The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-04-21
REPORT
! or he Select Committee oppoifsd By the Senate urdr h
| resolution Of The 6h Of 4ugust 1852
THE ARCHITECTS DEFENCE.
WASHINGTON, I'd c., } Feb 80, IS


THE ARCHITECTS DEFENCE.
WAsHrSeroN, I'd CO Feb 80. 1859.
To he Hon s. Houston Chair,aan Of The Senate Committee Of
Investigation, &c, and Geaiiensn Of the Committee
thank you for your poileness IN submitting 10 me 'he
testimony given in relation TO the alleged frauds connect
ed with the extension OF the United States Capitol and
shall proceed TO adduee such proofs and explanations
as confident will convince you that, m reference 70
myself all the charges and allegations that have peen
made have not The slightest foundation IN TACT.
has been stated and reiterated throughout the country,
that "ihee has been loss TO government t'n The con-
strucon OF the Capitol exenslon) during the past year oil
perhaps 5000 O00 and that hese facts matters
OF record before the country" Before remaIking further
am free TO say that have no doubt the honorable gen
tleman who Gade this statement believed wha, he sald
but that he was imposed upon by those who have no
regard for the truth, think can show, and desire,
therefore, 10 be understood, in what may saw notre
eciDg in The least on the gentleman who made the as
sertioH the contrary believe him TO have been SIN
in the opinion he had formed As to the fact ITSELF
shall show that it is entirely without foundation and
SO far from 100000 having been squandered shall
demonstrate that The system have pursued IN prosecu
ting the work. and the plans which have been adopted to
promote, as far laid my power the interests OF gov
ernment, have produced large savings notwithstanding
the greater portion OF the labor mas been performed by The
day, which have always considered expensive mode
OF executing public work
shall proceed 10 notice some OF the most important
features OF the testimony which has been submitted 10
The Commissioner of Public Buildings deposes that
san utter disregard Of The OF labor has been evnced
and that work thar could have heen put up for 4 50 per
perch has cost probably from $40 SIS per percn " and
further that, in his opinion, he work has cost more
than double what it ought TO cost"
do not deny that dishonest, unprncpled, and indoen
men have IN some Instances, been engaged on the work.
nor that these people have committed Frauds
Tent government, and thereby increased the cost OF
the work; this freely admit, and wish TO every
one OF them exposed and the utmost penalty OF The law
carried out against then.
| am, however, confident that the extent OF these
frauds will be fouEd to DC very limited in amount and
to form comparatively nconsderabe item in the cost Of
the work, All the checks that could possibly be I'M
posed by me have been imposed, and whatever frauds
may have been perpelaed have been Of such character
as 10 eude the most ygllant attention that any in
the facity OF architect could esiow. .s ...
The excellence OF the work throughout the buildings
shows that The greater part of the stone masons must
have been very superior wo kmeD, and those who were
not we'll skilled must have been distributed among the
good woTkmen 10 avoid detection. The testimony
OF John Dowd, IN reference to the inferior work men, s
that they placed under the instructions directions
and control OF good wofkmen, who permitted stone to
be laid in the walls which did meet their appreciation"
This accounts Tor their euding my observation hut
however true il may be- would not have suffered them
to remain on The work single hour had known they
were inferior woIkmea. The whole system OF appren-
tcehps which the testimony appears have developed,
Was Kept entirely from my knowledge until The men were
discharged this winter.
am also aware tha, men working BY the day for gov
ernment will not labor indusously they ought,
and that the days work system is costly manner oil ex
sculing public works. but this is no fault of nine |
dsapproyed o !, from the beginning OF the work. but the
Commissioner OF Public Buildings strenuous in his
efforts 10 bring about the OF the work by the day
letter wrote TO the President this subject. under
date OF July 30. 1851 shows that at the very commence
ment OF tie work anticipated difficulties IN this parilcu
lar. bui The Commissioner succeeded IN having the days
work system adopted. | am, therefore, not TO be held
responsible for the unavoidable difficulties attending this
plan OF executing public work, and which must continue
- be raugh with EVIL until all men become honest.
shall proceed TO show that the assertions OF the
Commissioner Of Public Budings, that /" work which
could have been put up al ~ so per perch has cost prob
ahI tFnpn slu .ft
has cost more than double what il ought 10 cos,"
not founded in truth.
Although II is not possible 10 arrive at The separate
cost oil any oi the portions OF the work which have been
done BY the day. 10 consequences OF the abores having
been unfortunately employed on BRICK work, stone.
work, digging cellars and foundations, filling up terraces
&c., aud IN consequence oil the lime, sand and cement
having been furnished without distinction Tor both brick
and stone work, shall nevertheless show, by an ap-
proxmae estimate, that the assumption OF The Commits
slonet Is very lar from correct
The whole amount ol rough blue stone ually laid
Ia the buildings, according 10 the measurements OF Mr.
J. C. iarkness, the sworn measuTer, added TO all the
dressed granite used in the foundations, reduced 10
perchca OF rs feet each 37s57 peches these what
NE Commissioner SAYS has cost probably from SO TO
W. ,'r i5fen. Vow, u We take u.e mean ~ these
suns, and FAY Sl2l per rech, we lave tor the whole
cot the sun o. Si7laG2 Or nearly lCur Gj,hs OF the
whole amount appropriated tor the work.
have considered this assertion OF the Commissioners
as covering both work and materials bat from the
wording OF it, have no doubt that he meant the labor
alone had cost that amount Wish, however, in this
De on the haIe sue ana 70 glfe 70 is tes
mony The fullest possible construction IN It's favor and
against the work.
There has been paid for other portions Of the work
as my vouchers show ereuspe Of lime, sand cemen and
all the days ~ork a, has been done me commencement
Jhe sum OF Sl65 lI4
10 which, u we add the Aforesaid 474 4B2
We have the sum OF 63g COS
s3o6O6 above the whole amount Of the appropriations
II add 10 this what has been paid for digging cellars
and foundations, filling up terraces laying all the bricks
carpenters work, lumber, centring lime, sand and
nent Tor brick work, smith. work, and whatever NAV
have been done by days worsmeu, exclusive OF the
aforesaid stone-sork have the amount of The Conmis
sones error, which canno under any circumstances be
less tban tico hundred thousand dollars NV own de ebera,e
opinion -, that the OF labor these foundations
Jar below what has ever been known before in this Dis
met The DAY. work system, however having pre-
vailed throughout The work, excepting in The marble and
granite cutting, there IL possibility OF arriving at the
seplfae cost Of each braach; but The facts have here
stated sufficient TO show, beyond doubt that this
portion Of the work has cost less than one half OF what
the Commissioner stated
As 10 the quality OF the stone, aware that some
OF them moi, Ia appearance good as they ought
to be bot They furnished iotty. five cents Der
perch less than The offers OF Tie other principal bidders
VIZ the Messrs Easily and Mr. Onell, the latter OF
whom afterwards subconaced for the north wint so
that this wing at least, obtained the stone that
were offered at 50 10, for 81 Is per perch
he difference IN the cost Of all the stone delivered
between the aforesaid offers Of the messrs Easily and
Onel and the price actually paid, is SlI,0l in favor OF
government.
The Commissioner Of Public Buildings having testi.
fed that the small refuse requires large quant
Ties Of cement mortar lay them ~ the wall, thereby
greatly increasing The expense" ID will be proper for