the work the two wings OF the Capitol
The appropriation of the last Congress for this improve
ment only 100000, and that was exhausted at the
OF the present year Since then the work
has necessarily been suspended the mechanics and la
borers discharged and The important object TO be
plshed by the extension OF the edce consequently de-
layed ! earnestly hoped that at an earlier period the
House would have taken up the resolution o the Senate,
passed II, and permitted the work 10 be continued Had
this been done, two months of fine weather would not
have been lost the work would have been in OF
progress, and the nation could not have repoached its
representatives for refusing 10 do for so long period
what need not al any time have occupied more than i've
minutes.
The appropriation of $500 900. contemplated By the
amendment have proposed is less than asked for
by the Secretary OF The INTERIOR and the accomplished
architect IN charge Of the work Their estimates
made last fall and large portion OF the time in which
the money 10 have been expended having elapsed
deemed necessary appropriate only this amount,
which will be sufficient for the period between the pas
sage OF the resolution and the end OF the fiscal year. ter
mnating June 3o 1853. The Committee OF Ways and
Means have not provided any OF their appropriation
bills reported TO the House, or the extension of The Cap
ito The House very appropriately referred the subject
TO the Committee Public Buildings. and that commit
tee, after inquiring into the poprety OF the apopa-
tion and view OF the TACT that regular appropra-
tion bill 10 which this be attached will in all proba
billy, be passed before the end OF the session, have d.
recied me to urge il now
The work has been commenced. cannot doubt that
is The intention of Congress 10 complete it. One hun
dred thousand dollars have already been expended and
am happy TO say, judciousy expended. This appro.
pfaion is needed and must be maie and is wiser to
make II now, and permit The work to proceed with full
ton which may not last until the regular appropriation
bills passed. II will be the best economy complete
the building speedily il be done consistently
Mr. WOODWARD ii j am IN order in making the
inquiry, shoudk to know whether is likely that the
special commlttee, relative TO the foundation OF the
wings of the CAPITOL will probably make reponl The
question of what liz TO be the amount of appropriation
may be affected by the report from that committee.
should like 10 inquire, i il be in order when that COM
mec may be expected To report, and what is likely TO
be the character OF the report!
Mr. McNAlR, chairman OF the committee We
shall report next week, and we almost ready
from Kentucky Mr. STANTos] for inteIrupung him.
Mr.. STANTON. have no objection to the gentle
man from Pennsylvania [Mr McNAIRl making his state
ment
Mr. McNAIR. The inve.tigaiion has been going on
regularly, and we now almost ready TO report. We
have found the wall in a dreadful condon--in condi-
anime IL, we found that wall with shells built up the
outside, and small stones thrown 10 on the INSIDE We
have found II IN very bad condition There are no
stones running through the wall 10 bind it, There
no headers, and there is no bond work.
MIR. WOODWARD. 1 understand fran the gentle
man from Kentucky [Mr SrAsrosl that he had no,
Int hax rlva aa had
Mr. STANTON. Il do not lose my right 10 the floor.
have no objection to the gentleman from Pennsy lvania
MIR. McNAiR The mortar ha, has been put in there
have found 10 be entrey insufficient, believe
II has been in there about three months, and is not yet
set Men with picks Just dug out the inside and threw
out the stones with their hands, and threw out the sand
or mortar, or whatever you cali il. with shovel We
have, member OF the committee expressed II, real
lied our very worst sncipatiors. We had no expecta
ton that this large appropriation would be sprung upon
al this time, Tor The architect himself asked but $780,
900 in his repo 10 the President OF the United States
That report have 10 my possession. We believe this
thing ought TO be investigated fairly and that all things
connected with IL should be brought before this House
is once made, we will be powerless 10 change IL We
will be all fastened, and you will put up building which
will cost 30 0UOO 0OO upon an appropriation OF 100000
made by this House on the 3Oh day OF September $50
appropriation made 10 three lines and ball. giving TO
The President 100000, and power 10 appoint au arch
ect; that architect 10 produce plan, OF which he shall
approve and Then the money was 10 be expended nom
the commencement OF the extension OF the Capitol That
money has been under the control oil The architect him
SELF who has drawn il out OF the treasury himself IL
has been expended; how, we know not have here a
statement Of the money drawn from the Secretary oil the
Treasury by the architect himself in OF $4,000,
! and expended or disbursed by him, know not how.
This matter requires an inquiry and want this House
know and 10 understand now this business progress
ing. and whether this foundation will be so Trail and so
weak that the snperstructufe raised upon IL will fall
down. One OF the best architects, Perhaps in the Stale
o Pennsylvania here who has interest whatever
IN this work, and probably will have and he de-
csted me, wh he looked at that wall and examined
the formation Of it, that he would his lite the
building would fall down il built upon it, Now, that bs
10 this matter, and therefore want the House 10 pause
before making this appropriation.
MIR DUNCAN, (nieTrUptlng.) ] wish TO ask the gem
teman who that architect from Pennsylvania is, and
whether hr has been examined before the committee.
Mr. McsAlR No. did.not say that he had been
Tn. gentleman is friend Of MIR DrMMfcs and Wis.
lung him he may give MS name u he chooses.
lCres of No." "no"l
MIR. DUNCAN. As he IS represented as gentleman
OF such nigh reputation, want to know who he -.
lCfies oi "NAme" . namerl
nlany MEMBERS "Nol" "nol"
Mr McNAlR. He was introduced TO me by Mr.. DM.
loud cries Of Name !" "Ramei" and Oh no, 20
Renewed cries Of Name !" +" name ri
Mr. FLORENCE On no the reputation Of Penn.
sl llvapa may ne al sake.
(Cues OF . 0rlerr aud laugher,l
MANY MEMBERS "Name" " name y
MIR DUNCAN Where is he from
MIR McNAIR | wish gentlemen 10 know something
about the disbursement OF that money, before they Judge