The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-03-17

he amendment was agreed 10.
The next amendment 10 strike out the following
81 Louis, Sil5.000
"tor proceeding with the consrucon OF the custom
house al Louisville, Kentucky, SS7 745
a., os ne completion Of me eusIom.house al Ciaeinna
Mr.. HUNTER These custom. houses were originally
authorized by law with limit on the appropriation
similar limit imposed upon many other custom
houses IN the United States and persons are coming lor
ward now with petitions 10 have that limit removed. In
the House, exceptions were made WIN regard 10 these
three houses but The Committee on Finance de-
ermned that they would strike out these items, TO
adhere 10 the limit IT, however, the Senate should not
concur with the committee in that view of the subject
we shall have TO present appropriations Tor other custom
houses hich ought 10 be put on the same footing
Mr. GEYER. IL IS very true that in all the western
custom houses limitation was put their cost bat
none was imposed the custom houses on the Atlantic
coast My information with respect 10 OF these GUS
tom houses-that at ST. Lous--s this: A lot has beer
purchased, and an appropriation made last year, in
addition 10 The original appropriation, pay for that lot
The Secretary OF the Treasury authorized proposals TO be
received Tor The construction OF the building He adopt
ed plan which contemplated that the structure should
be re-proot Proposals made for the different por
ions OF the building, and the lowest of them taken in
the aggregate, was something like $2oo,oOO The ques-
non that is now presented is, whether the building shall
be stopped entirely, whether there shall be structure
there adapted 10 the purposes Tor which it intended
The building must be fre-prool Ii is designed to ae-
commodate all the Offices of the United States within
that Slate among them the post Office the recorders
office, the surveyor generals Office which is the deposit
tory OF the ne papers transferred from the Spanish gov
eminent and the official SURVEYS and returns made under
the authority of the United States Besides these Offices
the OF the United States be accommodated in
this buildings as well as the customh house.
lot OF very considerable dimensions has been pur-
chased; plans have been submitted aud proposals have
come in II is asceained that the appropriation is not
half enough TO erect The building repeat that the ques
ton which the Senate has decide is whether they
will have structure erected not, whether they
will compel the Secretary of the Treasury to erect
building which would be less secure than the private
hu in thoxa pf}i stir q
The great fire in lS49 the public records in the land Office
in the surveyor generals Office and the post Office at ST.
Louis, exposed to imminent peril; and but for
cidental lung in the wind and slight change in its
course, all that portion OF the city would have been de-
sroyed While the priv re-proof buildings stood the
fire. and arrested It's progress part of the city, there
in that direction many combustble buildings, and
these papers would have been entirely destroyed but for
the accidental ulling OF the wind 10 which have al
luded.
Now / submit to the Senate whether il is becoming in
this government TO depend upon private individuals and
upon the States to furnish buildings for the accommoda
ton OF it's officers have thought for many years that
Congress was negectng lis duty in not providing build
lDgs wherever there were public offices OF the United
States in which records which should be protected
against destruction do moi know what is the condition
OF the custom houses elsewhere, but do know that
building. such contemplated by the plans, is
sary for the protection and security oil the public archives
MIR. HUNTER. Mr. President. The Senate will per-
ceve the which governed the Committee on Fl
nance Unless adhere TO these limitations which
the appropriations for the custom houses originally
obtained, II is useless 10 put them in at all We that
there very bad practice growing up under the govern
ment We commence with small appropriations, and
finally they result in magnificent and expensive struc
lures The result will be that il building these
costly custom houses, not only at all the seapos but in
all the interior towns, shall have such
invested in public buildings that the interest upon il
would be revenue enough Tor an ordinary government
II the people hese places would be content with plain
and substantial structures Tor the accommodation OF the
officers OF the United States there would be difficulty
in granting some OF The applications made but are
q ned
be source Of exuavagan expenditure. II is, however
for the Senate to determine the question II they should
determine TO the Imitation give notice that
shall feel bound TO bring two similar applications from
my State where they desire 10 have this Limitation
removed; and there were other places before the CON-
miee IN which the same thing would be as appropri-
ate as here.
MI BRODHEAD would like TO inquire of the sen.
ator from Virginia how much Of the original appropra-
ton remains unexpendedl
Mr.. HUNTER. | do not know how much remains
unexpended; but IN the appropriation bill OF 1852
made the following provision;
"For the completion of the custom-house Louisville,
Kentucky, the additional sum Of $4,000.
For the completion of the custom house at Cincinnati,
"For completion Of the house and other pub
lie offices connected herewith, at Pittsbug, S35 900
For the completion Of the fire proof building in the city
OF ST. Louis Missouri for custom house and independent
treasury building and other offices Of the United States,
SN,W0"
We commenced with the restrictions that the appro-
priaons all the expenses OF the sites and
buildings II then proposed by the Secretary OF the
answer 10 10 mat effect, mat
should aside the limitation, so far as the sites
concerned, and appropriate additional sufficient
the cost OF the sites. We did that, and II
desgRed TO close these appropriations; that going
beyond the original Limitation for the building, and add
ing the price OF the site. We supposed that that
end 1t but the proposition Is to increase these APP
preparations, and to abandon the limitation
Mr.. GEYER called for the yeas and nays the
amendment, and they ordered.
Mr.. GEYER II is true, as remarked before that
Limitation imposed the construction OF these
tom-bouses IN the West ! think ought not to have
been imposed The building at St Louis, and believe
the buildings in OF the other cities named,
10 accommodate number OF officers. will mention now
what omitted to mention before, that the assistant
urers oihce the subireasury, as it is called TO be in
this building would call the attention of the honorable
senator from Virginia TO fact which occurred here few
years ago. 1t almost impossible 10 obtain person
willing to accept the office OF assistant in the
city OF St Lsuis, because there place where the
money could be safely kept, and the officer would have
10 depend private buildings, and he would have con
sruct vault and have il protected against FIRE In con-
sequence OF the difficulties which existed. very few per-
sons were willing TO become security for any man. what
ever might be Their confidence in him personally,
count OF the insecurity of the building and the necessity
there was OF keeping guard over the money.
Now, agree that II rs useless TO impose these limta-
lions they unjust, because they have been a dis.
elimination again the cities OF the West II you look
the appropriation bills from year year, you will
find that the limitation has been always imposed upon
the cities OF the West and never, within my recollection,
in any case of a custom house the Atlantic. | am
told, however, by senator me, lMr BrLL,l that
there have been limitations imposed sometimes the
Atlantic but that they have been regarded These
limitations dsegarded al the last session. for then
aooiuonai appropriations were made Tor every one oil