The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-04


rails for which contracts haye been made and in order
prevent The payment OF damages 10 the contractor is
necessary TO provide means by which the materials
may be used authority by which The Secretary
Of the Treasury may settle with their owners Unless
we pass this provision the Secretary, according to the
powers vested in him, and the duties imposed
upon him, must go with the building this LOT aud
use the materials; or if he should think he had the
power TO suspend the building should certainly be
posed 10 damages which would be claimed by the con-
tractors, because the materials ready, and had not
been used Here was case for which we thought some
legislation necessary Here were difficulties which
we had 10 meet in this and which did not arise in
regard 10 any OF the other custom houses We thought
therefore, we could venture to put in this without bring
ing up the whole question OF the custom house approprl
aoDs but if 1t does bring up that questionf the Sem
ale amend the amendment by putting on other custom
housss--we shall be forced to vote agains, our own
amendment, because know that that question, il
neced with this bill. will endanger il in the House oi
| Mr. WALKER Mr. President. according 10 the ex-
PLANTATION given by the honorable senator from Virginia
thnk there Is something singular aud Objectionable IN
the appropriation now proposed to be made He says
an appropriation was made for the building of custom
house in San Francisco lot which the government
claimed and thought it owned but that after had gone
so far as 10 expend 800 900 prepare the lot to
ceive the building the State OF California came forward
with what, up TO that ume was latent claim, and as
serted title to The lot and sets up this claim against
the claim of the United States II is singular, indeed
that such claim should have been discovered before
the expenditure OF so Large sum of money strange
that the State in which that city is located should have
remained quiet knowing her rights and permitted the
government TO go and make this expenditure, and
make no development in regard to her title or her claim
prior TO the time when it presented II seems, too,
that the Secretary of the Treasury has nteceded and
deavored 10 obtain surrender from California of her
title TO this lot in order that the government may go
and complete the custom house there; but California de-
clmes TO do this. and the United States about to
be subjected to great loss, unless another place Tor a
custom house can be found. and an appropriation made
to buy il.
! Sir, do not like this. do not know how the Senate
may eel. but It looks TO me rather extraordinary that
now, after the expenditure of $4,000 upon piece of
properly, to which title has failed, should be
called upon TO make appropriation to purchase another
site. and go again with the erection OF custom house
at another location What assurance to have
that shall get for this purpose piece of property
TO which there clear titlei There is no provision
made in this bill that The officers of the government shall
be satisfied to the peecness OF the title before they
make another commencement with this building. For
augh we know, we may expend 100000 more, and Cali
iornia may then forward TO claim that Site and
shall have 10 be continually running over San Francisco.
and making appropriation after appropriation for the ben
eft and Improvement OF lots in that city, without the
government deriving any benefit from it,
| think myself. sir, that this is matter which ought
not to be included in the deficiency bill think, under
all the circumstances tina there much less merit in il
than in the Portland case. and that il had better be
dropped and we should have some time to consider the
question, on one OF The more general Appropriation bulls,
| before vote for it. 9.Ut ~.
The senator from Virginia does not offer any evil
deDce or any explanation OF what right California has
TO this property We do know a, present bu, that
her claim preence. doubt very much wheth-
the from California know anything about IT,
They have not explain the matter 10 yet, and |
think that asked 10 shift ground in relation to
ii rather TOO suddenly, and that ought 10 have little
more time to consider what we are doing do not
know that the senator from Virginia prepared TO make
il manifest to the Senate that the government OF the Uni
ted States has been led into the expenditure OF 500 900
California lot TO which II had title. that il clear
loss that the go the benefit of The State
and that are derive ad vantage from il. And
perhaps he is able 10 prove 10 that helpless that
we are now 10 turn round and Inappropriate the money,
buy another site. and expend 100000 over again. before
the government can get custom house IN California
Mr.. FESSENDEN. | wish to say lew words, Mr..
President the subject of The custom-house Port
land. Maine in order that senators may understand the
proprey and necessity o adopting the amendment pro-
posed by my colleague. law years ago the govern.
meni bought OF the city OF Portland very large hough
too iarge and elegant building, which had been
ed by the CITY in place which was most convenient
accommodate all The business OF the general govern.
mest The building was bought at a very reasonable
rate Ii substantial and permanent stone building,
aud accommodated not only the custom house. but the
post office and judicial courts OF the United States A
few months ago that building was burnt. The conse.
quence has been that the customs very badly
modaied al time when the business OF the city OF Port
land very largely increasing every day
OF lis having been recently made The ieuninu. of very
extensive railroad TO The British provinces, having
also become port where British steamers enter once a
fortnight From these lie business is very largely
Increased from what i was, or what was anticipated to
be al the time the building purchased.
In consequence Of The destruction OF the building by
fire. the government left IN possession OF lot IN a
central pOsiion the very best which be selected 10
accommodate the cusomhousc, the pos Office and the
courts. II lies there vacant Any one must see that Il
will be built upon again, and that al a yetv early period.
consequently every day lose loss 10 the govern
meBt ITSELF in reference 10 that matter. The result has
been tha the building now occupied as n custom house
is in part OF the CITY, and that not convenient place
buildings hired for post Office 10 another por-
ton, and Tor the judicial courts In another; and all Of
them sery small iuconvenient, aud temporary, ex-
posing The officers Of the government great inconve.
nence and the government TO pay high in order
obtain these miserable accommodations.
Now, sif, II is enthusiastically disputes the fact
that soon as possible this LOT OF land in Portland
which beautifully situated for the purpose must be
built upon again, N order % accommodate the large and
increasing business OF the government that port Then
tits only question OF time for the consideration OF Con-
gfess, whether whole year shall be lost in reference 10
that matter, whether question of form in regard
70 what particular bill this appropriation shall 20 into,
,hal defeat the great object
DO not agree with the honorable senator from Viz.
gina, that TIE amendment Of my colleague must necessa
rly peril the bill ln the House ii il be adopted This IL
a very peculiar understand that the amendment
proposed reference TO the custom house at San Fran
CISCO amendment presented here hy the Committee
on Finance, and the bill must 20 10 the House OF Repre-
senanves again in order TO have amendments acted
upon II the amendment proposed by my coll eague with
reference 10 the custom-house in Portland is TO endauger
the bill IN any way, do not why il will not be as
much in danger by the amendment proposed by the Com
mee Finance The which my colleague and
myself present s certainly strong case as that pro
posed TO be provided for by the committee The officers
OF the government in Portland exposed 10 great in
convenIsnce. They are very badly accommodated. or
zens are very badly accommodated There is loss 10
the government 10 the way Of rents and almost every
parueoiar The only question then ia whether through
mere matter OF form, as 10 whether II shall go into one