The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-01-08
Onr WAshin gton Correspondence.


wasfefa Expenditure Of Public MONEY Viola
ron Of La'o by the Secretary Of War-Mihtary
Srperri,ion a. tho Capitol-A Cal for the Imme-
d'ais Interference Of Congress.
20 much has been said of the economy Of the
present administration, and the Union has made SO
much capital ont Of the alleged strict construction
which Mr.. Guthrie places upon all monetary laws,
And spoken out so 6ercey against all claimants upon
ne justice or the treasure of the United States that
may seem strange to find such caption to letter
~ NAT at the head Of this column. But we desire
Ne public 70 read the facts which we will present,
md we think II will be foun. that the cry Of "econ
omy," and the denuncations launched against former
administrations are mere bald tricks to prevent the
public from discovering the extravaganza and reck-
hssness which is going on under the very nose of
Ne President, and by the connivance OF certain
members Of the Cabinet. We begin our expo
s4ree by consideration of the manner
- which Mr.. Jefferson Davis, the Secretary OF War,
conniyts at the enormous waste Of money, which,
Under his charge, squandered in direct violation Of
NV, spon the extension of the Capitol.
The act frat authorizing the extension Of the Cap.
Aol directed tina. the improvement should be made
according to such plan ''the President might sp-
prove" Mr.. Fillmore, after calling to his aid the two
committees OF the Senate and the House on public
buildings, (of one Of which Jefferson Davis was q
member,) several of the best architects in Auerica
and his Cabinet, adopted and approved plan for the
construction OF two wings TO the old Capitol and ex-
pended the appropriation of 100000 in commencing
he foundations The next year Qs52) Congress
appropriated 100000, and in 1853 g., 900 000 to
carry cut the work thus begun. These appropris
hons Of 81 500 600 were made with direct reference
70 the plan thus approved and adopted by the Presi
dent; and would most certainly have been withheld
" had ever been intmated that any alteration of
he Plan in material point was contemplated
In the spring OF 1858, Immediately after the ad.
Sournment OF Congress, the President without au-
fhorty OF law, aud in express violation of provision
Of the deficiency bill of Marco 3, 1852 broke up the
civil superintendance of the work and placed the
same ander military csntrol and the War depart
ment appointed Capt, Miegs, of the Engineer corps
% Me duty of the SUPPLEMENTARY.
10 this any part OF the Legitimate duty of an officer
Of the army And West Point cadets educated at
the public expense, to occupy positions for which
mere are thousands Of civilians emnently more oual.
nea Is II NOT rejection upou the character of
American architects and builders, that the PRECEDENT
could not find one of this class better qualified for the
service than an army officer, whose experience never
extended beyond The mathematics OF a fortifc.ton.
The original plan OF the extension located the tro
calls OF the two Houses at the respective ends OF the
1wo wings and each exposed on three sides TO the
nght and ar, atordng natural ventilation and abun.
dant hght This arrangement met with unyer.
Pal appreciation, and will strike every man of com.
mon sense as being the very best. The President
who approved she plan, bis cabinet the architects
concurredi the arrangement But II
will surprise the public 10 know that Immediately
npon the work being placed under military control
~ the suggestion OF the captain of engineers in |
charge o. the work-as the Secretary Of War says in
his report-the plan was altered so as to place the
balls OF the Houses exactly in thecentres of the WINGS
fhey are each to be surrounded by committee and |
other rooms so as to exclude all light and air from
The sides. The arrangement of the rooms with re-
gard 70 acoustics is exactly the same as the original
plan Tor the size, shape and architectural eitures of
the interior not altered. The ventilation is to be
Effected in the new plan by artificial means; and for
.slis purpose steam engine is to be located in the
basement Of each wing, and fresh air pumped up
INTO the halls Was ever 50 mv,os;cn- o., outrage
perpetrated before A more stupid and ridiculous
conception never entered the mind of man. Besides
the intrinsic absurdy OF the pent up arrangement OF
the halls, it was gross outrage and usurpa.i,n Of
power the part OF Captain Meigs or the Secretary
Of War, whoever did IT, TO make any such alteration
withou. the consent Of Congress. The appropra-
Gons were made with view 10 the plan already then
adopted and approved, and not with view to any
change In the plan. The proposed alteration if sub
ritted to Congress, would not have received five
votes in either house But what cares the military
power for Congress- or any body else, when it has
control
To make the foundations fr these ne halls Il was
nece ssary to cut through the vast arches of the
basement story, and build I'd immense new
49,. irem he ground, at an expense Ger.
- not less than 5000 ,00O-more than
was necessary there would have been required IL
Che original plan had been adhered to. So that
mder the management Of military officer, the plan
Of the building is not only to be shamefully ruined
but the expense TO government outrageously In
al IL. AL. tl..tr o..
quietly submit TO all this viii the democratic
party, who constantly stunning the public ear
with boisterous professions OF economy and regard
for the public treasury, shut their eyer to such
lavish waste of public money, simply because 1t is
made under q democratic Secretary of War?
But this is not haf-the exterior features of tho
building art also altered fer the worse. IL would |
swell this article TO too great length to point out
IN what manner the cas-. facade has been mutlated
Suffice il TO say, that il has been changed 70 suit
fancy idea of the Captain of Engineers, and enable
him TO Crafty, at public expense, his taste for ine
statuary. This viii cost the government the Lord
only knows how much. Already he has sent to Eu,
rope an order for $50 900 worth Of sculpture TO be
paid for out of the appropriations OF Congress.
Would Congress have ordered il If Congress had
been consultedl Would democratic econo nists have
voted for III Yet, to make room for this sculpture
which Congress would not have ordered the military
power in charge OF the Capitol has changed the eX.
terior Of the building, and, in the Judgment of archi
secse of good taste, destroyed the symmetrical sp.
pearance Of the building.
Last spring proposals. we're received for furnishing
and laying the bricks at the Capitol. Bids were
made at various prices, ranging from IS IS per
thousand to $40. fair price would have been
shout 81 so or SO. Many men Of experience ohsrac-
ter and wealth would have taken contract here and
furnished all the bricks required, faithfully and
promptly at these prices. Military men required
That the lowest bidder should take it, aud accord.
mgly, il was given 70 a'person' at $5as3- sum en-
tirely too low, aud known to be 30 sljthe time the
contract was made. As was expected, default was
made, an mi itary rule again required that the OF
fcer In charge should not fall back upon another
bidder but go into open marketiand purchase wsere
the bricks could be had The respo, sible zen who
bid for the contract q. fair prices aud; failed, Of
course, made no provision for manufacturing exten
sively at this place ard CAPTAIN Megs acc srdinsly
made his pur shases at Baltimore Philadelphis and
New York. Bricks were purchased At each Of these
places in immense quantities and freighted at gov
eminent expense to Washington. II is not yet
disclosed, by any official authority what these bricks
hsve cost when delivered at the Capitol; bat the
best informed say they win average sl3 Ga per
tSousand and they are so much smaller In size than