The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-04-21


Tor hanhng, lei It cost what i may
We have, however. been put 10 considerable expense,
49, ~ ',,eosF yeh9e' ~ 'nortus "f ns,ancss thev
have had TO he ehanled in consequence OF our having
almost no place TO perform the work we have PAID ioF
none OF this rehaung although Is properly chafgeaoe
us aud in consideration OF this extra labor, some aid
has doubt been extended 10 the persons VINO hauled
the stone, in unloading, but OF which have not been
We have been perverted from doing any OF the marble
cutng within the Capitol enclosure, as was at first in
ended as the officers OF Congress have insisted keep
ling The grounds clear and we have even been prevented
rom cutting granite the grounds. both by orders from
President OF The Senate and The Judges OF The Supreme
#Court, the noise lnterered with their proceedings
EWe have therefore been compelled 10 occupy the grounds
outsde of the Capitol enclosure the north with the
&granile cnttng consequence OF which the marble has
- unavodably been placed altogether the south. and
1--WE have been forced TO extend II probably quarter of
Smie down New Jersey avenues and even then it has
had to be removed from time 10 time 10 accommodate the
ctzens who have peiioned The civil authorities On
sublect The mayor OF the city al time addressed
letter TO me IN reference 10 the inconvenience il OCCASION
ed 10 he citizens, and there alternative TO the
moval OF the stones.
In this way the contractors have been inerfered with,
and this for the trucking OF the that has
been complained OF by many other witnesses The con.
tractors have had borse-trucks OF their continually
employed and the assistance that has been given them
pm hand-irucking has been lar from compensang them
for the loss they have sustained IN working the materials
such unreasonable distances from the buildings, and
moving them so frequently to accommodate government
The grante-work being now almost completed, the
next marble that arrives will be placed the north oil
he CAPITOL and the expense heretofore incurred in this
particular Will be al an end.
Ii the rendering of limited assistan 10 the contract
ors in the way OF trucking, under such circumstances
was wrong desire the entire blame to rest on met be-
longs 10 no one else and, Notwithstanding my energies
are all devoted TO Inc promotion OF the interests oil govern
ment am not disposed 10 oppress contractors beyond
The proper and legitimate requirements of their
Nir, Smlth says shat pripue contract was subse
quently made, without competition Tor cutting and set
ting the marble, dscarding OF the conditions of the
specifications 10 which other bidders were obliged 10
form making out their estimates
The contract alluded 10 y not private eoatraet" il
the lowest bidders OF all who offered for the work in
conformity 10 the advertisement OF the goth OF October
1851
Secretary OF the Interior on the subject This letter was
referred 10 me with directions 10 obtain from them the de-
tails OF The prices Tor o9fk alone on which they based
their offer Tor rork and materials This did, and on the
receipt of theirTepy under date OF June 20, 1852 trans
mited the 10 the Department of the Interior with
my own views on the subject.
The Secretary OF the Interior however, thought proper
to seek some expression OF opinion from the Committees
of Congress Pablo Buildings and Grounds before he
ed letter to the Hon. r. M. T. Hunter, OF the Senate
committee; and few days after received letter from
The Hon. X ii. Stanton, chairman OF the House commit
tee
In view OF the difficulties had encountered from the
adoption OF the days work system IN other departments
OF the work. and the recommendations and opinions
tanned in The letters referred 10, the Secretary OF the In
terror decided TO accept The ole OF The said Provost, Win
ter, CO.. whose bid Tor work and materials together,
ghesi bid, and 81 ,0S2 lower than the next lowest and
contract was accordingly made with them on the 18th
3i.ay OF July, 1854
a As to HE contract for cutting being exceedingly
" gGe," asseued by Mr. Smith, am prepared 10 say
tat il is ercesdingiy srpch; and II it shall appear
hat any portion particularly specified the contract
toyIdes that the shall be valued by the architect
e Tune being, At the rate OF prices OF the rest of the
ORR, which gives 10 government complete security
saibsi extraordinary eXacions.
The testimony Of John Duane requires a few remarks
Mr. Emery informs me that he never heard me say any
Nhe never directed Dunno IN any particular as 10 The man
1ner OF measurement, but lett HIN 10 the free aud unb
assed discharge OF has duties under bis oath
uer. Mr. Emery says that he is prepared TO produce
evidence that the measurements are all made IN strict
contormy 10 the contract aud the usual system OF
1srement p'actlsed throughout The District
His foreman, James Sageni, also measured the dress
ing OF every stone from the commencement and ready
to testify 10 the entire accuracy oil the bills whenever
perRltted 50 10 10 The stone IN the rough
ured by X a. Fafnum, and no more allowed than they
eontained the sail measurements agree with those OF
Nr. Dunno Mr.. Farnum is also ready to testify 10 these
facts.
| carno conceive ii possible that Mr. Dunno would |
have taken the word Of interested contractor, in so
important Il matter, al coming second handed from me-
eyen admitting that Sir Emery bad SAID so, when he had
.opPouniies every day to speak TO me the subject,
particularly as his measurements were under oath.
There Is another matter gwen in evidence TO which
feel called upon 10 refer: It - the testimony OF John
Kelley. This 10 s,one.mason aud had been very
5ronbesome 10 his habits on the work. exciting the men
10 INSTRUMENTATION; but lie was a good workman Hay- 4
Ing become acquainted with his quauelsome propenses,
81 prepared 10 receive any complaints he mig hi
Hnake with any very marked attention. He called on
me morning my office, with three or four other
woFkmen AZ lime when was very much engaged and
sat icy had some grievances they wished redress
III asked tat thty were; wien De replied that they bad
9agreel chat they would not wOfk the wall aongs of
common laborers, and that they wished redress
this grievance My impression from the conversation
was, thai M Strong had put Of The most handy la
borers to assist better workmen IA handling and laying
the stone OF eKpedtng the work, and the
time saving The more costly hands This have of.
ten done ysef and many dollars may be saved in
i this way. But never iOr moment had idea that
the men complained OF were getting Than laborer's
wages, and never suspected anythlng OF the kind Had
such suspicion entered my mind they would have
met very different reception, however rude their visit
may have been; but such thing was furthest from
my thoughts. | don't think they knew themselves al
the time that the mpaned OF receiving stone
nasons wages, they made il question OF dignity |
and remember they SAID something about dollar. !"
10 which replied that Il affair OF theirs whether
we paid $40 per day, that they received the
pay they stipulated tor felt nsulled by their manner
and the interruption itself very annoying at the
inc. advised them 10 90 to work Immediately, and
attend 10 their own business aud remember saying
that bad often worked alongside OF laboers myself and
livery nsuent then told him that he must 90 out of The
Joce immediately or wosd send for police officer, and
Hhaye hun put out
Il But what i desire to say most cmphacalIy IN refer
hce 70 lhIs interview Is, tuat conveyed idea my
nlnd lhal any laborers employed as masons and
Hald as masoHs; which, IRON The evidence appears TO
oave oseh me case, Had known H. would mol have /
&snuetea an oucef who was In any way implicated in |
ucn Transaction 'o remain on the work single hour