The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-12-16
AID CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, D. G., Dec. 10, 1871.
HOUSE.

Mr.. SNAPP offered resolution for tn
abolition Of the printing and transporting
Of public documents at public expense
Referred, Several private bills wer
passed.
Mr.. sLoCUM presented apCtition for tht
reduction OF the duty on rice.
Mr.. GARFIELD from tho Committee OF
Appropriations, reported bill authoriz
Ting the Secretary Of the Treasury TO pur
chase at private sale or by condemnation
the remainder OF the square Of ground oil
which the postofIlce building at Chicago
recently stood, not now owned by the
government, and II the same cannot bC
purchased at o reasonable price, ther
purchase some other square not more
than two squares distant from that lOcali
", and proceed to have erected thereon O
fre-pro0f building for the accommodation
Of custom house, sub. treasury, postotllCe
United States Courts, pension and Inter
nal Revenue offices. The bill appropriateI
two million Of dollars, and provides thai
the total cost OF the site and building shall
not exceed four millions. He explained
the features of the bill, and advocated its
prompt passage.
Mr.. RANDALL moved to strike out that
portion of the bill limiting the selection
Of the site TO within two squares Of the
locality OF the old postoillCe. He thought
such q Limitation would place the govern
ment In the power Of q real est.te combl.
nation. .t .. =.
Mr.. PLATT spoke against tho amend.
mCnt, and explained that even with the
proposed limitation ,thegovernment would
still have twenty.iour squares to select
from, 30 that there was nothing to be
ieared from any such combination.
Mr.. HOLMAN moved TO reduce the total
cost TO two millions.
Mr.. PRATT opposed that amendment,
and referred to the POstottice buildings
in New York and Boston, which were 10
cost three millions each, TO accommodate
only the Postofllces and United States
Courts
Mr.. RANDALL advocated Mr.. HoLMAE's
amendment, COntGnding that two millions
was q liberal allowance for the six build.
ings. Ho thought the allusiOn 10 the New
York and Boston custom houses rather
unfortunate, because by corruption and
tho prolligate expenditure Of the public
money, and by the enlargement OF the
original plans, the building In New York
was likely to cost ten millions instead OF
three millions. a. laif.
Mr.. KELLEY, Of Penn'a., dissentcd en-
tirely from tho views OF Ills colleague
lie thought his constituents would re.
iOiCe In q liberal appropriation for ChiCa.
90; that the government should put up a
building there that would be monument
III all timo 10 come, OF tue fire which had
desolated that city. The government
could guard against fraud in the expendI.
ture OF money there as 1t could anywhere
else, except, perhaps, in New York, where
tho Tammany leaders had so corrupted
the whole atmosphere, that honesty was
almost impossible. lie was willing to
vote for four millions Tor Chicago, and
only regretted that the amendment had
been reduced from five millions. The
amendment was recommended ny tho
Committee on Buildings and Grounds
Mr.. RANDALL reminded his colllegues
that the question was not one OF charity
NJ all. u"
MIR. KELLEY replied that hc was not
asking charity. lie was only asking that
the government should deal with generous
inslice TO the stricken people Of Chicago
There was no charity In the proposition
Mr.. RANDALIs-That was tho tOnC OF
the gentleman's argument.
Mr. MARSHALL said that as a member OF
tho Committee 0n Appropriations he had
given his assent to the bill. lie protested
that neither Chicago nor Illinois asked
any appropriation on account OF charity
Chicago as q city was one Of the finest on
tic continent, and most rapidly growing
on the flCeof the earth. II had been de-
slrOyed and laid in ashes. The Govern.
ment had important interests there. 1t
had no custom house there, no court
Lliouse, no post Office, and no public build.
inas. II was the duty ol the Government
to furnish proper accommodations for the
transaction Of its business.
Mr.. HOLMAN modified his amendment
30 as to make the total amount $4,000.
600
Mr.. FARNswoRTH opposed the amend.
meht and advocated q larger Rppropria.
lion. The proposed building was to &C.
cOmmodate the postOfIlCc, custom house,
courts, Sub.Treasury and Internal Rove.
nue business, whereas tho New York
building was only for the postOfiCe and
the courts. The government had q Gus.
tom house building in New York which
had cost 81 1000, and there had already
beeh expended on the postOfilce, which
had not got beyond the first floor, nearly
e2 mn O6O The building would probably
IN The end cost over $5,00O,00O while the
building proposed to be erected in Chicago
far ali The government offices was only to
cnsi S4OO0OOO. He did not stand there
asking charity for Chicago. Chicago was
still as great In It's desolation as 1t had
been great In It's lie. II was arising from
iis ashes and would show that Il would In
A few years require building ol the extent
prOposed for tue transaction Ol Its public
business.
Mr. DAWES said he desired to disabuse
The bill UT any prejudice growing out OF
Inc public buildings In New York. He
believed TINT the bill should stand on Its
own merits. E..ta
&lO 1000 0OOO, Mr.. RANDALL said he meant
Sl0OOO,OO0 for both the New York and
Boston PostofIlCes.
Mr. DAWES regretted that the gentle.
man did not always say what he meant
| If Il were necessary 70 dSag the Boston
Custom House into the discussion, he
was entirely willing. The Custom House
| had never been enlarged a hail, . breadth,
nor had a dollar been expended on 1t be-
yond the Limitation put on II originally;
The gentlcman's new born zeal IN regard
to the corruption had led to the confusion
| In his mindand to mistake what he was
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