Washington sentinel., 1854-03-28
GGnarfssiunal.
CONGRESS.
senatc-Monday, March ~, 1854
FIRST SESSION.
THE DEFICIENCY BILL.


senatc-Monday, March n, 1854.
THE DEFICIENCY BILL.
On motion by Mr.. HUNTER, the Senate pro-
ceeded to the consideration of the bill TO supply
deficiencies in the appropriations for the service
Of the fiscal year ending June 80, 1854.
All the amendments reported by the Committee
on Finance, and heretofore published in this paper
were adopted, except two. The first OF these was
as follows, added to the bill:
"For the purchase of site for the custom-house
iu San Francisco and the Secretary Of the Trea
sury hereby authorized II in his Judgment the public
interest will thereby be promoted apply this appropr
ton and much may be necessary Of former appro
priuons for the erection OF cstomhouse on the land
for said purpose TO the purchase o. building Q,
the said Secretary Of the Treasury hereby directed
take all legal proceedings which be necessary adj
visable to maintain and the possession and title
the United States to the lot heretofore selected for the site
Of custom house."
Mr. HUNTER explained the amendment The
United States had expended $4,000 in preparing
the lot reserved by the United States for the GUS
tom-house but the State of California had set up
clam to it, and the question Of title was now in
litigation. The Secretary Of the Treasury had pro-
posed 10 California that that State should relin-
quish TO the United States her claim to that lot,
but California had refused TO do so. While the
question ofttle was thus in dispute, was hazard
GUS to 20 on with the erection ofthe buildings on
that site. This..amendment appropriated $25O,00
for the purchase of new site and il allowed the
Secretary of the Treasury, if it should be more
advantageous to the government TO purchase a
new site with bulldogs already erected upon it.
1t was nightly necessary that the government
should have custom-house in San Francisco.
The rent of buildings at this time for public Offices
in that city amounted to $4,000 per annum.
This was heavy annual rent, and it was better
TO go on without delay in the erection of buildings
or the purchase of a site with buildings already
erected on it.
This case was different from all other cases of
the erection OF custom-houses. Materials had
been purchased and contracts made for the erec-
ton of the custom-house; and, as one was to be
erected, il was better not TO lose these and incur
damages with the contractors.
Mr.. HAMLIN said he did not see that any sufR-
cient reasons had been given for including the
custom-house at San Francisco, and excluding
all others; and he moved TO amend the amend
ment by adding an appropriation of 100000 for
the rebuilding Of the custom-house at Portland,
Maine.
Mr.. HUNTER opposed this, saying that the
case Of the California custom-house imperatiyely
required legislation, while the others did not. To
add to this bill the various propositions for the
completion of custom-houses, would defeat the
bill
Mr.. FESSENDEN followed, urging the pro-
priety and necessity for rebuilding the custom
house at Portland.
Mr.. PETIT expressed his opposition to all
deficiency bills. He thought they were violative
Of the spirit of the Constitution They were gen.
eralv designed to cover up, by appropriations, ex-
pendtnres made without authority of law.
Mr.. HUNTER denied that this bill was intended
TO cover any expenditures made without authority
of law. II was Cesigned to meet unforeseen ex-
penses and to meet liabilities necessarily incurred
in the execution of law beyond the amount appro-
priated.
Mr.. SHIELDS asked how much the bill appro-
priated. s
Mr.. HUNTER said it exceeded little over two
millions Of dollars, including SS00,000 added by
the Senate committee.
Mr.. JONES' Of Tennessee, followed in opposi-
ton to the principle Of deficiency bills. E % I
Mr.. HAMILTON replied and defended the bill.
Mr.. BROWN opposed that feature ofthe amend
ment which gave the power 10 purchase bulldogs
already erected.
The bill was then postponed Ill tomorrow at
halfpast 12 o'clock.
THE INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL
Was received from the House, and referred to
The Committee on Finance.
The CHAIR laid before the Senate commu-
nication from the Treasury Department, transmit
ting, in reply to resolution of the Senate, re-
port of the sums expended for transportation of
the mails troops, munitions, &c., to the Pacific,
during the three years ending June 80, 1853. From
this communication it appears that there was
paid during that time:
To government mail agents between New York
and San Francisco
Year ending June 80, 1851. .......... $12,4 ,453