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

mace to offer the following amendment additional
sectlon
SEC g. Had be IL further enacted That in the seitle
An OF his the lae collector Of the port OF san
francisco, Ia the State OF California, shall be allowed credit
or $4,000 advanced Nicely Johnson for taking the sew
enth census"
That is the amount advanced TO the census agent for
necessary expenses ba not being exactly authorized by
laW, the account cannot be allowed by the proper
souatlng officer OF the treasury The Secretary OF the
Inferior recommends the appropriation.
y ne amendment was agreed to.
Mr. BOkLAND. | am directed by the Committee on
An1ary Affairs offer the following amendment, 10
oQess IN after line 10, on page 4, OF the bill
nd that hereafter the master of the sword at the Mill
academy at West Point shall be paid at the rate OF
xa yNW per annum"
The amendment was agreed to-
EXTENSION OF THE CAPITOL.
~: BORLAND. have amendment TO come in
aef line %, page 2. Before read II will state TO
nSenate that the appropriation that is intended to
ad Is For the extension OF the United States Capi.
to4 Yl00 900" The amendment is for the purpose OF
QYatng the manner in which that money is TO be dis
DQ&d. The amendment Is as follows:
pyopided, That much Of former appropriations for
s o now made nd III nhie
be made for that object Shall be dsbursed by
iions as the Presdsnt of the United States may presobe
said Commissioners accounts for such 10 be
accouas oihAx OWL ocefs with The disburse
ment Of Pabc money dsaid oAiinssioner shall re-
time to be presented to Congress at the OF
each annual session, and at any other time when re-
4ured."
do not like TO occupy the attention OF the Senate al
this lime but deem il proper, in offering this amend
ment, to say very few words in relation to the
sty of it, think the public interests generally require
that Congress and the public should be put
OF few OF the facts and circumstances which have been
connected heretofore with the disbursement Of the money
appropriated for the extension OF the CAPITOL and which
facts and circumstances create the necessity II the
treasury is to be guarded at ALL for providing for differ
ent mode of disbursement from that which has hereto
fore existed But before stating those facts and circum
stances, will take occasion 10 say that do not believe
there is any necessity for this amendment, far the
guarding of the treasury under the incoming adninslra
lion is concerned because do believe that the proper
will be intrusted with that business by the incoming ad
and ha! the money we may appropriate even
without this provision, will be faithfully and honestly
expended But Iproceed upon the general principle
one hatI contended for when the last appropriation OF
$500000 made for this purpose-that no matter who
may be intrusted with the expenditure OF the public
money, should by law provide how 1t shall be ex-
penced.
Mr. HUNTER. We will agree TO the amendment
Mr. BORLAND But have word or two 10 say in
addition 10 what have already said
1t will be recoeced that when the appropriation OF
$50o00o made at the last session for the extension
OF the Capitol, called the attention OF The Senate to the
fact that the individual who ntrused by law with
the disbursement Of this money was perfectly respons-
be-ihat is he officer not known to the consti-
taton created by iaand Nyawery small portion OF law
al that appointed BY ths bat not subject the
approval 81 the Senate and upoa his pile order be
could draw out OF the treasury, without vouchers, any
amount he might choose OF the money appropriated and
his accounts would be subsequently settled. know
said at the time-my honorable friend from North
Carolina MIR BADGERl told me-that was mistaken as
the mode in winch this public money usually dis
bursed that it did not in his opinion, deviae from the
usual ! then told him that was pretty certain
right and the facts subsequently elected have not
only shown that then right, bu, that the sugges-
lions which made, ii they had been adopted and car
ried out would have saved TO this government nearly,
tsque, one-h half OF the appropriation then made
hold IN my hand two papers-and they are but a small
por pn OF the immense amount OF testimony which the
committee OF this body appointed to examlne into this
ma ter have before them and which they proceeding
to ihbody in the form of report-showing total dis
reg d OF the public interest and fraudulent misuse oil
the public money 70 an enormous amount to an extent
andin manner that has before been heard Of.
And when called the attention o the Senate TO this
STATE OF things, as TO what was likely TO happen, and
what actually happening at the time OF the last ses
sion of Congress, what the consequence The
special organ OF this administfation-he confidential
channel through which the President announced his
views The pubhcarragned me before the public and
denounced fac,ious, throwing myself before the
.1suhs of hungry and starving women and children and
keeping from them the means TO obtain the food neces
sary,o sustain life. These were the denunciaons OF
the administration through its special organ. the Repub
lie new spaper oil this place, because had tried TO guard
The expenditure OF the public money against fraud-iraud
which was apparent TO my eyes, and which could be
seen, by any sepator any day al that time. Now, we
have the proof OF what | then stated Here [hoding
up written documentl is the sworn testimony of The
Commissioner of Public Buildings, and here (hoding
up smother document] is the testimony OF gen.
teman from New York, who, understand is a member
Of the legislature of New York
Mr. FISH. Not smember OF the legislature OF New
YORK but a very respectable gentleman.
Mr. BORLAND The honorable senator from New
York mir FIsH says that the gentleman is not a men,
Der of the New York legislature, but he vouches for his
being highly respectable gentleman. And we have
also upon the files OF the committee testimony piled up
going to prove beyond doubt that before very eyes
in vfpaton of all law and all honesty, the public money
has been embezzled The Commissioner of Pnblic
Buildings swears here that when he these frauds
going on, and when the superintendent OF the work
came 10 him and made dishonest and fraudulent propo
stions for the purpose OF making money, he wen, imme
dialely TO the architect who was engaged upon this
work and made known the fact TO him, and pointed out
the frauds going here every day TO enormous
tent and told him how II could be prevented but he
passed them by, and gave them attention al all Now
this may be considered very small matter but small
some may consider H. II amounts 10 loss 10 the govern
meni within the last year. OF perhaps $500 000 will
not go into the particulars now but state these facts
which matters OF record before the country and
will be made matter OF record in a report from this
vesgaing committee, which will vlndcate the truth
OF what have SAID by testimony and facts collected from
various quarters, and which will render my statements
indsputable . a.
have deemed il necessary 10 say thus much in general
terms, in order tovpdcae Me course which pursued
year ago. and for which then denounced by the
gan OF this administration and in order that, al least Tor
the future may guard against all similar Practices
and 10 extent require and make sure that the ad.
OF this government by the, officers charged
upon It's face at least the appearance OF common honesty
and common decency
Mr. HUNTER | am in favor OF the amendment OF
the honorable senator from Arkansas [Mr. BosLAsp,l