Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-04-04
THE NATIONAL CAPITOL,

There was some lively talk in the Senate
last week on the subject Of the Capitol-its
immense cost, its present condItion-how
much more it would take to finish 1t. and
what ought to be done to keep Its unfinished
and unprotected portions from going to ruin.
The occasion was the CONSIDERATION Of a
joint resolution for transferring the suprrvi
sion OF the Capitol building from the War
Department to that of the Interior. The
resolution had been considered on a previous
day TWAS called up by Mr.. Foot, who
urged ITS adoption without further delay.
Mr.. Fessenden did not see any good reason
for making the change. He supposed the
change contemplated going on with the
work and in the present state Of the finances
of the country he did not think that ezpedi-
ent and moreover be thought 1t hardly
fair to take it out OF the hands Of General
Meigs.
Mr.. Hale spoke Of the destruction
which was going on 10 some parts from tx
pOsure to the elements. while Italian artists
were still making pictures on the walls OF
the vaults and alleys two or three stories ne
low daylight. This state Of things be said
he supposed was to 90 Oh till Gen. MeIgs
could get through with the war, if he ever
does, and gets leisure to carry the work on
under military superintendent lie thought
Gen. Melgs had enough to d. now. and lav-
ored the transfer. Mr.. Foot resumed, and
with earnestness and ability pr ceedeJ to
show that TO prevent an enormous waste from
dilspidation, the work ought to be carried
on, so far at least as 70 protect The whole
from the weather, and that ID; transfer
from the proper Department. where the work
was originally placed, to the War Depart
ment, had led to an enormous extra expense.
1t was done when Mr.. Pierce was President
to crafty the personal pride of JEFF. Davis,
and was continued to crafty the rapacity #
Floyd. The original plans were changed
under the military supervision, and more
than double the original estimates for the ex-
tensions had been already called for. The
total cost of the building. when completed,
will be over ,er9a and quarter millions Of
dollars, or more than four and holt mil
hons in excess of the original estimate of the
Department Of the Interior. Mr. Foot ar
gued that continuation OF it under the
War Department must inevitably bring cost
ly delay and ruin. Mr. Foot concluded
Why then shall we insist upon keeping this
building under the charge of the War Depart
ment' where it never properly belonged, and
where II can receive attention whatever Ger
tsiniy cannot possibly conceive why, unless it
be TO suoserve some purpose of personal ambition
at the sacrifice of the public interest. But I will
impute so unworthy motive to no man. Let the
proposed transfer be made let this work be re- |
sumed; let it be carried so far, at any rate. as
to protect this building from the injurious effects
Of its present exposed condition; let so much be
done, and this costly edihce will be saved from |
daily injuries it is sustaining from lite exposed
condition, and which if will continue sustain so
long il Is left in the state in which II now is;
and thousands and many times tens Of thousands |
Of dollVs will be saved by it.
repeat, If this work is ever t. be done, it can
not be done too quickly. II ii is te be done,
1t ought TO be done noE; it has been neglected |
already quite too long. Mr. President, this nA- |
ticnai Capitol Of ours, in its present condition,
instead OF being the boat and the pride Of the /
country, instead Of being an ornament and q credit
TO the country stands to-day, after twelve years,
an unfinished and an unaghtly pile; at once