The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-18

they have in the other branch Of Congress but feel that
il Is entirely unpariamentary adduee amy argument Of
that description TO the consideration Of the bin here
One word in reference TO these matters Every OF
the appropriations now moved as an amendment has gone
through the ordeal Of examination, with the exception OF
those put on AZ the suggestion Of my colleague AR HAM
InY1 There is nothing further TO be done about them.
Time is pressing The country s quite as much in want
of them as it Is Of onehaf of the appropriations which
are made in the bin and called Deficiencies There one
here appropriate money TO the Patent Once for the pur-
chase Of seed There another relating TO certain print
ing which hereafter to be done and which certainly was
not matter so pressing in point of time All these
things have been etnaed for They have been examined
and thoroughly considered more than once Ihe5 are
absolutely necessary at the present time hope, there
fore that viii adhere TO the amendments and, at
any rate that shall test the question whether the Sen
ate shall have voice in settling matters oil TINS atsclI
I ton.
Mr. BROWN do not. concur in The views expressed
by various senators, that are TO reject amendments to
this bin account of any apprehension that they viii not
meet with favor at the other end Of the Capitol The sena
tor from Maine Mr. FEssENDEs has very well expressed
the idea that enertanha each house has to act upon
its responsibility, and separately in reference to mat
tiers Of this kind. Whatever think proper upon this b
shall put upon IL without any sort Of reference as
to whether is to please the other house OF Congress or
not
| But there two points about which shall have to be
satisfied before can vote for this amendment and the
first isl will address the inquiry to the senator from
Iowa. Mr.. DODGE, who introduced the last amendment
whether any Investigation has been made into the ex-
pendiures OF the last appropriations What has become
the money which has been appropriated hereoiore Has
it been properly appiedi Has it been accounted torY
to be satisfied upon that point not only in reference
to the amendment ITSELF but in reference 10 the amend
ment to the amendment These works have been going
on for years. Appropriation after appropriation has
been made for them and, for one, | am not willing
sit here from year to year, and make appropriations
of money upon bare estimates without knowing what has
become of the money which we have already appropriated
Then want to know to another point Are The ap-
preparations asked for to complete the buildings or are
they to 20 time in the future which is not
Defined to do something we know not what? Are we to
be called upon to make another appropriation in general
appropriation bill
Mr.. THOMPSON, of Kentucky. The amendment Is TO
complete"
Mr. BROWN | know that term is put in the amend
ment but that does not signify anything to us 1t does
not complete it as we know from sad experience You
have made appropriation after appropriation to complete
these very marine hospitals. Go back and look at your
estimates years. and you win find that they have been
completed every year according to those estimates for the
last five six years. So with your custom-houses
Another thing would like to know. How much money
is going take complete these cusomhouses in the
Wcst2 How many hundred dollars is each one to cost?
And is the value Of the building for commercial purposes
to any Of relation when it completed to the
cost of 2 understand that you are asked TO bulld
custom-house in Louisville another in Cncnnat and am
other in st Louis which is TO cost the government half
million of dollars at least SO understanding it. have
from the beginning warred against 1t You have no use
for any such custon-house there What is the whole
of the importing business OF the three ces2 The
receipts into the three would not be
sufficient to build Of them There are to-day more
than hundred merchants in the three cities who trans
act more business than the United States do there mean
that the receipts and disbursements of more than one hun
dred merchants in those cities larger t1n the receipts
of the customhouses there yet each one rasacs his bns
ness with all his merchandise about him. in house that
does cost him perhaps exceeding $4,000 or $4,000
Mr. CHASE. The senator is mistaken in regard to the
cost these custom-bouses The total appropriation in
cuding the appropriation Of that cusom-house in Cncin-
natl falls short think of 100000 am not certain as to
the Louisville The st Louis custon-house is the
largest the three And in regard to the amount OF busi
ness done nj these cities the is under mistake
cannot il precisely at this moment but the revenues
collected there certainly very much exceed year
NJ ha,, nnt grrp1 mN n
the Secretary of the Treasury but asked the chairman OF
the Committee of Ways and Means of the House. yesterday
what were the annual receipts Of the customs at Cincinnati
and ST Louis He told me think that they were about
100000 st Louis and somewhere IN the neghborhood
of 100000 at Cincinnati.
Mr. GEYER can the senator that the receipts
al ST Louis for the last year S2o4ooo and ey
increasing annually at the rate Of about $4,000 year
Mr. BROWN. Allowing the amount to be 1924 900, why
40 YOU want house which to cost in the neghborhood
of half million, in order to transact that amount of busi
ness2
Mr.. CHASE The senator win allow me to say tina,
these buildings for cusomhouses only called custom
houses but they also intended for the accommodation
of the courts and the postoccs and the various public
business Of the United States at each of these points and
really there is great economy in the construction of
house these purposes instead of renting as the govern
ment ordinarily does
Mr. WELLER whA, docs the government pay in the
Mr.. CHASE. Some $4,000 in Cincinnati alone.
| Mr. BROWN Well sir although these buildings are TO
be used for all these purposes think smaller might
suffice But let that pass know very well that there is
really necessity for collecting customs at those cities at
all Who does not know that there is not one single
ounce Of merchandise that TO one OF those cities which
does not pass through New 0reans2 And You are build
inc customhouse there which will cost from three to FIVE
millions OF dollars If there be necessity for these build
nas and for the appropriation Of half million Of dollars
for them let us appropriate the amount but let us ascer
tain what has been done with the money heretofore appro
patea and how much win be wanted hereafter to coU-
plee these buildings When the proper committee Of the
Senate investigated these matters properly they will
be able officially on their responsibility whether
these appropriations are needed; but when you merely
bring in estimates OF the Secretary of the Treasury and ask
for appropriations without knowing anything to what
has been done with the money heretofore appropriated and
without knowing whether the present appropriation VIII
complete the buildings, you are striking IN me d'rh
want information upon these points ana without " call
note vote for these appropriations.
Mr. CASS desire not to be misunderstood by my vote
will vote against these amendments and yet If under
Stand tho object think should vote for any of the
IL It in what thought TO be the right
ace RELY very much upon the opinion of the honorable
senator at The head Of the Committee Finance in rea-
on to appropriation bills do not want to hazard the
bill | do not agree with the honorable senator from
Maine that this may not hazard the BILL II this were
matter Of principle, admit TINT should not look 50
much as to whether It should be in this in some other
bin but when 1t is mere question Of expediency as TO
the best way Of passing the provision think right to
look to the condition Of things in the other house That
appears to me TO be n legitimate subject OF inquiry.
Mr. BELL How viii IL cause the loss OF the bil IN the
other house2
Mr. CASS am not responsible for the fact Mr. Presi-
dent hut We have all heard what the honorable chairman
Of the Committee Finance has stated, and from his
means Of information rely very much upon his opinion