The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-02-22

posed ~
Allow TO say that my friend offered an amendment
lion al the tme would have fel my duty TO object
to The bill was taken up before into the Senate
and am not certain whether the amendment itself
not offered and adopted before | cane in If | was
present my mind must have been wandering for have
not the least recollection OF lis being offered shall deem
my duty, therefore, when the bill is reported TO the
Senate 10 object TO that amendment Ii states that here
after the architect of the Capitol extension shall be
the discussing agent Of The appropriations carry the
building Ii takes away from him the power OF dsburs
ing, and gives il, think TO the superintendent of public
buildings. know II is not exactly in order to say any
thing about that matter now but can have the indui
gence OF the Senatenot wishing 10 make another speech
upon it'll will go aud make remarks now. with
out waiting till the bill is reported to the Senate think
the adoption oil that proposition will be direct censue
upon the architect; and although some things are said
to have transpired which, ii rue would damn his repu-
iaon forever. and that justly, for member OF
The committee, not willing TO subscribe to the truth OF
Tue charges and as the committee have given permission
to use all This evdence-ahoughI was not present when
that permission was givenl beg leave to state to the
Senate what some OF these charges are. Il
II was stated that the architect had purchased inferior
bricks at some two three dollars per housaAd fill
hances Of the arches and that these bricks had been
per thousand, making difference OF some two or three
dollars upon each thousand. Ii that be true-and do
no, know whether or then the character OF the
architect cannot be backened any than that
action has blackenedit 1t has been proved by the late
superintendent of the hands, Mr. Strong that bricks were
purchased OF an inferior quality for that purpose, and
that he handed them over TO the architect we have mol
yet had time to trace the settlement OF the account for
those bricks to see how the matter stands.
II could multiply these charges One OF the questions
that up was why the spas, they called, or
pieces Clipped off of the blocks of granite bueslone
were not used instead OF the bricks, for the purpose OF
filling up the hances OF the arches and traced some
OF these spalls 10 Mr. Suongs building and TO the
architects grounds. WE'LL il occurred 10 me that if rab
bh OF that sort could be used advantageousy the
building, it would have been better material than good for
nothing brick and seemed TO that II improper TO
haul il away and i for other purposes, when you
might just well use it to fill up these holes where you
only wanted some materials TO produce some weight
upon the arches, and give stable foundation for the
floors But upon subsequent investigation, i turned out
that the who furnished OF these blocks
of claimed the right, the Of these spas
to give them away. Then the question came up
whether he was the owner not; and that brought up
another inquiry whether the blocks OF stone meas
ured in the rough, so as TO ente the government by
that TO the whole, whether they were
measured after they were trimmed and prepared TO be
placed upon the WALL thus leaving the spals to the man
who furnished the stone And il was proved that some
OF these blocks of stone measured in the rough
for the purpose of increasing the price, upon the idea that
the contractors did not get enough for them when meas
ured in the other way.
Now these things have not been fully investigated
and am unwilling to condemn anybody until he mas had
full and fair opportunity respond to all these charges
Bot say, if, upon full investigation the charges can.
not be cleared up and dsproved that degradation and
inamy must visit the who has, from such conduct,
show that the love of money has got above all of
honesty and proprety whcih should have bound hlm to
serve the government faithfully. So much say But
tgaed repeat that | am unwilling to condemn any
body. | acknowledge that had very high opinion
of the architect, and will not surrender that opinion
until his guilt made manifest; and that mas not
/ yet appeared to my satisfaction
i Mr. HUNTER l stated, when said would agree
to this amendment, that did i with no view to dis
parage the the architect would not vote for anything
that calculated TO cast upon him until
thing is proved against him; but regarded this amend
ment as intended by the senator from Arkansas Mr..
BoRLANDl TO produce pause in the work OF the
Capitol extension until the investigation can be COM
pleed That does dsparage the architect believe
he is not afraid OF the invesgaon-at least he told me
Mr. UNDERWOOD rise for the purpose of stating
that fact has this moment been communicated 10 me
! which feel bound TO lay before the Senate. ] have
us learned for the first time that the bricks which Mr..
Walter got for the government charged to the gov
eminent at precisely the same price at which they were
bought. Ii that be then this inmat,on which has
been made the committee against him. that he bought
the bricks price and sold them al another OF course
falls have just this moment been told the iact, and
! felt II my duty to state II TO the Senate
Il Mr. BORLAND. | am as little disposed to cast refiec-
tons upon The character of any else, and l
uus, set as high value upon character as any man
and would be among the very last in the world ground
lessy any mputaton upon the character oil any
4 man But il seems me that there is an unnecessary
degree OF senveness displayed on the part OF senators
who have acq uainance with, and high appreciation
Of the individuals who in the performances OF these
public duties; for when any purpose manifested here
10 look their public conduct and TO examine H. every
thing is construed a, into personal attack Now,
trust, Mr.. President, that senators may take steps
looking TO thorough investigation OF the conduct OF the
officers of this government the disbursement oil The
public money without having their OF action con-
sued into personal attack desire 10 blast the char
acter OF an individual Whether Mr.. Walter has been
guilty of fraud in this not do not undertake TO
say do not undertake to express an opinion that such
il the fact and would express such an OPINION
until the testimony ample and conclusive 10 nv mind
But did that there testimony enough before the
committee 10 show that great frauds had been perpetra
ted and were process OF perpetraton now, and that
the in this testimony were, that the architect
and his subordinates employed the work OF the exten
sion OF the Capitol concerned in them For That put
and because satisfied, least that frauds had been
perpe,raed wanted time to look further into them IN
oder 10 ascertain the facts whether they operate Tor OF
against any OF these individuals before any more money
was expended in the work in which they have been
gagged,
Now apart from the frauds that alleged there is
consideration upon the very face OF the application rsef
which il seems 10 me, ought 10 make us pause, tor
awhile al least AT the last session. when we made the
appropriation OF five hundred thousand dollars for the
tnuaon OF this work. provision expressly made
pation bis-ihat no work should be done OF RESPONSE
bity incurred beyond the amount appropriated II wa.
done to prevent any such thing exravagance beyond
the authority Of law, or beyond what Congress puf-
posed TO do Ii stated nj the time that there was no
power on the part OF the Executive, or any department.
or any person employed by The government 20 ehceeu m
appropriaon--tbat The amount of the appropriation Ws
the lawful limitation TO the exercise OF tnef ,h
that il would be unlawful to exceed the smooh' - o 80 80
augmentation although no restriction OF the gnu w p
in The bill But, for greater caution, ana 70 n n,
rance doubly sure the restriction was Pu' ~ w.
alton in positve and express terms, tna' pe ~, m
should not exceed the amount of ,ne slp'opN al, Co.