The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-02-19

lion could be carried easier than the amount estimated
of and accordingly, with The assent OF the coGmittee.
offered a resolution IN the House making appsopfia-
non OF that sum only. This carried and instead of
million, which Was necessary, there was appropriated
only one-haf the sum needed 10 keep the work in
progress until The expiration OF the present fiscal year
The object for which the four hundred thousand dslars
is asked is 10 keep the work in operation until the
last OF next June. The sum heretofore appropriated
fully exhausted 10 the purchase OF materials and tho
employment OF labor. No debts OF any impoIance arc
due, either for work, material. other objects You
will see therefore, that The deficiency 10 which you refer
moi deficiency OF four hundred thousand ia
penduTe OF ve hundred thousand dollas-an increase
OF four-6ihs estimates as you aexe; and that the
inference you draw theefrom TO the prejudice OF those
is TO blame because OF the insutciency OF the sp
preparation TO continue the work until the expiration Of
the fiscal year. il is who failed to ask for the full
amount estimated for and needed
You also refer TO the charge made in the Senate. and
which rs said to rest upon the testimony OF the Com
missioner OF Public Buildings, in regard TO frauds con-
this means is estimated that sixty five thousand dollars
have been lost 10 the government" My official position
as chairman OF the commee OF the House. having ju-
ilsdciion OF the subject has induced inquire into
tins alleged enormy; and having examined the returns
OF marble Delivered and the payments made the pres
ent day. am prepared to state that the whole amount
paid Tor marble delivered up to this moment is only
S6l ,2i4 81. Your ingenuity will, perhaps enable YOU
to show how under This state OF fact the marble con-
tractors have been enabled audulently TO pocket $685.
900 over and above the value of the article. con.
TESS cannot, by any rule OF arithmetic known to me-
work out such problem The contract affords such
room for great shave" as the marble is paid for,
according such of blocks may be deliver
ed by the contractors, but according the dimensions Of
each Stone laid down upon the plans before the contract
was made, and constituting part OF the same The di.
mansions being thus determined ii the contractors fur
nished larger than those called for by the drawings
they were not paid for The surplus, which you will see
provided in the contract The architect says that hs
knows OF no stones for which the larger price was paid
having been broken up to make smaller ones and the
contractors for cutting the marble that nothing
of the kind has been done. The smaller stones. at the
low price, often cut up to make the small features OF
the work, but the larger This. with every
other part OF the work. is in the hands of a sworn
measure provided for by law and being independent Of
contractors. This officers ascertans the quantity Of
marble be paid for by the sizes of the blocks de-
veed. but by the dimensions provided Tor in the plans
and contract
My object is not TO defend any who has been
guilty of fraud in connexon with the work If there
SUCH let them be exposed and their dishonesty punished
simply desire draw your attention to the character OF
the testimony upon which your sweeping charges rest, and
ask if, where il is susceptible OF such easy contradiction
il IL Just to persist in daily denunciaoDs OF who
have yet been heard defence OF themselves aganst
that testimony, and have line OF it, except
as il has been Swallowed forth in the newspapers.
Very respectfully your obedient servant,
R. H. STANTON.