The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-08-04

the establishment Under the present no partisanshp en-
ters INTO the appointment removal of any OF the officers
or men If changed these government manufactures will
become the constant theatre Of strife for political power
and patronage.
Now to quarters and the exavagance of the military
men IL has been stated by the gentleman from Kentucky
over snd over again that the quarters at Springfield cost
more than $4,000. The gentleman is mistaken. When al
Springfield to my great surprise the committee may be
sured after the gentemans reiterated statements found
from the books kept and which show each day half day
and quarter days work and the amount paid for every
material from the laying OF the cornerstone from the be
ginning to the completion of the structure that the whole
cost WAS S253t Sc There atterw ards gas introduced
house painted fences erected water carried the house
&c, which sweled the amount up to S23,773 81 When
the gentleman upon the floor called him to state
specifically his understanding in reference the of this
building He stated that it cost 100000 II is true that
the head Of the Ordnance department said there nothing
IN his Office showing The cost of the commandments quarters
at Springfield, but he also said that he would send to the
armory for the account and furnish it TO the committee
He did and the statement ia the chairmans hands
the books the armory and far as can recollec
the figures in the statement from the Ordnance department
are precisely those in that book Now if the gentleman
undertakes to that the building $4,000 should
hketo have him state his authority for the assertion.
Mr. STANTON. Here il is. aa .5a
Mr. DICKINSON want to know whether his state
men is to be taken in preference to those the Secretary
OF War the statement Of the Ordnance department the
books kept for the very purpose of showing the cost
everybody else? cannot adult the correctness of his
statement TO the impeachment Of all the other evidence be-
fore u.s. and sure il viii be regarded by this co-
mttee. The gentleman then says that the cost of the
building and the grounds the purchase of which made
necessary by the present location of the building
be less than $4,000 If the gentleman will 90 there with
me- viii show him grounds which not made neces-
sary by that building 1t is fine house and do not
wonder that some OF the commissioners want to be ap
pointed superintendent think should like be super
intendent and if the system changed. perhaps shall
be applicant for the office The house is fine one and
is no doubt worth all it cost and viii last for generations
to come. II has been built and paid for and will be
kept in repair by the government and the great question
now is uho shall oceapy a2
This house stands in corner OF large tract Of land
the urthes removed of any building from the highway
Next to it, and the site formerly occupied by the old
quarters stands The arsenal 1t beautiful building an
honor TO the government to the State and honor the
men who built it. The government ought to feel proud of
IT. No extravaganza was involved in its completion erect
ed as it for the purpose of storing the great of
arms OF which the government is the Next we
have several houses for the different clerks and officers of
the establishment In the Of all these buildings
large open grass lot undivided by any fence 1T is ns
proper TO charge the expense of the ground in the
these buildings to which the gentleman from Kentucky
Mr. STANTON alluded to any of the houses occupied
by the clerks other officers of the establishment it
would be TO the commandments quarters The superntend
ent has converted this land by his agricultural skill
from mere sand bank into most fertile field. have
time to say about the cxtrayagant expenditures
charged against the superntcndency here than that deem
them to be, to very great exont assertions with
out reasonable foundaon sustained by the evidence
before the House If gentlemen OF the committee viii take
the pains to inform themselves upon the subject they will
find that many OF these charges of extravaganza anns
the management there uniounded ia point Of fact
The charge is frequently made, also, of tyranny and o
preston exercised by the officers there towards the work
uy cspotism and espionage practisod there in the
mosal of men without just of offence As shall
not have another opportunity, think ii my duty
mark, briefly. upon OF these matters Upon my visit
to Springfield went into several of the workshops where
the manufacturing is carried on did not visit those
ried on by water-power understand them to be in a
state OF comparative decay for the that steam
power having been introduced into the other shops it was
moi deemed worth while to keep these repair and spend
money upon them as they as it was expected every
year thai there would be an application 10 Congress
make appropriation for the erection of buildings near
the shops where the machinery is operated by steam
power to do the work done at the water-shop be-
eye the officers at Springfield the inspectors the ordnance
board and the commissioners who there last year.
agree in opinion that it would be udicios to make the
proposed change All the buildings would then be within
convenient distance the machinery could all be carried by
one steam engine and the whole business be
niently done So much for that Now the tyranny
the despotisn-that has been spoken Of went into the
shops OF the Springfield armorY. did not 20 there
the invitation of the superintendent by his advice
under his guidance. had told him that did not
want him to accompany me. ! went there to learn for
myself to understand how affairs stood there for my
enlightenment, as member of the special committee
of this House SO as to be able to report what the truth
in regard TO this whole matter | saw the foremen
of these shops and many OF the that worked in them
saw the machinery for the manufacture of guns and
was completely astonished at the perfection of that machine
ry. Not that it of extrvagant descriptions not
that it highly finished, the gentleman says as 10
have been very expensive in comparison with the machine
ry in other manufacturing establishments no such thing
was the completeness ccanness and good order of the
machinery that admired found OF the wheel or
gear coverings Of some parts of the machinery made of
brass instead OF being made of iron steel. And in
qury was told by the that brass cheaper for
the purpose than any other material The engine
very beautiful affair. There brass upon that
and some brass balls the railing about it but this was
for the sake of merely but protect il from
injury Ii the most beautiful piece of machinery that
ever saw aud IL capable of carrying not only all the
machinery in those shops but also that operation Of the
water shops placed in buildings where the power could
be applied If not sufficient for the whole could be en-
changed fol- that would carry all the machinery in
qued OF the oremen to the character of tie work and
learned from them that within the hs ten years the
character OF Che arms manufactured there had been much
improved
learned too from inquiries among them ,hat t,e
woruen contented aud satisfied and the evidence
before the special committee that the workmen and
mechanics IN the best private manufactures in the neigh
borhoodI earning the highest OF would willingly
leave these establishments work at the national arnory
They stay there after year. for the of
twenty years and have the least desire leave The
foreman informed me that If any wished to leave he
had only to come any hour of the day and that he
wished TO leave aud that he could 20 to the paymastes
Office and draw his pay AS to the thrift Of the now
compared TO what it formerly and heard enough
convince OF the good effect oil the present system upon
them. was pointed long OF neat and tasteful
white houses covering whole street. which occupied
principally, and many OF them owned, by the nrorers
purchased out OF their savings Their children being
property educated and they and their children go regular
ly TO church They not obliged 10 go the gentle
says, TO attend that particular church which
the superintendent belongs They go to whatever place
worship they choose and when they choose Their chill
dren are neat sni well dressed Many Of them are in
pecunary point OF view quite independent men They STAY
there voluntarily, and removed charged by the
genteman--and this could show if had the opportun-
y of Offering the evidence to the committee Men