Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-06-12

IN all PUBIC DullQiHRS 10 De hereafter cree
Ted, that they should be perfectly tre-proof,
10th from the interior end exterior aud it is
but right and p;opet that such structures
should be rot Only well and substantially
built, but should, within reasonable limits,
be fnishd in a handsome end orHCmeaiat
aaanacs, both inside and out. That all
thee requisites cannot be obtained in a
building OF The necessary size, the cost OF
which is limited to fifty thousand dollars
is very apparent. That limit would oblige
the department to the use of brick as ma
tcrial, and to adopt plans which, though
called fife.rFoof, are not SO completely such
as should be the case with all public struc-
lures. Buildings for the above purpose,
in every suitable and proper and with ae-
eomrnodations not only sufficient for the
present, but for the probable future wants
Of the government for "a lorg period can be
erected and furnished for seventy five thou
sand dol.ais; and it is earnestly recon-
moulded that such increased appropriations
should be made Another reason for grant
ing this sum is, that it would prevent what
mig hit be considered az an inviduous DIS
tlnetion between these two cities aud those
of Cincinnati and St, Louis, where's larger
amount has been appropriated.
This document contains list OF custom
houses. beginning with that of Bangor,
Maine, and closing with Norfolk and Mr..
CorwIr; states distinctly, in making his rec
concentrations. that he is looking not only
10 the present, but to tue future wants Oh
the county in connection with improve
nents Of this kind. understand from ms
f.iend from Alabama Mr.. Phillips tha;
there are contracts now TO make that GUS
tom-houss fite.p.oof Il YOU will so back
10 the economical days Of our predecessors,
you will find that euslom.houses did not
cost 1.-THE OF The money which IS lard out
for their erection now. | will tell you
what causes the difference, the Object IS
now TO heau,if, and adorn the cities W here
they ale erected, to raise the price oi prop
erty BY selecting particular locations, thus
promoting the private Interests OF .."uivid-
uals In old times ih.se locations were Sc,
leeted am. t .ae houses bull. with reference
10 the accommodation Of the government
and the promotion 81 its Interests and con-
venienee.
Mr.. Phillips. The case Of Mobile is the
weakest one on have cited to support your
argument.
Mr.. Lttcher God help the strongest
then. Laughter.
Then comes the case OIL. Louisville, "for
oinr1eing the custom-house at Louisville,
Ay., $40, eco" Congress have already
appropriated SITS 745. They want s540,-
o0C more. The whole amount of revenue
collected there in 1853 was S4s. 306 81, at
aaexPense Of $2,397 SO.
Let rs see what was said at .he last ses-
sion efCongress upon this subjecr. Ny
friend from Alabama will perhaps think
tits is one of.the strongest cases.
ehIr. Preston moved to add after 18th,
Sin, ard 9th lines the following words for
proceeding with the construction OF the
custom lense at Louisville, Kentucky,
$s7, 7f5.'
Wonderful exaetness in those figures
fl.aughter.l The gentleman in his re.
marks in support OF tais amendment, used
the following language;
at is proper that should iftofm the
committee, that under the applications OF
bidders for tire contracts, the total cost will
be alaa, S162 600. 4 note from the Sec.
letary informs me that $50 600 would be
safiieient for the present, 10 proceed with
The " ok, but have thought it best to
state al once on aeudta data, THE TOTAL
coST, and embrace in my amendment, a
sum sufficient 10 insure the efficient prose-
eution and certain completion oil the stfuc-
ture.5 THIS hcre done
Well, now, sir, this was the language Of
the gentleman from Kentucky on the 18th
dsy of February, 1858. Congress then yo-
ted all the money asked for, and we were
then informed that i, was sufficient to COW
or afhe total cost of the building. They
had the bids and knew exactly to a cent
what they required to fllup the contract.
And the gentleman came forward ard open
" proclaimed here, that the sum OF $751;
745 was wanted, and that just that much
money would be asked for, because that
sum would complete the building But on
our return here at this session of Congress,
we find that $40, 900 more than the amount
snec;fed III the bids then referred to, is re-
CURED TO complete this custom-Louse.
Mr.. Breckenridge, Will the gentleman
weld me the floor for an explanation.
Mr.. Letcher. Certainly, | will, for l
d sire to have light thrown on the subject.
MT. pFttAiuliupC. rs VI"
who represents Louisville Mr.. Preston is
10, present will make a very brief ex-
rlanation.
Mr.. Letcher. gave him notice taat |
would speak on the subject this evening.
Mr.. Breckenridge. will take his place
MS he is not here. Mr.. Chairman,
nv friend from Virginia, Mr.. Letchcr
seems 10 intimate that there is an attempt
10 rob the treasury to plumber it without
any consideration, of an additional sum OF
money, under the pretenee oi completing
the custom house. | have nothing now to
say in reference to eustom-h houses general
W. but in respect othis particular custom
house have this to say. The estimates
for building it were made at the last session
of Congress. In the first place, the esti-
mate was made on conjecture, as all esti-
mates in advance have TO be made. to a
large extent; and, in the next place when
the estimate was made, it was not eontem-
plated TO reudcr the building re-proof.
90 into no arguments now for the pur-
pose Of showing that important public
buildings OF the United States should be
Gre-proof. An additional $4,000 was
g. 10 TO fhn