The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-02-16
THlRTY-SECOND CONGRESS.
81 SECOND SESSION.
TUESDAY, February Is. 1881
SENATE.


CRIMINAL TRIALS IN THE DisTRICT COLUMBIA.
Mr. BADGER said that some days since he saw
In the newspapers an account proceedings in the
criminal court of this District, in which il was
stated that the District Attorney bad asked the
court to Tx day for the trial of the Gardiner
cases The court expressed its willingness to fl
q day; but admonished counsel that, should the
trial not be completed before the commene ement
ofthe next term, which would be on the first Men
DAY In March, he would have to discharge the
Jury and set the proceedings aside. To prevent
these difficulties, the Committee on the Judiciary
mad instructed him to report bill to prevent the
delay or failure of justice in the District of Column
bia The bill provided that in any trial, either in
the CRIMINAL or circuit court where the verdict or
final judgment shall not have been rendered be-
lore the commencement of a term of said
court, the said trial shall proceed to termination
IN the same manner as If the term of court during
bill was Immediately read third time and passed
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
Messrs. CASS, DAVIS, and HAMLIN presented
memorials, praying that reli eious freedom NAV be
secured to Americans travelling in foreign coun-
tries
VERMONT RESOLUTIONS.
Mr.. PHELPS presented the joint resolutions Of
the Legislature of Vermont, a. ainst the proposed
reciprocity trade with Canada in favor of the bill
to distribute the public lands among the several
States; and in favor Of arbitration as a substitute
for war.
Mr.. MALLORY submitted the following resoIu-
ton, which was considered and agreed to
Resolred, That the President be requested To
communicate to the Senate, if consistent with the
public interest, copies Of the applications made in
1881 1882, and in 1874 or lS45, to the Govern
ment of the United States, by the British Minister
for permission to the British Bahamians to fish on
the coasts and in the waters of Florida or in 1877
claiming the right for the colored emancipees Of
the Bahamas British West Indies if of the COM
pany crew of British vessel, to come within
the waters and jurisdic ton of the State of Florida
and also copies of the letters from the Executive of
Florida in 1884 or 1885, or of part of the delegation
from that State in lS47 to the Secretary of State
demonstrating against the same being acceded to-
and likewise copies of the Of the Secretary
OF State to the applications and claim, and copies
OF any other papers in the State Department touch
ing said subjects that he may deem proper to COM
municate to the Senate.
THE DEFICIENCY BILL.
On motion of Mr.. HUNTER, the Senate pro-
ceeded to consider the Deficiency BILL
The question pending was on the amendm ent
proposed by MIR. GwIN, to appropriate $4,000 to
be paid to California out of the fund collected by
military authority there, duties on imports,
previous to the erection of State governm emit
Mr.. BORLAND raised the point of order that
the amendment was excluded under the rule as it
was not in pursuance of estimate, nor reported by
a committee.
The CHAIR decided the amendment to be in
order.
Mr.. WALKER opposed it; and Mr.. G WIN re.
piled.
The amendment was then agreed to-yeas 81,
nays 20.
Several amendments were agreed to.
MIR. CHASE submitted amendment authoriz.
ing the President to purchase Hiram Powers
statue OF America, and appropriating $4,000 for
that purpose.
After some debate as to whether the amendment
was in order it Withdrawn to be offered to the
general appropriation bill.
Mr.. BORLAND moved to add to the provision
making an appropriation for the continuation Of
the work on the extension of the Capitol proviso'
that the balance of former appropriations remain.
ing unespended the present appropriation and all
Commissioner Of Public Buildings.
He said that he believed the incoming Admins
ration would place this work in proper hands; but
still it the duty of Congress to provide by law
the manner in which it shoudbe expended. The
person charged now with the disbursement of this
money was, as he had stated on former occasion,
irresponsible in great measure to the Govern
ment. He was appointed by the President with
out the advice and consent OF the Senate. He
thought it but just to state to the Senate that the
fears he had expressed on a former occasion, to
the manner in which this. money would be ex-
pended, had to some extent been realized He
held in his hands small portion of the immense
mass of evidence taken by the select committee of
the Senate, which showed that there had been a
total disregard of the public interest, and fraud
ulent misuse of the public money. A year ago,
when the appropriation of 900 for this work
before the Senate, he had called the attention
expenditure of the public money; and for SO do
ing he had been denounced and arraigned by the
special organ of the Administration in this city as
being factlous, and as throwing himself Sefore the
mouths of starving men.
This was the course pursued towards him then by
the organ of the Administration for denouncing
what he thought was fraud then going on. There
was evidence before the committee of embezzle-
ments. The Commissioner of Public Buildings
had sworn that the superintendent of the work
came to him with fraud ulent propositions whereby
they might make money, and that when he went
TO the architect and told him of them, that officer
took no notice of it. Large sums of money bad
been embezzled and squandered during the pre-
sent year. He desired to have the public money
dsbursed by responsible officer, with some re-
gard to common honesty The amendment was
agreed to.
Mr. BRODHEAD called attention to the appro
priation of $4,000 for the completion of the Con-
yress Library room making total expenditure
ST S95 ,OCO for that work. He thought this very
arge sum to fit up one room.
MIR. HUNTER said that the first estimates could
lot be accurate, because it impossible to tell
hen how far the injury by the fire had extended.
was greater than was at first supposed The
lids tor supplying the iron alone ranged from
so 600 to $50, 900, and when completed it would
'e the largest iron room in the world. He thought
10 one more than the Senator ought to feel
eeper interest in the new material
MIR. BORLAND said that when he was up be-
ore he omitted to mention a circumstance con-
lected with the contracts made by this architect
pieces of marble, containing SO cubic feet,
t S SO per cubic foot; and for pieces containing
than ID cubic feet at sixty five cents per cubic
DOT. Large quantities Of these pieces, containing
yer 80 cubic feet, had been brought here at great
Expense, and for which S. 9s per foot was paid,
nd then broken up to pieces OF the size required
or the work, instead of getting the pieces at the
equired size in the first instance at sixty i've cents
er cubic foot In this way, ii was estimated, at
east sixty-fve thousand dollars had been squan-
erred.
Mr.. BROOKE protested against any member of
be committee divulging any portion OF the evil
ence taken before the select committee in ad-
ance of the report of the committee These
were all er porte, and character was
t stake, they should not be made before the com.
nittee reported all the facts.
{ Mr. RORLAND said he had obtained the per.
mission of the committee to bring the papers 10
be Senate to be used in debate on this bill
Mr.. BROOKEwas not aware that the Senator had
btained leave of the committee; but even if he
ad, he did not think he ought to repeat any por
ons Of the evidence,
MIR. BORLAND moved to strike out the appro-
ration OF 4OO, OO0, for the extension of the Cap
ol, because he said he desired to suspend the
FORK till there was time to correct abuses, and put
in proper hands. No more money ought to be
at in the hands of those who have 30 INFUSED and
pplied it to private and improper purposes More
han one-half of the former appropriation had been