Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-02-23
Forty-First Congress Second Session
WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. %.
rT.Nv 14Y-

The credentials of Lot NJ Morrill, as senator
from Maine, for six years from March next,
were read and tabled.
Mr.. Warner presented, and had read, peti.
ton from citizens of Dublin, Fayette county,
Alabama, praying for protection against kukluX
outrages, and asserting their preference for mil
itary rule to their present unprotected condi
ton. Referred to the committee on southern
outTagcs.
The special order, the Philadelphia centennial
celebration bill, coming up, the morning hour
was occupied by Mr.. Conkling, with speech in
opposition, and reading, by the secretary, of eX-
Minister Bigelow's recently published plan for
general celebration of the centennial of Ameri-
can independence. On the expiration of the
morning hour, Mr. Cameron made an ineffec-
tual attempt to have the bill further consid-
cred
The senate, in committee of the whole took
up the Indian appropriation bill.
The bill was reported to the senate.
Recess.
EVENING SESSION.
Mr. Carpenter presided at the evening session,
which was attended by but few members, and
were occupied in the discussion of the Indian
appropriation bill.
Without dlsposng of the bill the senate adj
journed,
HOUSE.
The house proceeded to the consideration of
the deficiency bill, which appropriates S10,677,
525.
The bill includes the following items: for re-
porting and publishing debates, S120,000; for
New York new post office, 100000; for new
post office, in addition to the uneXpcnded
balance for the purchase of the site, S64 27S for
the court house at Madison, Wis, S21 ,S99; for
the court house at Portland, Me-, S2O759; for
the appraisers store in Philadelphia, $40 600;
for public printing, paper and binding, $685.
900; for cavalry and artillery and horses, $780,
900; for army clothing and camp equipage,
100000; for army contingencies, S150,000; for
army medical supplies, 100000; for army pay
and mileage and clothing, 50 GAS, 900; for quar-
termaster generals department, S7550O0; for
freedmen bureau, $40 900; for collecting reve-
nue. from imports for the half year, 81 $50, 900;
the last item is not included in the aggregate.
The item for the New York post Office was as
follows: For continuing work on building for
post office and court house in New York city, to
be applied only to finishing the foundations,
and up to and including sill course, and rcceiv-
ing and setting granite of first story above that
course.
Mi. Dawes moved to add to the item the
words, land subject TO no other limitation OF
restriction explaining that it was the former
legislation which required that no part of the
money should be expended until after the con-
tracts were made for the completion of the
whole building, at an expense not exceeding
So 900 600. The committee on appropriations
had become satisfied that it would take 3,0O0,-
600 to erect the building from the sill up, as it
had been necessary to sink the lower basement
thirty-siX feet below the surface. The ultimate
cost of the building above the surface would be
| $1,000 000 and the expenditure below the sur
face would be in addition TO that, making the
whole cost of the building S3SOO0OO, or there
abOuts
| Mr.. Farnsworth went at some length into the
history of the building, contending that the plan
| as agreed upon by five New York architects,
who combined their respective designs, would
| have given a more roomy and convenient build
| ing at less cost, and also that there had been
fraudulent contracts given out for the supply of
| granite, in which some members OF the house
| were interested.
After further discussion, remarks were made
| by Messrs. Sargent and Cox, in favor of the ap-
preparation, and statement was made by Mr..
Fitch OF the post office committee, that there was
nothing in the testimony taken by that commit
tee duplicating, in any way, Mr.. Butler OF Mas
| sachusetts, or any member OF the house, with an
| interest in the granite contracts.
| Mr.. Dawes amendment was agreed to.
The next item, for the, Boston post office, also
| elected some discussion, arising from the Oppo-
siticn to it by Mr. Farnsworth. The item for
| furniture in the treasury department brought
out Mr.. Farnsworth again il an attack upon the
architect of the treasury department, and he
| mentioned an incident of two expensive mirrors
being talked about to adnrn and beautity the
house Of distinguished member of congress in
| Washington city, and that one costing some ten
thousand dollars had been broken or lost in
| transportat on forward and backward.
Mr.. Eldndge asked Mr.. Farnsworth to what
member of congress be referred; was he demo-
| crat2
Mr.. Farnsworth replied his politics were of
that uncertain kind that it was difficult tc tell
what they were; he had been democrat and
| everything else by turns, but nothing long.
daughter
Mr.. Butler of Massachusetts replied to Mr..
Farnsworth. destinations were something, he
said, which we could not avoid; he could not
avoid, when going along the streets. having a
mud-cart scatter 9th upon him. The member
from Illinois had accused him Of being interest
ed in a granite contract for tho Boston post
office, but his colleague on the post office com
mittec. Mr.. Fitch, had Informed the house that
there was not the slightest evidence connecting
him with it; then came some item about furni-
ture, aud thereupon the mud machine went at it
again, and the house was told that the furniture
belonging to the treasury had been used by
him. Mr.. Butler said there was not one word
Of truth In It, The accusation was that the sec.