The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-01-16
AFT AIRS IN WASHINGTON.

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AFFAIRS IN WASHINGTON.
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Oar Washington Correspondence.
WASHINGTON, Jan. /, 1854.
dnofher Chapter on the Extravaganza Of the Pre-.
sent Administvation-Ih Washington Water
Works and the 4queducf-Ihe Sguandsrings of
the War Department. &C., &c.
The committees on public buildings, Of the two
houses, have both been changed, and for what pur
pose, the public mind win very naturally inquire.
Not single man in the House whs had ever served
on that committee before is now upon it. New men,
and new members, with the exception of one, have
been selected by Speaker Boyd to comprise the con-
mittee in the House; and in the Senate Gen. james,
practical and efficient man. Ii displaced from his
position as chairman of that committee. 1t cannot
be denied that the organization Of these two commit
tees was effected at the instance Of the Cabinet.
Gen. Pierces constitutional advisers demanded that
the old committee men should be displaced, and
Others substituted, and it was done accordingly.
And why? Because the chairmen Of both these COM
mttees were practical men, who understood their du-
ties and were prepared to expose and denouncs the
reckless extravaganza, waste and folly now pursued
under military superintendent at the Capitol
No reflection is intended upon the gentlemen plac
ed upon these committees by the interference OF the
Cabinet; for they had little idea Of being placed
In that position as the country had that any ener-
gency existed to make it necessary for the admins
tration to NEEDLE in so small way, with the organ
ization of the House, But these gentlemen are mex
perenced, and were less likely for that reason, to
interfere with the designs Of the administration Not
one Of them would have been selected If it had been
thought he would except to the mode Of proceeding
at the capitol. The alterations of the plan Of the
building without the authority Of law-the vast ex-
pense it has incurred the waste of money in the pur
chase Of the materials, and in the mode Of executing
the work. and the bold and daring expenditure Of i'm
ense sums Of money fancy marble and fancy scup
ture are the great objects to be covered up and kept
from the scrutiny of Congress- It was to hide these out
rageous expenditures-to smother and keep from
public view these bold and shameful acts of the mill
tary managers at the Capitol, that and inexperi
enced members were placed upon the Building Com
mittees. Such little trickery and small management
are worthy Of the War Department. But it will prove
as ineffective as it was little and contemplate.
The servile tools OF the Cabinet delight to repre-
sent it as an economical administrations admins
tration whose mission it is to guard the Treasury.
Now let us see for one moment how the Treasury is
guarded. Capt. Meigs, Of the Engineer Corps, who
never had any experience in civil lie as builder or
architect is taken from his legitimate duties in the
army, and placed the heads of experienced and
distinguished civilians (whose whole lives have
been devoted to the construction OF public edces)
in the superintendent of the great work Of enarg
ing the Capitol One million OF dollars appropriated
by Congress, is placed in his hands, with free au-
thority or license to expend it as he pleases. Yes,
~ he peases He is allowed to alter plans already
approved by the highest authority in the govern
uLok. l,..-
materials in any quantity, at any price, and
at any place-to send orders abroad for fine
statuary and fancy marble, and do whatever
he likes, without restraint-without restraint be-
cause the government has other guarantee
for the faithful disbursement Of the funds, and the
proper construction of the work. than his own honor
He has been required to execute no bond, as other
disbursing officers are, and has actually under his
CONTROL without security public funds 10 the amount
Of one million OF do lars per year. for this work alone
Experience shows that no matter how heightened
and honorable Captain Meigs may be as gentleman,
it does not protect government against bad manage
ment, waste and extravaganza in the expenditure Of
the public money.
Congress appropriated at the last session. one hum
water works to supply Washington and Georgetown
with water In preference to experienced civilians,
Captain Meigs selected to devise and present to
the President plan for that work; which he &C.
e0rdingly did. 1t is upon magnificent scale, and
will not cost cent less than seven millions Of dol
lars. No living man who voted to appropriate the
money for the commencement OF the work. ever
dreamed it would cost more than one million.
Better plans had already been presented to Congress-
the cost of which did not exceed that amount.
The economical President preferred military
Commensurate only with the lofty ideas OF the United
States Engineer Corps, and to consume not sss than
onesixth of the whole revenues of the government
for fiscal year! The secretary asks for million Of
dollars to be expended the work the coming year.
II granted, this will place in the hands of Capt Meigs
for disbursement IN single year, including $3.50 900
asked for the Capitol 81 $50 00O and that too with
out security to the amount OF single farthine Tru-
ly, this is guarding the public treasury with ven
geance.
Surely Congress will not hesitate one moment to
send him back to his place in the army arrest the
wanton and profigate waste Of the public money, and
teach the Secretary Of War that there is power
which dares even to rsbuke military presumption
Upon an appropriation of 800 900, made by the
last Congress for the waerworks and nearly all Of
which has been expended in surveys, &C., Captain
Meigs is about to negotiate contract for 100000
Of bricks. Let it be remembered, too, that this
quantity only part of all the bricks which will be
required, II the grand and magnificent plan We nave
seen Swallowed forth in the government organs here,
is carried out. To build q culyert Of sufficient
strength fourteen miles long and nine feet in dis.
meter, as designed, will take 53,sl3740 bricks, a.
any one may readily see who viii take the trouble TO
make the calculation. These bricks will cost not
less than s53s,l37. To lay them will cost even more
than those laid at the CAPITOL because the work is
all arching, and none plain work; but, say IS per
thousand-the cost Of laying will be $430,50 The
lime, cement, and sand the excavations the building
of DAMS the excavations and construction Of reser
voirs the laying Of the pipes for distribution of the
water, and other necessary work and material will
swell the expense to q sum sicient to swallow up
seven millions of the public treasureenough to sus
tain the State governments of half the States in the
Union for whole year.
Other Newspaper Correspondence.
Correspondence OF thu Cleveland Herald
wAsHrNGTey January s, 1854.
The question is every where asked, ~ Why don't
the President that the executed and put
end to the dRraceful disturbances At ErisY For
ruous days and weeks tbs great mail route between the
EAst and West ia obstruoseo by lAwlsss mobthe malls
are de yedths injunctiors OF tbs United
States circuit Courts violated and tho
oommeroe between the states suspended by this lAwess
mob Why are not prompt aud efficient means laken