Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-06-12

VIII DC competed III PROOF manner,
and OF such character as this government
ought to possess wherever i. has buildings
Of that sort at ell.
Mr.. Leteher. In the first place, if my
friend from Kentucky {Mr. Breckinridge)
will look 10 the language Of his colleague,
who is posted up Oh this subject, he will
fnG that he stated that the application Of
the bidders for the contract, fixed the cost
at $162,745, for 20 stfc, serricea6le, and
substantial edifce," And if he will look at
Mr.. Corwin's report he will find that he
recommends the erection Of o fire-proof
building at Louisville, and states distinctly,
that the Louisville custom house "can be
erected and furnished for STE, 600"
Mr.. Breckenridge. That Is, that the
contract made by Mr.. Corwin was to com
plete fire-proof building but when Mr..
Guthrie came into office, he found that the
building was not fire-proof, except in a sort
Of way. And if the gentleman from Vir
ginia viii refer TO the report OF the SecIe-
tary Of the Treasury, he will see that
Mr. Letcher nave il here.
Mr. Breckenridge. Well, read it, and
you will find that what | say is right.
Mr. Letcher. cannot refer to the pas
sage Just now, but there is one thing IN
regard TO it. II fre-proof building
could be erected for S75, 900, | imagine a
complete ffe-proof building could have
been erected for SITS, 745. But ask, sir,
is il possible that the Secretary Of the Treas
uty has year after year, represented to this
House that certain sums Of money were
needed to erect a flre-proof building for
this government, and after he has had the
appropriations made, that he has been
guilty lthe folly of contracting foT the
erection OF building that was not fire.
proof
But then, in addition to this why have not
all these contracts been sent in here We
had the Louisville bids during thu l. 81 Co..
gress in this hall. TIE gent man who
then represented th...; district, stated that
'i' Appropriation asked for would build
/ such house as the government required.
And il seems to me that. with proper econ
omy, this could de done yet. | cannot
understand why it cannot be done, and
why the sun: Of SITS, 745 cannot build a
fire. proof house for a single officer at Lou
isyille, when $4,000 is enough to build
a fire. proof house at Norfolk. But there
is to be post office and court loom in it..
And will any gentleman here say that 1t is
impossible for nearly 5000, 900 to build a
fire-proof custom-house for one man, which
shall contain post.otlic. and courtroom.
Now, let me come to the custom-house
at Wilmington, which has attracted great
deal of attention for two or three years
past. Laughter. 1t is quite an mpor-
tant point. The revenue collected there
III 1888 was $3.50, 10, and the expenses So
304 o. laughter, and now for that Gus
tom-house there will have been approplia
ted S37 227 IS. il this 5l2, 600, which is
now asked Tor, snail be granted, think
this government had better compromise,
and give them all the revenue collected
at that point.
Mr.. Riddle. | am sorry to interrupt toe
gentleman, but hope to be INDUCED II
moment, and only moment, for have
been amused by the gentleinan's speech.
MI. Letcher. hope the gentleman
will not make too Tonga preface to his re-
marks.
MIR. Riddle. wish 10 show the ineon-
slstency OF the words Of the gentleman from
Virginia, Mr. Leleherl and ] dislike TO
show it tee, fer | Ike Il agree with the
gentleman. Vow. the gentleman COM
plains Of the appropriation Of 5000, 009 for
the Louisville cHstoal-hense ia the whole,
$40 600 of which is asked for now. Now,
there is required at that point only one
COLLECTOR, and accommodations for u court
room and a post office. Now, | admit thai
the duties collected at Wilmington are
some years very small.
But if the gentleman will fake the trou-
bic to look al the amount Of business trans
acted in the custom-house at Wilmington
he Will see that we have to have, not only
"a custom house for collector and his dep
uty post office for this CITY, eourt-room
for the United States courts, but we have
transacted there all the business of ONE Of
the most important lighthouse districts in
the Union. And if he will look further
he will find that the general government
is now paying more for the rent of accom-
quotations foi the public business than the
interest upon that appropriation will
amount TO.
Mr.. Letcher. The gentleman has made
very ingenious statement, and give him
due credit for it ! believe it has been said
that the State from which he comes could
be carried withon.. Inconvenience in a
mans breeches pocket. | mean no disre-
spect to the State Of Dela ware, but 1t does
seem TO me that, for small State, they
have had veiy liberal ALLOW apce. The
gentleman says that great deal OF busl-
ness is transacted there; but after az, 1t
does not seem TO me TO amount to much
Such case has not been made as will au.
thorlze us to make further appropriation S
for this custom-house. will venture to
say there is no place where a custom-house
has been asked for that the member repre-
sen,ing the locality could not make out
Just as good case in its favor as the gen.
tleman from Delaware has made out for
Wilmington.
Mr. Riddle. ask the gentleman to al
low me to say word more.
Mr. Letcher Well, be as brief as pos
sible.
Mr.. Riddle. We do not desire any APP
preparation for the custom-house at vii,
mington that is not necessary. The city
of Philadelphia is near US. That city has
a custom-house where the collector has
more duties to discharge than any one can
otanl Ia md IN this account tha du-