The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-15
CITY OF WASHINGTON. SATURDAY MORNING APRIL l5 1854

oy ought also defeat il Now thai may or may noi be
purpose OF afcefainDg whether he should for this
appropriation or that appebsnd that the senator IRON
Virginia. who soisd Tor Tbs wafer appropriation yesle
day. az tie s 10 go there as The honorable senator
from California But, sir, there u no necessity 10 20
there or The puipose Of iearnlng what their views
regard 10 the class o amendments offered by lLe
from Kentucky, We all know tha, when The first def
cheney bill oil thy in the House, II contained
the very class os appropriations now proposed on the
motion OF The senator IRON Kentucky TO be put IN this
BILL and Tor thai Feason i rejected The appsopna
uon proposed IN he made by the amendment which we
agreed TO yesterday was not placed in thai bill We
therefore do not know but that II may meet with the
cunence OF the House. We know with certainly that if
you place the amendmeni Of the senator from Kentucky
in this bill defeats IT, We do know that the amend
ment which we sdopted yesterday will have that effect.
say whether there is NOT distinction between thar
amendment upsn which the of the House has moi
been and this in reference which they have
al.ssay s Ba nss have oss q Two va.ds d say upou
this question; and must again dner from my honora-
Bile friend from Maryland, lMr PRATT.l This moi a
general appropriation bill 4 rs an appropriation BILL bnt
i is called the deficiency bill presume that the true
line OF distinction to the propreiy OF placing ap
preparation in il, or reserving for general appropria
hon bill, must depend upon whether there has been any
unexpected and unforeseen why appropriation
should be made which connects itself with the pre-
ceding appropriations BY previous Congress That
TO be the general ground OF passing beforehand
deficiency bill connected with the appropriations OF the
current fiscal year, instead of that which
the FIRST of July II, then these appropriations
under the recommendation o The Secretary OF the Treas
ury. Can be brought within that principle there is but
one other objection which be made TO their adop
onthat rs, the objection made by the honorable
tor from Maryland, OF the danger oil these appropriations
defeating The bill in the House. shal address m, self
TO both points
AS 10 the first The Congress OF The United States at
previous session, authorized the building OF the
tom houses. Al The commencement OF the present
sion the Secretary OF The Treasury under whose charge
Their building placed reports 10 you specifically as 10
certain custom houses, that owing 10 the in the price
OF materials and other unexpected events they could
be completed according to The original demand and spec
hcaiIons, and designs OF the department. under the ap
preparations which have been made; but that he had
made agreements which would provide Tor their com
slructon with the spulauoa with the contractors thai
the agreements might be carried TO make
feror work. unless Congress were pleased 10 appropriate
10 carly them out according 10 the original design The
Secretary, therefore, has performed his duty He has
left the matter in tins condition. He has expedited The
construction OF the buildings 10 the utmost extent of his
power, They all more less advanced and the
whole queston 10 be decided Is whether in consequence
oil The unexpected increase both in the prices Of materials
and the rates Of wages during the last year and half,
Will make appropriation 10 carry out the original
plan. lnasmuch the buildings cannot be constructed
IN he-proo manner according 10 The original estimates
and designs they must either be constructed inie
ror manner mol beiag bre proof or else they must be
delayed for The whole OF another Year. though they
now 10 progress oil construction. ask whether that is
not precisely that IN point OF time within
dehclency bill and which would require that the appro
pfiaion should be made instead Of being postponed
until the month OF August September when The build
ing year will nearly have passed
submit, therefore, that according 10 the recommen
daon OF the Secretary OF the Treasury unless you say
that these custom houses ought not 10 be completed in
hre-pfoof manner unless you say that you will moi put
them in appropriation bill al all, they class OF
works which their position peculiarly requires should 60
into the deficiency bill ! will take-beeause am more
familiar with il than with others, though | have no
doubt that the Argument would apply precisely 10
other casehe building authorized 10 be erected IN my
own State The original appropriation Sa5 ,227 ss
The Secretary, IN report made 10 the Committee Of
Ways and Means IN the House, which hold IN my
hand, that he has mace contTact that that build
ing can be constructed, though no, in re-proof manner
foT the amount OF the appropriation but be thinks il
the interest o the government 10 construct It's buildings
10 permanent and more durable aud iherefore
he gives additional estimate OF sl20o0makipg S37
227 % 40 all. Thai building stands In this situation.
Under the contract The foundation has been constructed
and The building stands in position in which, at the
opening OF The season. the work could be resumed The
contractor mast either proceed 10 make wooden grders
arches in other words, be must oiiher make
the building fre-proof Under hs he has
right 10 60 on and complete the beildng wiihou' ma
king il hre-proof
That is one II the conditions OF the contract The sec
retsry had 20 authority except TO make II contingent in
thai mode II the amendment does not pass, and by
dong you postpone your action, the building must be
sracied m an imperfect manner y ihe contractor chooses
10 20 on because Of the additional cost OF $4,000 which
you refuse IL II mol, then, case which 10 point OF
time appeals TO the proprsiy OF The insertion OF tlis
account Of unforeseen contingency, the appropriation
should be inserted, enabling 20 DO Il speedily than
BY waiting for the general appropriation bill VI we wait
Tor that the whole season will be lost
submit therefore, that point Of fact, and Of sound
policy have doubt The other custom houses stand in
The same position the 10 which allnded tor
these the given by the SECRETARY Of the Treas
my IN referenee tbem--they all themselves
with precedent appropriations. The increase the price
Of the lumber and labor being 50 great srIsag from
expected events the cusloU-houses authorized
10 be built, and the amoan which Is necessary for their
construction according 70 ihe original cesgns being great
er than The amount appropriated, the departnenil think
very wiseybcevhg that was lar ore important 10
toe government that buildings OF that character should
be ere proof and Of pprmasen, character Than The
d,h.fence Of $500 900 100000 should be saved IN
their construction, has recommended these additional ap
propraiions, which clearly deficiencies depending
nbon unexpected event.
say therefore, they addfes. themselves 10 the intel
irenoe Of the Senate, proper objects for deficiency
bill. lar more strongly than the OF the Washington
aquedBct voted in favor OF that. think IL right that
The work should progress bat there state OF
things requiring immediate appropriation com parable
al all 10 the case OF he cosion-houses have shown
you the case OF one IN my Slate. have no doubt
other senators could show you others IN their Slates
The building AT the mere will oi the contractor, must
on, and be made IN imperfect manner; OF, II unwils
ling TO do that and preierring 10 let il lie over, must
be postponed another year before IL be finished In
either there il loss to the government submit
therefore, that | have made out stronger case, not
merely Tor the appropriations, bat for their insertion IN
this deficiency BILL which u meant 10 provide for
fecied emeTgsnces than the OF the S5o00oo voted
for the Washington waller works the S75 900 Tor the
bridge the Potomac There il no reason in eithe
OF those strong for their insertion in this ball a
there "a Tor The insertion oi these appropriations
come. then. the ufker Obteftlon The honora ble