The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-05
supervision Of Government works.

w holc ana having unuef cohsluciaoh tue SUBJECT OF
lung certain custom houses-blr Stanton, OF
Kentucky offered amendment TO the effect ''that no
officer employed in the United States army shall be
ployed TO supentend the construction OF any building
for which appropriation is made in this BILL" and pro-
ceeded address the House in support OF that amend
ment.
His speech, although OF but five minutes duration.
contained such serious criticism upon the admnisra-
lion OF the War Department that we have deemed il
proper inquire into the facts and present them 10
readers
Mr. Stanton alleges that the War Department he
asserts that this allegation cannot be deniedhas "grad
uaIy and insidousy engrossed and monopozed many
OF the civil places OF the government it could p and
by this MEANS he says the department "has been able
to give snug and comfortable positions TO its iavorites
until the evil has become wide spread and dangerous"
in proof OF which assertion the honorable gentleman
mbodied list of seventy officers of engineers and ord
nance who, he alleges. are now employed on civil
dulyquarieed," is the expression, "on the civil ser
vice of the government"
We do not think il necessary to place these gentle.
mems names in our columns but an examination OF the
list has convinced us, and think should convince
any unpreudced mind. that these officers are performing
their proper and legitimate duties in compliance with The
laws OF Congress and the orders OF their government
These are the facts: OF the thirty engineer officers,
who, Mr. Stanton states, are employed on civil dutIes
twenty three are charge of the Constructions ortif
cations upon our Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific coasts four
are on duty the coast survey, in accordance with the
law of ls43, reorganizng The survey, and requiring
many officers OF the army and navy OF the United States
will be compatible with the successful prosecution Of the
work" to be detailed for that duty; two the Pa
ci6c railroad survey, in accordance with the law OF
March g. 1853 one has charge OF the construction Of the
buildings for the Military Asylum, in compliance with
the law founding that institution one has charge OF
river and harbor improvements, in accordance with the
law of August 30, 1852; and the remaining officer has
the superintendent under the direction OF the Secretary
of the Treasury OF the construction OF houses,
minis, marine hospitals, &c.
In addition these varied and responsible duties four
teen of the above officers charged with river and har
Dor improvements, in accordance with the law OF Au-
gust &c. 1884, requiring the appropriations for that pu.
pose "to be expended under the direction of the SeTe
tary of War J" two have duties under the Light house
Board in accordance with the law of August 3d. 1852,
requiring the President ITO direct that officer Of the
army or navy be assigned each district lighthouse
inspector :; six duty constructing and renovatng
lighthouses. in accordance with the law approved March
3, 1884, requiring the President ITO TO be detailed
from the engineer corps Of the army such officers may
be necessary superntend the construction and
ting light houses is constructing the assay office in
New York; two constructing custom houses; and,
finally one has charge of the Capitol extension, and also
of the Washington aqueducL
OF the thirty. five officers OF typographical engineers
mentioned by Mr. Stanton eight in charge OF river
and harbor improvements surveying the route of
canal across Florida, six the Pacific railroad
survey four surveying the northern lakes three
on the Mexican boundary commission, two on the
coast survey, surveying routes Tor military roads,
and one is the chief assistant in the Typographical
Bureau
Every one Of these officers is on duty, in compliance
with laws relating to these subjects and directly applca-
Bile 10 the case One OF the officers on the Mexican
boundary commission whose labors now in this city,
has been charged with the construction of the bridge
across the Potomac one, who is employed on the north.
em lakes has charge of the construction OF the Saul,
Ste Marie canal and the chief assistant the Topo-
graphical Bureau, although not made his duty by orders,
has, al the request OF the Pfesiden, OF The United States
superintendent during the last summer The repairs OF the
Presidents House.
Oi the three officers oil ordnance mentioned Mr..
Sanous is two have charge Of the armories at Spring
field and Harpefs Ferry, and The other the survey OF
military road, in accordance with the law OF January 7,
1853.
An examination of the laws making appropriations
for The Numerous works which have been mentioned
WILL we think, satisfy any that they contain within
themselves the authority for assigning all the above Off
GERS 10 the duties which they performing but
when II is recoected that the law OF 1885, increasing
the corps OF engineers and organizing the corps OF opo-
graphical engineers, repealed the authority which had
been granted the President by the OF Congress Of
ls24 employ eiva engineers goue,nmsnf Dork the
obligation Of the Executive to employ the government
engineers to superniend tue works becomes
mandafory.
Upon these facts il us that il this system be
wrong the fauI, lies with Congress- and not with the
War Department
Having disposed of this part OF The subject we propose
TO notice some OF the other points OF Nc Siantons
speech Mr. Stanton says that in Great Britain "tbere ATE
such encroachments OF e military upon the civil de-
partmenis OF the military men, with their
arbitrary power and habits not allowed 10 supern-
tend there the operations OF mechanics and artisans
We cannot but regret that while Mr. Stanton 40 siren
uousy endeavorng to shape The course Of our govern
mcnt in reference to this matter he has not informed
himself more accurately OF the experience and practice of
other governments In England according 10 our in
formation, military do supetinlend many OF the
,.oyta uphicb Nj Stanton ralIa c;,u -.