Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-03-30
THIRTY-THIRD CoNGREss-Fir,t Session.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, March 81.
Mr.. Hunter moved to postpone all other business and
take up the Deficiency bill Motion agreed to, and the
amendments taken up.
All the amendments reported by the finance committee
were adopted without objection except The first of
these was one appropratiDg two hundred and fifty thou
sand dollars for the purchase of site for Custom
House at San Francisco with authority to the Secretary
ofthe Treasury TO purchase site with buildings already
erected.
Mr. Hunter explained that after the government had
pended 900 in preparing lot Ia San francisco with
water front for Custom House, California had set up
claim to IT, The Secretary of the Treasury proposed IN
that State, that she relinquish her claim the United
States, but California refused do So IL wss
dangerous for the United States 20 in the erection
OF buildings on lots, the title which was in so tnuch
doubt. The Attorney General under former admioistta
ton had decided the title OF the United States to be good
but the title was now considered doubtful This amend
nent authorized the Secretary procure site and 90
on with the erection OF the buildings, to purchase
new site with buildings already erected.
IL was Of the highest importance that the Custom
House should be built. The government nov paid an
annual rent for buildings in San Francsco OF $4,000
This case Of the California Custom House was peculiar
and entirely different from all Others. Contracts had
been made Tor Custom Houses, and materials had been
procured, aud prompt action respecting ought 10 be
Mr. Iamn said that no sufficient reasons had boen v
en- for including the San Francisco Custom House and
excluding all other he therefore moved to add to the
amendment an appropriation Of 100000 for rebui-
dug the Custom House at Portland Maine
Ar Hunter opposed this In the OF the California
Custom House, legislation at this time was absolutely
cessary, and ia others il not II all the propostions
for Custom Houses added this bill il would dee
It, This had defeated it once before.
House.
Mr. Petit said il he believed this amendment wonld
have the effect Of killing the bill he might vote Tor II H.
was opposed to all deficiency bills They were bills in.
Tended N cnver M the erpsndtaroa Of money BUsacted
from the treasury without authority Of Law. Nothing
could justify the expenditure of money without lis pre-.
| viOus appropriation by Congress.
said ltfa I,iU al "a
pTation 20 up expenditures made without authority
OF law IL gave the government power TO e1pend more
money during the ses year than originally appro.
prated There had been every year fof the last forty
ycan under one name or another deficiency bills and
| necessarily so.
Mr. Shields asked how much this bill appropriated
hf Hunter said 1t appropriated between two and
three Millions including eight hundred thousand added
| by the Senate Committee.
Mr Jones Of Tennessee followed in opposition to the
Dill, and while denOuncng the mscaled euconony prac-
used by the House Of blindly cutting down estimates ono
half or third he maintained that the government ought
not TO oIpcnd or incur liabilities beyond tic amounts &C
tualiy appropriated by Congress.
Mr. llamlin replied, defending ibis bill.
Nc brown was opposed TO all deficiency bills. lie
could not vote for the amendment unless the authority 70
purchase the buildings was stricken out.
| twelve. P
The Indian Appropriation Bill was received from tho
| House, and referred TO the Finance Committee.
The chair laid before the Senate a communication from
the treasury Ia reply 70 resolution Of the Senate calling
Ior statement Of the expenditures for she
OF the mails TO the Pacific during tho last three years
by this communication 1t appears that there was paid 70
government mail agents between New York and Gan Fran.
cisco for the three years ending June 80 1883 the sun
Of f32,63S 70 resident post Office agents at Panama
1900 For mail ransporlon the Ishnus for the year
ending June. Is5, the Of 1887; for s52, 49, OSg;
and for 1853, S5,3l4--totil sIs2, 300
For mail transportation from New Orleans TO Vera Cruz
eleven trips between February aud ptember ls53 sI7
900 for transportation Of supplies and muoons for naval
force the Pacific for thsos yours ending June ssa Tho
sum OF 1875 For the transportation Of mails 10 steam