The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-04-06

Is deemed necessary here than to indicate
in the following brief summary, the leading
facts which are proved by the witnesses
examined, and confirmed. in many impor.
tant particulars, by the almost daily per-
sonal observation Of the members of the
These facts are:
81. That large por,ions,of the materials
used in constructing the foundations Of
the building; and'in the superstruc,ure, so
far as it has progressed. are Of an inferior
and improper character unsuitable in
quality, and not in conformity with the
terms Of the contracts under which they
were furnished
"2. That owing to the inferior quality OF
the materials, or to other even less war
rantable causes, much larger quantities OF
materies than were necessary have been
used, in some instances doubling the cost
of the work. without improving in any de.
gree the appearance or increasing the
strength Of the building.
"3. That much Of the work, especially
in the foundations, has been done not only
with h.inferior materials, but in a manner so
inartistic as, in the opinion of the commit
tee, to render it unsuitable and insecure
for the purposes Of its construction. and so
unsightly as to reflect discredit upon the
architecture of the country. So bad, in
deed. have the committee found some por-
tions of this work, that they are disposed
to adopt the strong language of distin-
guised gentlemen-a member of the Sen
ate-largely experienced in building, who
when examining it with two members o
the committee. declared that such work is
disgraceful, and would not be permitted
Cor the cellar walls OF New England
Kitchen
-. That systematic peculation and en-
bezzlement have been practsed by the
persons intrusted with the superintendence
and man nagement Of the work, by means o.
false accounts, whereby large portions (in
some instances nearly one half OF the pub
lie money. charged to the government as
paid for labor, have been distracted from
the ostensble wages Of the laboring men
as the condition Of their employment, and
pocketed by the superintendent and his
! subordinates. Some idea may be formed
OF the amount of money absorbed by this
species oil black mall when it is known
that, for large portion of the time. the
number Of men employed upon this work
has ranged from five to seven hundred a
day.
IS. That. in some instances, incompe-
tent persons, who we're not mechanics
have been employed for work in which ex
perienced and skilful mechanics were re-
nl ~ osl,,
norantly, but evidently as mode where
by this black mail was more easily levied
upon the government and the laborer; and
in some instances, whereby the subordi'
nate superintendents were permitted and
enabled to receive fulljourneymen's wages
for their own apprentices.
'.6. That more persons have been EN-
ployed upon the work than were necessa
ry or proper. as may have been observes
by every member Of Congress in passing
daily through the Capitol grounds while
the work was going on; especially the work
Of moving materials from the several de-
pots to the walls, where. in many instances
eight or nine men, harnessed to truck
were employed, at cost Of some $40 G
day, to do what would have been easier
and more appropriate work for two mer
and one horse at three dollars day; ant
the work thus paid for at the greater COS
performed in a'manner SO unsystematic
uncouth. and slow. that. in view OF the i'm
proved mechanical processes of the pres
ent day, they would be amusing, did no
the dishonesty in which they original pro
woke their stern -eprobation, and due
regard for the public interest require then
to be arrested.
ct That the scaffolding around thu
| walls. which, under the contracts, shoult
have been made at the expense OF thu
contractors, has been paid for by the gov
ernment al an expense Of many thousant
| dollars, as an unauthorized gratuity t
contractors.
"8. That in various other ways, and II
smaller amounts, the labor and materials
| paid for by the government have. through
| the negligence or connivance, and in som'
instances by the direction, Of the persons
| in charge of the work. been converted tt
the private uses OF themselves and others
"The foregoing exposition, warranted
and sustained, as the committee believes
il to be, by the testimony adduced, goe
far to account for the inferior quality ant
small quantity of the work already done
as compared with the large sums Of none!
consumed by it; the foundations insecure
aud barely completed; the superstructur'
just begun; ONE MILLION OF DOLLARS Elk
| PENDED! a
Boat Race.
The relative merits of the cities of Pitts