The daily union., 1854-07-25

the one built by the commandan at Springfield The com
mandant himself admits it cost near S240ooj but in my
opnon IL cost cent the whole expense has not been
less than $4,000 The purchase of additional ground the
Improvement of the adjacent territory the making kitch
en- and flower gardens and other necessary expenses will
swell the cost fully to this amount But ask sir what
necessity what reasons exist for the construction of such
palace? Why should the superintendent of a govern
ment factory live in stylish and costly house than
the Secretary Of State of War of the Treasury? Does
IT add to the efficiency OF the man the manuiactory
Is he superior order of being entitled better style OF
living, more tasteful and elegant residence, and more
costly and agreeable uxures than fall to the lot of others
/ applied to the War Department to obtain information
as to the cost Of this magnificent dwelling To my SUR
both assured that the information not to be had
from their departments have before their letters
They show that of the had been returned
by the commandment Subsequently however, upon appli-
cation by the colonel OF ordnance account sent
from each arnory purporng to contain the items of
incurred at each place for commandants quarters
That from Springfield sets down the cost at S2373s7 but
adds that if three parcels Of land the cost Of which
S3l5 be addedrit will make the sum something more
Sir since the building of this edhce commenced
than $4,000 worth of land has been added to the goyer-
ment property and most Of which for other earthly pur
pose than TO accommodate the commandan 1t wholly
useless for other purposes because government owned
land enough already But have faith in this
do not believe it contains every item of expense have
learned upon authority upon which rely that the pur-
chase and transportation Of soil to make garden for the
commandant has cost not less than $4,000 and yet
cent for this is contained in the account But how did the
comandant obtain the money apply to the building of
this house, There has been single dollar Of ap
proprated by Congress for that purpose No, sir not
single cent granted by this body 1t has all been
taken from appropriations intended for other objects.
fully justified in saying this from the records which
now have before The money asked or, it is true,
but granted.
| Mr.. CUNNING, (nterrupting) would inquire it the
military gentlemen erect buildings without the authority
of the department?
Mr. STANTON | do not know where they get their au-
tiority They do not get it from Congress.
Mr.. CUMMING. They must have got their author
ity from the department under which they were act
ing and the responsibility ought to be placed the right
Mr.. STANTON. Certainly these arlnories are by law
under the control Of the Ordnance department, and it may
be true that its sanction was given to the commandant to
erect the ed6ce But in the of sense does
that make it any more legal or just or proper The Of
fcers of this department all alike The whole concern
is arrant hunbug, and ought to be abolished 1t is
because those officers wholly useless for any valuable
purpose in the army that they cling with unyeding grasp
to the armores and to other civil empoyments Dismiss
them from the workshops and clckships and few pract
cal mechanics will do service to the government than
all Of them together. understand that the ordnance corps
of Great Britain instead Of being composed of army Of
| fcers, is composed of practical civilians.
! Mr. KElTT. would ask the gentleman if it is not the
fact that the English government having hitherto obtain
cd its by private contract under civil SYSTEM has
very recently, finding their utterly inefficient sent
commission here to inquire into the management of
national armories, with ayew OF adapting their system
! to ours
/ Mr. STANTON. No, sir. My understanding is wholly
different The government of Great Britain does not
template the employment of her military officers in the
manufacture of arms Her policy has always been wiser
and better than in that respect She has
couraged the practice of thrusting her military into
civil positions while they remained in the army The peo-
pie would not have tolerated it. Nor is it true that she
sent military officers here to examine ariores with
view of adopting our policy The persons sent here
connected with the army. One n member Of Par
lament and the Others practical gunsmiths They
better qualified than army officers Judge Of
the efficiency of our machinery and the wisdom Of our
system They to procure machinery to be placed in
government factories And their factories, understand,
not to be placed under the control of military officers
but under the management of practical and experienced
civilians. Sir examined upon oath member of the ord
corps to their qualifications for manufacturing
duties. desired to know what there was in the educa-
ton or experience of army officer which better quail
lied them 10 supervise gunakrg than inen bred to the
profession of an armorer Here is his answer:
In such education as officers receive at West Point
they acquire theoretical knowledge of mechanics as
science that gives them prma acquaintance with the
superincndence of the manufacture of but officer
perhaps twenty five years. practical experience, enable
him to judge what makes good military workman"
Now sir does not that demonstrate their fitness amir-
by2 Is it not as clear ms mud But asked him 2 fur
thcr question Are there not many defects il the working
OF iron and other hard material which difficult to de-
tect except by practical workman and is not the duty
of the superintendent to inspect and that the
perfectly made y Now listen to the reply;
There arc many such defects which none but practical
workman detect but it is the duty of the mechanics
namely, the master armorcr and orcmanto what de
iects exist in the arm"
Now sir according to the testimony of this high officer
Of the ordnance corps (he assistant of the colonel the
military commandants are after all dependent upon the
mechanics the subordnates for that intelligence necessary
to enabe TO discharge their duties successfully They
do not possess themselves but are actually dependent
upon others 1t is for this reason, presume that Great
Britain prefers avail tseIC first handed of the proper
teligence experience and SKILL in the management OF her
national workshops and takes practical rather than
nero theorists to place over them
When interrupted, was proceeding 10 show that
thorty had ever been obtained from Congress for NE
pcnditue of money in the erection of residence for the
commandant twas improvement not authorized by
law and not warranted W any existing necessity 1t
the exercise OF "a arbitrary power, the expenditure Of
money Without the authority of Congress, and against its
emphatic disapprova The old quarters which proved
before the committee TO be good enough for secretary TO
live n and better than any ever occupied before by the
witness who testified, ruhlessly demolished The
conmandagt in lS45 asked for $4,000 to rebuild them
His estimates for that year. including this for rebuild
ing his quarters, amounted to S46300 Congress granted
few other oms The next year he asked for S94 900 and
among the items again repeated this of Slao0o
for rebuilding quarters Only three items amounting
S29,500, of his estimates sgaaed by Congress. So
thus, upon two oecaApls aid Congress repudiatc and
ect estimates Cor the rebuilding Of these quarters and
fuse 10 make the appropriation Nothing was asked for
afterwards but the house has been built notwithstanding
verify believe that the cost of construction the extension
of the grounds and the ornamental improvements made
viii swell its cost up to not less than 100000.
MI. DICKINSON, (intcrruptng) Does the gentleman
mean to say that the commandans house in Springfield
cost %500002
Mr. STANTON | said was satisfied tha, ho entire
cost of the building and improvements would reach that
amount.
Mr.. DICKINSON. DO You expect to make this House
believe hnt thGt the cost of this building in the face
Of the information which has been furnished upon that
sublect2 And further do you expect to state here
member of the select committee that such the fact
Inv oih of fut