Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-08-16

AZ 10 eIue tuat MS speech was maui VI WV
18th of May last. But so long as it was mere
ly batch of charges whispered into his ear
by persons who were VIGOROUSLY disappointed
bidders for contracts on the works n question,
and former employees on them whose malfca
ssncs and populations as developed to the
satisfaction of Congress, had induced that
body to place an officer sought to be ruined
by the movement made through Mr.. Ball, in
charge of the extension of the Capitol build.
ing, they required no notice at our hands.
We were perfectly willing to let them pass for
what they were worth, in the belief that
neither House of Congress would dream of
lsglslating upon them as facts admitted or
proven, until those arraigned before his COM
mitteo had been fairly tried, with full and
proper opportunities for defence.
But Mr.. Ball having conducted his inyesti-
CATION with closed doors, denying to the gem
tlemen accused, the privilege of meeting their
disappointed and dismissed acousers face to
face, and cross examining them and then,
upon the strength Of the statements of such
persons, rather than on those of disinterested
and competent experts, having moved propo.
sition in the Hall amounting to an announce.
ment that his original allegations had been
proved to the satisfaction of his special com.
mittee, without venturing to say so in the
presence of his fellow committee men, we
judge 1t high time to take the case in hand
moro especially as the House in the turmoil
and confusion Of the flag end of the session,
had accepted his invitation to them to legislate
upon the matter as though his charges had
been proved.
II there had been wasteful extravaganza in
the construction of the works in question. the
fault would lie at the door of Conoress ,vho
directed it to be done in the style of stability
and perfection of art characterizing them 1.-THE
buildings) While we make no objection +,
Mr.. Balls taste for what he calls &" Republi.
can simplicity in such works, (Which, we
take 1t Tor granted, means architecture suit.
able for rural County, court house edi6ce, }
We beg leave to call his attention to the fact
that Congress by no means adopted his idea of
the buildings requisite for the various pur.
poses of the Government. He will find tbe
proof in single inspection of the plans on
winch appropriations for them have so far
been made.
mr. Balls amendment babe fair to stop the
work on the public buildings in this CITY, if
successful; and thus for the qualification Of
his half doz en- disappointed bidders and
superintendents and nominal architects. 40
displaced for malfeasance, from Government
employment, and also for the qualification Ct
MS own evident end Of making little capitaI
Tor himself out Of his splurgs"-to throw
many hundreds Of our laboring fellow citizens
Tor the time being, out of the means of pro.
curing bread.
thus 1t became case of necessity for our
interference-and we have handled it as We
shall continue to do-Mr. Ball and his prompt.
ers to the contrary Observation-Disclosures
gloves.
We shall be most happy to try this issue
with Mr.. Ball next winter, long before which
time we will have spread before the public
such record Information concerning the trans.
actions of these using Mr.. Ball in this u natter,
On Government account and with the Govern
ment, as will be likely to make him more
careful in the choice Of his advisers and in
formants when next essaying to make eloc-
pioneering capital out Of charges against the
integrity, competency and fidelity of gentle.
men who have no opportunity to meet him
and those behind him, face to face in the hall
of the House.
1.-The Notice."-In voting yesterday lin
Committee Of the Whole) to give the notice"
to the proprietors of the Collins line, the House
acted unwisely. The contract has but soms
three years more to run. The enterprise, in
which the proprietOrs Of the line staked mil.
lions Of money on a venture in which thew
might have lost nearly every dollar, has been
OF incalculable commercial benefit to our conn.
try, while they have failed to make mooev
from it; as is proved by the fact that at no
time since its inception has the stock been at
par, and more than once it has been as low az
sixty cents on the dollar. The losses of the
line by the dangers of the sea have been great
as IN no case have they been fully insured; it
not being the practice of insurers to take risks
on vessels of any description to more than
half their value
To give the notice will be neither mora nor
less than to force the proprietors to abandon
their enterprise They have expended more
than million of dollars in the past year in
preparing to comply with their engagement.
70 the Government for the balance NJ that
term, as per contract; and after such an ex.
pendlture and In the face of the fact that thar
STOCK is now worth much lees than par, to
have considerable portion of the means taken
from them on which, all the world knows, the
must depend for ability to keep the line in
operation, will be to insure its speedy suspsn.
sion Of business. The simplest minded man
must comprehend the force Of this exposit;on
of the case
While we have ever opposed the formation
OF such special contracts by the Government
once formed, We hold that the latter i. !,
honor bound to fulfil all its ob,;,o,;