The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-02-18

AZ The ias session OF Congress we appropriated s75,
yepdor this purpose and the sum now asked or will
make The aggregate expenditure sos 800 for fitting up
al aad repsfnnk one foom ia this Capitol Now, know
., ,h n9lplk asslnshe p,egy Of the architect who has
nus WuK III SlsrSe Built does seem 10 me that this is
pretty good sum for fitting up sone room thought
mnsn Ds Of s1S ooowas asked Tor at the
books conlanedia the library But whe $4,000 in add
don is asked for,1 think some anaion ought TO be
gwen to the Senate, II may sneosssxy appropriate
or THIS purpose to me 70 be
Mr.. HUNTER 1t is true hat .tAa, library room is
likely to exceed the estimate tostghaliy made by the
architect We all know hattwas destroyed by6re, and
was impossible IRON superficial inspection tnell how
lar il had been injured Upon taking adown the portion
that was burned IT was found that il was injured to a
much greater extent than at first supposed and est
mated for. In addition 10 that told by the archi
lect That THIS IS the largest made OF iron in the
world, and OF course he was more liable TO in
tmaing for of that sort, to some extent the first
experiment OF the kind that has been made, than he
would have been in regard TO any other room. He
showed me the bids that in for the iron alone,
and they ranged from seventy odd thousand dollars
nearly the amount originally appropriaed--down TO a
little below $4,000 He took the lowest bid and the
contract seems to have been very well executed But il
Is found that 10 order to finish The room this additional
appropriation is required believe this appropriation
passed under the supervision OF the Committee Public
Buildings of the House 81 Representatives and it ac
co1dns ds S.ats r. oa. ThS room ws
world The architect dsskns. / bylkW, TO fpishitin
such n style ss!o pEsssA5s new sbsf o aIch!ssiuis
this new ss aS snas as spp0p 4
Mr.. BoRLAND. II may perhaps be right and proper
the argument that my friend from Virginia Mr. HUNTER
has made to my friend from Pennsy sylvanla Mr.. BRoD-
HEADlis a very strong one We have heard of many
linda pf il. tha
mem, and many other arguments This is argumen
um ad terum and it has been urged against the honor
able senator from Pennsylvania great many times, and
very strong appeal is made to him by the honor
able senator from Virginia in this very way afraid
that II my trend from Pennsyvan is OF iron
nerves. this constant striking him with iron arguments
will break down his resolution. IA
But desire to say word 10 TO the contracts
that this architect has been making for public works
And do SO now for the purpose ofsnPpiypg omisson
IN the remarks made few moments since in regard TO
this matter OF conlractan omission made in the hurry
OF speaking. will state single fact which has been
proved before the committee, which think will strike the
Senate as very extraordinary contract has been
made for the marble be used the construction of the
extension OF the Capitol That contract is very curiously
woded dltrence s made in the prices paid for pieces
OF marble containing thirty cubic feet and over and those
containing less than thirty cubic eeand very
dnary difference il is, The architect has contracted
pay for pieces OF marble containing thirty cubic feet and
at the rate OF 81 9S per cubic loot aud for all pieces
containing less than thirty cubic ee be Pays xlxiy tive
cents per cubic loot Nowsin JeSet AFs frt4l
s,teIsa. ss5:oeas sa @
amount oI cubic. feet hat would Sc Spred 1hs hSldl
ing Mr.. Smith, OF New Yofk-whose high character as
man of integrity and honesty the honorable senator
from New York Mr. FISH will bear testimony to-came
here at the request OF the architect, and submitted
estimate 10 the amount required for the construction
OF the extension of the CAPITOL OF 35 900 cubic feet The
architect told him that he thought that estimate
small that would be required and suggested him
and submit estimate for SO 900 cubic feet
the probable amount that wsald be required Mr. Smith
based his estimate upon that suggestion and proposed to
furnish at certain price That wasthe largest amount
which the architect then deemed necessary. He, how
ever, made contract with others, based upon es
mate that 100000 cubic feet would be required for this
work
MT. WALKER | would inquire of what character
the marble be furnished-n pieces containing
thirty cubic leet each, or in pieces OF less than that size
MIR. BORLAND. IL is found that about one. half OF
these 100000 cubic fee, has been received in pieces
coneinings oye lhUg cubic feet each: Now, very
simple cacal ltic wAtehew hs'eeytqs such contract
that. AT least onehan aad more thaD one;
half. Of these 100000 cubic feet OF marble THIS coa
racied for has been received pieces obtaining over
thirty cubic feet each. What is the result These large
pieces brought here, and then cut up into smaller
pieces at the expense of the government Instead
OF being cut up into smaller pieces before being
furnished here, in which case they would be paid
for the rate OF sixty five cents per cubic foot this
marble is brought here in large pieces paid for at the
rate OF 81 9s per cubic foot, and then cut up into
small pieces al the expense OF the government. Aud
what is the difference to the government! The Commits
sioner Public Buildings has made estimate in regard
10 what has under his own observation, and has
communicated the fact 10 MIR Walter, the architect, that
in this way than S65 900, which ought not TO
have been paid have been paid out IN fraud OF the law
So much in regard TO any statements which the archi-
tect may make. 1 have stated facts here which have
been proved beyond all controversy | have stated the
pursued by the architect alter he had been put IN
possession OF the facts OF the And now will
leave the Senate Judge what confidence TO be placed
IN his statements.
Mr. BROOKE. do not wish to say anything in ref
erence 10 this amendment but rise for The purpose OF
protesting against any member OF the invesagausg COM
mttee now in session, divuging Nhaf has been testified
before thai committee, until the report OF that committee
is completed. made the Senate, and published BY au-
thony OF the Senate The statements IN regard TO this
matie 40 far they have been made here entirely
eI park This investigating committee has the power TO
aragn individuals before H. and TO hear and collect tes-
lmony regard TO the charges that be made against
them The characters OF men involved in this nves
tgauon and the simplest rule OF justice requires that
these charges and The pdrfe proof lar had upon
or parties implicated and accused have had oppor-
tuny todefend themselves. rise, as before remarked
simply for the purpose OF protesting against this course
OF proceeding.
Mr. BORLAND. The honorable senator from Msns.
sipp Mr. BROOKE protests against my use OF these pa
pers Has that senator forgotten that before took these
papers from the committee room asked and obtained
permission of the committee take them and them
lor this very purpose He hardly have forgotten
that for il three hours ago that II was done
did not undertake 10 bring them here without the con-
sent OF the committee. stated the amendment pro
for TO make explanation IN regard TO ", and
asked and obtained the PERMISSION OF the committee 10 ake
these papers for the purposes Of making that exPlana
ton. = III ~
Mr.. BROOKE I was not aware that the honorable
senator had obtained the consent oil the committee 10 90
- L. Hal fIaf nah