The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-01-08

lon. But sir. made this proposition to refer to The
Committee on PuDlis Buildings not with view TO defeat
TIE bl will not attempt 10 defeat the bill by any
on OF mine. But. sir have seen the ad srisement OF
The architect. proposals made by the superintendent OF
pnoic buildings, whosoeyer he was Those proposals
were for uen to come here be employed until certain
day in December, and they fully employed ill that
day NO further proposition was made 10 them Tor work
no further engagement made that they should be
ployed during the next season. In the spring OF 1852
the men here. undoubtedly ready TO go TO work
upon the building, rnd there delay in the APP
preparation. As TO the claim they may have il is graui
ous on the part OF Congress, il anything is giyea In
my humble opinion, there is nothing in the contract that
oosates the government It's agent IN any way 10 make
any extra allowance these men, who subsequent
y employed on The building sl They were employed
here during the year. The S1me thing may occur at
every OF the year. when work 10 stopped in The
all, and is not commenced again till spring therefore
think that IL the bill referred TO the Committee on
Public buildings, of which my colleague is charman
will there be subjected 10 delay, but the matter will be
inquired into, and the Senate will be advised TO all the
circumstances that relate to IT, therefore made The mo-
on and if il is the pleasure OF the Senate 10 feisr il 10
that committee one OF that committee, will give
Us speedy return TO the Senate possible and with all
the information that can be had upon the subject Ipre-
the Senate i'd not betief advised upon the subject
than am, and certainly do moi know upon what just
grounds this claim is based for additional allowance Ii
may be gratuity that these men deserves but III my opn
the matter ought 10 be REFERRED IN order TO enable e
Senate to ascertain the circumstances upon which this
claim is founded, by report from committee We can
then act adyisedly upon the subject
Mr.: BORLAND. This provision for these wofkLen
has already been passed upon by the Senate twice The
matter was considered, think, very fully know that
during the last session made several efforts also sew
era other SENATORS did and we succeeded in getting the
proposition put upon two different bills which passed this
body Therefore, suppose the subject was rs fully and
thoroughly considered then as il is likely TO be by the
Senate st this session. The only objection have to this
bill is that il does moi gte enough But these men are
suffering think they have been badly treated al that
Congress is duty bound provide something for them
We seem disposed TO provide literally for everybody
thu
and superntendentgo their pay, and suffered
Inconvenience loss whatsoever hut these poor men
who had TO depend upon their daily labor for bread TO
feed their wives and children thrown out OF en-
ployment. While the stperin,endents living in
comfort and abundance and got their salaries ularly
whether they worked or not these poor workmen, who
came here under representations and by these
persons, were thrown out OF employment at an inclem.
ent OF the year. and left destitute OF the means OF
support so that even the very beds upon which their
wives and children slept had to be taken and sold in the
arke: 10 procure provisions These facts that
within my own knowledge. then made effort TO get
larger amount Tor them than s now proposed believing
it to be just that they should receive IT, This is too small
compensation-only thirty days wages-when they
we.e on. Of employment three or four months II there
any claim tha, ever came before Congress that de-
manded immediate action, it Is this #
Mr. CLARKE. ] certainly do not mean TO inlerpose
any very serious objection 10 this claim.
Mr.. HALE Thea Withdraw the motion.
Mr.. CLARKE. will will Withdraw IL at the request
Mr. BROOKE. When this question was up for
sdeIaon last session, the from Kentucky (Mr
UkDERwooDl exhibited the Senate the advertisement
by which these men were induced TO come here
MIR. CLARKE That is what referred to-
Mr.. BROOKE. That advertisement specified the day
when their labor was 10 terminate. The government full
ned lis contract by paying them up 10 the day that was
specified IN that advertisement Now SIR unless some
explanation is given, cannot vote for paying this money
rhe laborers not taken by surprise The govern
ernment not all IN fault, understand il and
would like TO hear some given for paying them be-
yond the time specified in the advertisement with which
they mus! nn,, haze been acquainted.
three months. and this bill proposes 10 pay the thirty
days compensation.
Mr. Brooke, do no, care II they were unemployed
six months The day specified when the work should
terminate the 30th OF November. They were
gagged 10 work I'LL that Time and they did So and were
paid for IT, Il was not the fault OF the government that
they were then out OF employment, and can see no
earthly reason why they should receive extra pay.
Mr. UNDERWOOD read all the papers furnished
by the superintendent OF these buildings showing that
they invited TO come here and work till particular
time The statement is correct that they employed
and paid up TO the day mentioned in the advertise ment
which, according TO recollection was the 30th OF No
vember when, by the terms OF the contract they were
Mr WALKER. The memory of senators must be
very short indeed, ii they do not reco'lect what will
trely contradict the inference which gentlemen dis
posed TO draw from the truthful satemenifor know
II 10 be rue-made by the senator from Kentucky. Do
not know, when there was 900 appropriation
asked for towards the continuation OF the extension of
the CAPITOL the superintendent and others daily and
hourly about this Capitol, saying that these poor
were lying idle for want OF that appropriation Do
not well remember that these galleries filled with
these poor every day, Tor the purpose OF influencing
action upon that appropriation Can we have for.
gotten III And is not the inference irresistible that they
here under such circumstances, under the CONTROL
and amos, under the command, of this ndenti
that tney kept here upon their expense and for
the purposes OF this superintendent, TO induce make
that appropriation, and had no, penny in their pockets
to pay their expensesi And now shall we be told that
because the time named the advertisement expired at
which they to stop work they consequently 10
have nothing to compensate them Tor the time they
kept here idle and destitute OF anything pay their
penses with trust such influence will moi prevail
IN this Senate.
MIR BRIGHT If believed that the money proposed
be appropriated under this bill would go into the hands
OF the workmen themselves i might vote for IT, do
moi know whether moi my information 10 correct but
from what have heard have my doubts TO whether
lIng appropriation by Congress hope that such Is
mol The fact But II il the precedent mainly that object
to in this afraid that there other classes
Of claimants who may come and lay claims TO our boun
y
Gentlemen put this claim upon the ground that these
invited here by agents, and that we
are bound by their acts Why there is not public EN-
poyee in any OF the public departments who may not say
the same thing They have all been invited 10 this city,
and IL is very apparent that in short time great many
Of Them will be invited 10 leave and might, with the
propety, be asked by all such TO make an appro
public affairs incidental TO the business oil life. II is
impossible to provide against many of the hardsbips and
daily occurring by any system OF legsla
hon the ingenuity OF man can invent ~ t.Ie
Now do not wish TO be considered opposing these
Particular claims is against the principle coDended
or by the honorable senators from Pennsylvania and
Arkansas that speak contend that The government,
ike individual has right 10 dismiss from her service