The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-02-16

repealed, far ii the appropriation Tor light
houses contained ia said act"
Blr., BOliLAND. Before the vote is taken on that
amendment would like to have some explanation OF il
hlta HUN Ter. The explanation is this: There was
clause ~ The army appropriation bill OF last year. pro;
vIdng that portion of the money then appropriated
should be expended for arrearages In the lighthouse
expenditures the accounts carried IRON year TO
year, thus continuing the work; and although that pro-
VISION operated very well with regard TO most matters,
II was found inconvenient with reference 10 the ighl
house system This amendment proposes 10 repeal maj
section, SO far the lighthouse system IS concerned
that payments may be made Tor arearages IN case OF
Mr. BORLAND | would ask the honorable senator
il this applies to the construction OF light houses upon
the Pacific coast
Mr. HUNTER presume il applies TO all The light
houses. E-ta
something should be said upon The subject and that the
Senate and the country should be put possession of
the facts which have been developed with regard to the
contracts made Tor the erection OF those light houses,
and the money spulaedto be paid for hem and which,
when made known, will astound every man who has
supposed the contracts with the government had been
made upon principles OF honesty and fair dealing This
is the hrs, occasion which have had OF aludng to this
subject and feel my duty call the attention OF the
honorable senator from Virginia, the chairman OF the
COMMITTEE on Finance, to the matter And would sug-
gest TO the Senate that in consideration OF the general
TACT which have stated, it would be well except
the construction OF lighthouses upon the Pacific coast
do not desire to go into discussion OF this subject at
this time There why may perhaps not be
proper for me to do So because there committee OF this
been directed 10 this subject will merely say in
general terms, that they will expose system of frauds
which will aslound this Senate and the country when
the information comes to be laid before them.
MIR. HUNTER. Do understand the honorable sena-
tor to make proposition to except the lighthouse OF
caior np from nh the operation Of this sscon'
Mr.. HUNTER Ii he will prepare such an amend
men we pass this for the present shall have
no objection TO that course.
Mr.. DAVIS. 1 wish the honorable chairman of the
Committee on Finance would state little more fully
what will be the operation of This section. should like
10 know what the effect OF it will be-
Mr.. HUNTER Ga the annual army appropriation
bill OF the last session, il provided that of the
money appropriated for this fiscal should be applied
10 the payment OF arearages Tor the last fiscal year This
stated before the Secretary says has operated very
well. with the exception of the lighthouse system; but
they say tina. they lnd 1t necessary to the existing
appropriation for the payment OF balances far that
system concerned and il is the proposition and the
recommendation OF the department to except the light
house system IRON the operation OF that section of the
appropriation bill of last year.
Mr.. BORLAND. Upon reflection, Mr. President.
think would be best not to make the exception which
proposed TO the honorable senator from Virginia He
proposed to except the light houses of the country from
The operation OF this act and proposed TO leave the
ght-houses upon the Pacific coast from that exception
But sir think II very proper and reasonable to suppose
that ii improprets have been committed with regard
tbem the whole system may he or less tinctured
with improperly II seems TO that this very good
safeguard which we have now, and that would
better let the matter stand as is, and not except the
lighthouses at all because il do adopt the recon-
mendailoh OF the department. and except our lighthouse
from the operation of that law, shall have 10 make
special reference to those upon the Pacific think
II the better plan that they should all stand upon the
same footiDg and let the whole matter be investigated
Mr. HUNTER. If the honorable senator will allow
me, will say that think the most convenient way will
be 10 let the matter lie until take up The bill to-
morrow, and in the mean time examine the sub
jet This appropriation is necessary, particularly in
cases like the one where portion OF the money appro-
priated TO complete light house, under decree OF the
court IN Florida was paid Tor salvage Some of the
most important light houses without OIL and
the lights must be extngushed unless appropriate
more money give this sanction for the payment OF a
portion OF the money appropriated in the bill OF the last
session, TO be applied tor this purpose II do not do
this, we shall have 10 make special appropriation for
certain lighthouses. 1t is indispensable make
provision in regard TO this matter and think il would
be the better way 10 let il lie for the present. and
by tomorrow look into II, and perhaps the gen.
teman will be ready with specific provision.
Mr. DAVIS. wish to say a word TO the hoBorable
chairman OF the Committee Finance this subject.
This deficiency bill relates to all branches of the
OF the government throughout; II relates TO the light
house system well others but the point TO which
wish 10 direct the attention OF the honorable chairman
Is this the expectancy OF separating entirely the coast
survey and the lighthouse system from the army
counts and the navy accounts, so that may be able
at all times and under all circumstances understand
what the light system costs us, and what the
survey costs us. They separate bureaus-enlirely
separate in their operatons and their accounts, in my
judgment, should also be kept separate hope the chair
man OF the Committee on Finance and that committee
WILL in which shall hereafter be adopted, keep
that in view constantly that the country may what
each system costs. | said here last year what think
will turn out 10 be iruethat under The system which
adopted by the Senate last year with regard light
houses. they reach the bottom OF the matter
they cannot understand where the public money goes.
The system which complicated in its char
acter and Il has turned out to be cumbrous In its whole
machinery. One man placed at the heas OF the light
house system would be worth the whole Of it, But, sir,
| am not going into that
Mr.. HUNTER. will simply reply 10 the honorable
senator from Massachusetts, that in The deficiency bill
have appropriations for all the different branches of
pendI,ure, and all the different OF the public
vice. II would be impossible reorganize such sys-
lens the coast survey and the lghtho system up
the deficiency bill. II the honorable senator will
look back, he will find that 1t is a thing Year
after year appropriations for lighthouses
tanned in the military appropriation bill, and in the
civil and diplomatic appropriation bill New works |
believe, are generally under the jurisdiction OF the War
Department. while those which are established and in
operation under the jurisdiction OF the Treasury De-
partment dare say the honorable senator is right in
saying that these things should be separated but il can
not be done at once, upon the deficiency bill
MIR. DAVIS. | will just say one word. remember
few years ago. for example, that in the lighthouse bill
there appropriation made Tor the construction OF
steamer, costing some seventy eighty thousand dol
lars; it designed for the survey, and yet it
charged TO The lighthouse bill. Now, what want
10 get rid OF is this application want to separate the
two things, and lei each stand upon its regulation
Mr.. HUNTER. ! agree to that; but the lighthouse
bill he Cbmmittep IN Commprcp and from