Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-02-22
their truth than the random declarations of infu
rated and malignant Democratic partisans.

their truth than the random declarations of infu
rated aud malignant Democratic partisans.
WASHINGTON CRY, ID. GU Feb. 1s 1858.
TO The Editor ofhe Union:
Allow me to say a few words in relation to
your article on the subject of frauds connected
with the Capitol enlargement. am sure. sir,
that upon better Information your sense of
justice will prompt you to correct the
errors into which you have fallen espe-
chilly when those errors, unexplained, are
calculated to do gross and manifest wrong to the
character aud standing ofhighly honorable genile-
men. You say:
1.-The deficiency bill brought these frauds be-
tore the Senate. That billappropriates the sum
of 100000 to meet DEFICIENCIES in the fund pro-
yided for the enlargement. although it appears
that when the last approption of half a million
was made, it was intended chit no dehc ency
should be permitted to occur, for it was believed
that the expenditure was limited strictly to the
sum appropriated. deficiency of four hundred
| thousand in IN expenditure limited to five hun
dred thousand dollars-an increase of four-ffths
over estimates-is characteristic achievement
OF wing administration Whether it springs from
inefficiency corruption, or both, the effect on
the treasury is the same.'
Now, sir, it will suffice to say, in reply to this
paragraph of your article, that at the beginning
OF the last session of Congress. December, 1851,
the Secretary of the Interior and the architect of
the extension sent to Congress their estimates of
the amount of money required to carry on the
work until the end of the present fiscal year,
June 80, 1861 period of more than a year
and half The amount asked for was ST 00O,-
900, as will be seen by the report. The subject
was referred to the Committee on Public Suil-
dings and Grounds, of which | was and am the
chairman.
In consequence of the hostility which then
existed against the work. and the efforts made in
some quarters TO defeat it, thought an appro-
priation of half million could be carried easier
than the amount estimated for and accordingly
with the assent OF the committee. offered
resolution in the House making appropriation of
that sum only. This carried; and instead of mil
lion, which was necessary, there was appropria-
ted only one-haf the sum needed to keep the
work in progress until the expiration of the pre-
sent fiscal year, The objec, for which the four
hundred thousand dollars is now asked is to keep
the work in operation until the last of next June
The sum heretofore appropriated is fully ex-
hausted In the purchase of materials mud the en-
| ployment OF labor. No debts of any Importance
| are due, either for work, material or other OBJ
Jects. You will see, therefore, that the de6cien-
! cy to which you refer is not "a deficiency of
four hundred thousand in an expenditure of FIVE
| hundred thousand doars-an increase of four
hths over estimates" as you allege; and that the
inference you draw therefrom to the prejudice of
| those having the management to the fund is un-
just. If any one is to blame because of the in
suffciency of the appropriation to continue the
work until the expiration of the fiscal year, it is
l,who failed to ask for the full amount estimated
for and needed.
You also refer to the charge made in the
Senate and which is said to rest upon the testi-
mony OF the Commissioner of Public Buildings,
in regard to frauds connected with the furnishing
OF MARBLE and say that ''by this it is esti-
mated that sixty five thousand dollars have been
lost to the Government" My official position as
chairman CT the comm ittee of the House, having
Jurisdiction of the subject has induced me to en-
quire into this alleged enormity; and having ex-
amined the returns of marble delivered, and the
payment made to the present day, am prepared
to state that the whole amount paid for marble
delivered up to this moment is only sS61 ,244 81.
Your ingenuity will, perhaps enable you TO show
how under this state of fact the marble contract
ors have been enabled fraudulently to pocket
S65,000 over and above the value OF the article
| confess | cannot, by any rule of arithmetic
known to me, work out such problem