National Republican., 1876-10-17
The Public Buildfngs-ResuIts o
Democratic LegisIation.

The refusal of the House to make the appro.
priations called forSwill work incalculsble
injury in a variety of ways. The buildings
are needed; they are now under process OF
construction. In some cases, as at Chicago,
Illinois, for example, there is no appropriation
to roof them, and serious loss must be the
result. In other cases foundations are begun,
but there is not money enough to bring them
up to the level of the streets, SO that the grad
ing may be done and the gas and water pipes
be put in order. The amount appropriated
for the current year is not large enough to
continue these works economically, and
hence large sum of money will be wasted
instead of saved. The Government is paying
large sums for rent of buildings in various
places, which would be saved by the compile
tion of those now in progress; instance, the
case of Chicago, where the rent paid for
inaccessible, inconvenient and non-freproof
offices amounts to 100000 per annum. The
interest charged upon the sums already ex-
pended will amount to 81, ,756, ,464 .SS, which is
a dead loss while the buildings remain un-
completed.
By the stoppage of appropriations called for
and thirty five hundred persons are deprived
OF employment. The money devoted to these
works of utility and economy should not be
included in the expenditures Of the Govern
ment; it should be treated as a permanent in
vestment, an addition to the capital or wealth
of the nation.
The amount asked for making repairs to the
United States Treasury building was consd-
cred necessary for the usual or ordinary re-
pairs and for putting on new roof. The roof
now leaks badly, and great damage to the
building and public records is the result; the
amount appropriated is insufficient for this
work, and it is consequently postponed at an
additional cost impossible to estimate. The
same remark will apply to the failure to ap-
propriate the amount considered necessary for
'srepairs and preservation of public buildings"
generally. The insecurity of the public
records their liability 10 destruction or irrepa-
rable damage In the rented offices and such of
the public buildings as need repairs through
out the country, should be taken into consider
alton in estimating the loss the Government is
liable to sustain by Withholding the necessary
appropriations.
APPROPRIATION FOR FUEL, LIGHT, ETC.
In the face of the storm of public indigna-
ton that was aroused by the failure of the
House to vote the necessary sum to supply
the deficiency in the appropriation for fuel,
lights, water, &C., for public buildings in
March last, they have cut down the sum as
certained to be absolutely necessary for the
purposes specified for the current year.
APPROPRIATIONS FOR LIGHTHOUSES, BEA-
CONS AND SIGNALS.
For lighthouses, beacons and signals, $751;
400 was required; 1851 200 was allowed.
These are Indispensable for the safety of our
commerce on the ocean and the great lakes.
They were estimated for and urged by the
Lighthouse Board. No person doubts their
value or that they will be provided for here
after, though now postponed, probably at the
cost of life and property to American citizens
engaged in commerce, while at least five hun
dred mechanics and laborers are thus deprived
of employment. For buoys the appropriation
was cut down $4,000 In some of our North
ern harbors, as at New York for example,
many of the buoys are carried out to sea and
lost by the floating ice every spring. This re-
ductiOn will prevent the replacing of such as
are lost in this manner. Who can estimate
the loss of life and damage to property that
may result.
APPROPRIATIONS FOR NAVY YARDS, DOCKS,
ETC.
The appropriation for labor at navy yards is
cut down 1925 900, and another item for labor
of various kinds is reduced 5000. For gen.
eral maintenance of yards and docks the re-
duction is $500, 900; the loss occurring from
depreciation and destruction of property It is
impossible to estimate. For repair of naval
hospitals and naval laboratory but $40 900 was
asked, and this was cut down to $4,000.
APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE PRESERVATION OF
VESSELS, &C.
For preservation of vessels the amount ap-
propriated is 81 $780, 900 less than the sum
asked. The effect of this reduction will be to
increase the cost of repairs another year by an
amount which cannot now be estimated. The
repairs must and will be made, and hence this
reduction is only postponement with in
creased cost as the penalty. Another result
has been to stop necessary repairs on some
eight or ten iron-clads and other vessels, and
to greatly impair the efficiency of our navy.
APPROPRIATIONS FOR OTHER PURPOSES WITH
HELD Oh REDUCED.
For protection of timber lands 5000 was
asked; nothing was allowed, and the effect
will be to expose the lve-oak timber land to
depreciation, the amount of which cannot be
estimated.
For repairs of machinery, oil, coal, &c., the
appropriation was cut down SOL, 900. "The
results of this reduction of the amounts re-
quired for steam engineering must necessarily
stop all work upon the double-turreted moni-
tors, cause the almost total suspension of
work In the several many yards for repairs and
reftting of machinery Of vessels required for
sea service, and render 1t impossible to repair
to any great extent the machinery &C., of
any vessel or vessels In service that may here
after break down through unforeseen casual
ties or the ordinary wear and tear of the SER