Washington sentinel., 1854-05-27

MIR. LETCHER. Certainly, WILL for de-
sire to have light thrown on the subject.
Mr.. BRECKENRIDGE. AS the gentleman
who represents Louisville Mr.. PREsToN] is
not present, will make a very brief explana-
| tion
Mr.. LETCHER. gave him notice that
would speak on the subject this evening.
Mr.. BRECKENRIDGE. l will take his
place as he is not here. Mr.. Chairman, my
friend from Virginia Mr. LETcHERl seems to
intimate that there is an attempt to rob the
treasury, to plumber it without any considera
ton, OF an additional sum of money, under the
pretence OF completing the custom-house.
have nothing now TO say in reference to custom
houses generally; but in respect to this par
ticular custom-house have this to say. The
estimates for building it were made at the last
session of Congress. In the first place, the
estimate was made on conjecture, as all esti-
mates in advance have to be made, to large
extent; and in the next place, when the esti-
mate was made, it was not contemplated to
render the building fre-proof
go into no arguments now for the purpose
of showing that important public buildings of
the United States should be fre.proof An
additional $4,000 was, therefore, asked for to
complete the eustom-house at Louisville. The
reason of the necessity for this additional sum
templated, in the first place, to make it fire.
proof; and in the next place, it is well known
and notorious fact, that the increase in the
price of labor and materials has been consid-
cradle within the last twelve months From
both of these causes, the additional appropria-
tion asked for was made necessary.
Mr.. LETCHER. Win there be any appli
cation for an increase of pay to the employees
on that account?
Mr.. BRECKENRIDGE. The building is
being erected under contract and the govern
ment has nothing to do with the employees
When the present Secretary of the Treasury
entered upon his duties he found the existing
contract for the erection of this custom-house.
1t was to build certain description of custom
house at particular price. He considered
the contract extravagant; and he found, be-
sides, that there was no arrangement to make
it fre-proof. Under the discretion given to
him, he re.opened the contract, and new bids
were advertised for. The bids which he adver-
tised for proposed to complete it at price an
swering to the sum already paid, and to the
sum now asked for. That is the whole of the
affair. IfCongress grant the amount of money
asked for, the building will be completed in
fire-proof manner, and of such character as
this government ought to possess wherever it
has buildings of that sort at all.
Mr. LETCHER. In the first place, if my
friend from Kentucky [Mr. BREcKINRIDcEl
will look to the language of his colleague, who
is posted up on this subject, he will find that
he stated distinctly that the application of bid
ders for the contract, fixed the cost at $l62 745.
for "a safe, se7riceable, and substantial edi-
fce" And if he will look at Mr.. Corwin's re-
port he will find that he recommends the erec-
ton of 6re-proof building at Louisville, and
states distinctly, that the Louisville custom
house "can be erected and furnished for
$4,000"
Mr. BRECKENRIDGE. That is, that the
contract made by Mr.. Corwin was to complete
fire proof building but when Mr.. Guthrie
came into Office he found that the building was
not fireproof, except in sort of q way. And
if the gentleman from Virginia will refer to the
report of the Secretary of the Treasury, he will
see that.
Mr.. LETCHER. have it here.
Mr.. BRECKINRIDGE. Well, read it, and
you will find that what ] say is right.
Mr. LETCHER. cannot refer to the pas
sage Just now, but there is one thing in regard
to it. fla fre-proof building could be erected
for $4,000, imagine complete fire.proof
building could have been erected for $l78,745.
But ask, sir, is it possible that the Secretary
of the Treasury has, year after year, represented
to this House that certain sums of money were
needed to erect fre.proof building for this
government, and after he has had the appropri-
atoms made, that he has been guilty of the
folly of contracting for the erection of a build
ing that was not fre-proof?
But then, in addition to this, why have not
all these contracts been sent in here? We had
the Louisville bids during the last Congress in
this hall. The gentleman who then represented
that district, stated that the appropriation
which was asked for would build such house
as the government required. And it seems to
me that, with proper economy, this could be
done yet. ] cannot understand why it cannot
be done, and why the sum of $l78,745 cannot
build q fire-proof house for single officer
at Louisville, when $4,000 is enough to build
a freproof house at Norfolk But there is
to be post Office and court room in it.
And will any gentleman here say that it is inn
possible for nearly 100000 to build fire.
proof custom-house for one man, which shall
contain post-office and courtroom.
Now, let me come to the custom house at
Wilmington, which has attracted great deal
of attention for two or three years past.
Laughter. 1t is quite an important point.
The revenue collected there in 1853 was
1899 10, and the expenses $S.304 81, laugh
ter,l and now for that custom-house there will
have been appropriated $37,227 SO, if this
$l2, 200, which is now asked for, shall be
granted. / think this government had better
compromise, and give them all the revenue
collected at that point
Mr.. RIDDLE. am sorry to interrupt the
gentleman, but ! hope to be induged moment
and only moment, for / have been amused |
by the gentleman's speech.
Mr.. LETCHER. hope the gentleman will
not make too long preface to his remarks.
Mr.. RIDDLE. / wish to show the incon-
sistency of the words Of the gentleman from
Virginia, Mr. LETcHER,] and | dislike to show
it, too, for like to agree with the gentleman.
Now the gentleman complains of the appro-
priation of 100000 for the Louisville custom
house in the whole, $4,000 of which is asked
for now. Now there is required at that point
only one collector, and accommodations for a
courtroom and post Office. Now, admit
that the duties collected at Wilmingtonare some
years very small.
But if the gentleman will take the trouble to
look MT the amount Of business tra nsa ctad IN