The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-18
CON G R ESSI0N Al.
DEFERRED DEBATE.
FRIDAY, MARCH 81, 1854.
SENATE.


Hr1 SENATE
DrrIuKScY BILL
The senate as in committee OF the whole resumed the
consideration Of the bill from the House of Represen atives
fhe fscn wear ending the 3oh Of June 1854 the pend
itg qhestlo being on the motion OF Mr. HAMliN TO amend
me following amendment Of Mr. THOMPSON Of Kentucky:
sro - aud be il further enacted, That for custom
houses and 10 complete the same, the following be,
and they are hereby appropriat,ea ho,.o :, i
Louis Missouri, sl0o, 600.
TO complete the custom-house at Mobile, Alabama,
R complete the custom house at Cincinnati Ohio, $4,000
To complete the custom house at Louisville Kentucky
To complete the house Bangor, Maine $40 0oo
To complete the custom house at Bath, Maine, $4,000
TO complete tho custom-houc at wilmington, Delaware,
For the purchase Of site for house Provi-
dencc, Rhode Island, $2t, 900
by adding to IL the following
For the purchase q slte for the custom house IN
San Francisco $3.50 900 and the Secretary Of the Treasury
Is hereby authorized f his Judgment the public interest
w !, nav "a e Of former appraton for
the Of the land reserved Tor sad
sassomiouse and other public oees the said secre-
tary Of the Treasury hereby directed to take Ill legal
snd SECURE the and title Of the United states
lot heretofore selected for the site Of custom house
For the erection of custom house at Portland Name IN
Office, t ts3oo,ooo. 4
Mr. ADAMS have no disposition protract this dis
eussion but beg leave call the attention of the Senate
for moment two, TO what SCENE to to be an error
into which many senators hate fallen Almost every gem
tleman who has spoken in favor of the amendments
pending has agreed least that it bad policy to insert
in the deficiency b such appropriations those proposed
in the amendments offered and which will be oBsred here
after relation custom-houses Senators admit that it
is bad policy attach them the deficiency BILL when the
sense Of the House has been asccrncd by their vote to be
opposed to then but the given Is that the chair
man Of the committee having control OF this bill voted for
an appropriation of $500 900 for the waer-works here
Now SIR submit that this government does not belong
to that He has interest and more right
in it than any other senator here voted differently from
him in regard to that propositions but If he was wrong in
that vote every other proposition of the same kind land u
said this is Of the characer only adds SO much
more wrong aud adding wrong upon wrong never Will
make the bill right in the world In other words because
the senator from Virginia votes WRONG l. no excuse why
others should vote for any proposition for which they
would not voted but for his yorng the which
has been referred The of senator is
for anothers doing wrong
But sir have another objection TO these amendments
Nv own opinion is that ought never, under any cir
cumsiance when appropriation is made Tor the hscal
year for any Improvement matter what may be- to
make another appropriation at the instance of parties in
'erested before the expiration of that year think it is
bad policy The parties came here Originally asking Tor
such appropriations They know very well In many in
stances that they TO make true estimate, and pre-
sent to the consideration Of Congress the full amount of
the expense they would get dollar appropriated
Jet they make very small estimate which they know to
be insufficient TO the purpose and the very mo-
nt they get appropriation from Congress the amount
spent once and the cry is in this case Here are
public which viii GO TO ruin, and the country will
be injured unless you make additional appropriation
You often make an appropriation, believed to be sum
cen by Congress complete work. and represented 10
be SO which turns out TO be barely enough for com
mencement You appropriate 100000 here for work OF
internal improvement with the idea that hat IS m which
you are asked for 100000 and the next for 100000
and goes say 1t is bad policy You had better
LEI your public works 90 TO ruin than set the precedent Of
allowing executive officers spend dollar than is
appropriated make contracts buildings
improvements of whatever character they may be in a
pd.ib bV
Let these works remain until the regular appropriation
bill At the last session. Congress made such appropra-
uons as in its udgment were right and proper Tor the
hsca year and although 1t may appear in some instances,
and possibly may turn out 10 be Of advantage IN parcu
lar to make another appropriation before the regular
period yet the precedent is bad The agents of the
government are under the influence Of the citizens Of the
different for which these appropriations are made
take II for granted in many instances And all expert
ence shows know nothing about these particular cases
and have thembut say, that all legisla
tive experience shown that if you make approprin-
hon the agents of the government instead OF conducting
the improv according TO the amount appropriated
viii make them TO suit their own taste and almost unrer.
say greatly exceed the amount intended by Congress
would rather stop the works Ind suffer the necessary ncon
venenee resulting from that than to encourage this course
Mr. GwIY. With reference to the amendment now
pending before the Senate wish 10 make few remarks
point upon which my colleague commented yesterday
and that Is IN regard 10 the power asked by the Secretary
the Treasury 70 purchase buildings as an alternative
he get for the custom-house a San Francisco
have the Secretary Of the Treasury and asceraned
from him that he asks for this authority for the purpose
preventing his being placed in the power Of persons who
may make combinations there TO prevent him from getting
a site At all for q customhouse
But he has idea Of rsorng 10 the purchase Of build
ngs there unless Il ont I've indispensable for The
public interests He has escertsined that is very
difficult get site large enough upon which TO locate
customhoue building because the ground belongs 70
rious individuals and he may he subjected TO the same In
convenences that he has u regard 10 the site unles
power conferred upon him TO put him ont Of the reacl
Of these combinations He has desire and presume
nobody has 70 purchase buildings there. We want Gus
tonhouse and the Secretary Of the Treasury asks that hi
power may bo conferred him in order that we may
That is the sole object in view
Mr. FITZPATRICK. | am not disposed 10 enter into AZ
elaborate discussion Of this question: but before yo
upon the amendment which has been submitted by the hon
orah from Kentucky desire to put myself rgh
In reference TO the which shall feel II my duty Il
give upon this occasion. did not discover, when tn
amendment was first offered hy the senator, that IL con
taned an appropriation for csom-hopso in the State
Alabama was aware that II proposed any such ap
preparation until scrutnized IL while IL under die
cussion yesterday take lively interest in the appro
prsion which Is proposed for the custohouse at Mobile
II is which both myself and my colleague are exceed
ngy anxious should obtain the sanction Of Congress But
sir have heard enough fall from senators to satisfy m
that the amendment contemplated is out Of place O
proper occasion II would enlist all my energies TO pres
nPon this body the proprey and justice Of the appopra
ton so far that cusom-house in Alabama concerned
ons proper bill and proper OCCASION should mos
suenuousy labor 10 obtain that object but II are 4
neeo the admonon Of the who has charge OF hi
o' Mr. huNrER enough has fallen from him II seems =