Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-07-22
FORTH-FOURTH CONGRESS.
SATURDAY, July %, 1s76.

SENATE.-Before the Journal was read
Mr.. Edmunds called for the reading of the
| lst rule, requiring a quorum to be present
when the journal was read.
The Chair, In the absence OF a quorum,
directed the roll TO be called, and sixteen
Senators answered to their names.
AT half past eleven, a quorum having ap-
peared, fnrIher proceedings under the roll
were dispensed with and the journal was
read.
Mr.. Cragin presented petition OF Albert
Grant In relation TO claim of his, and
Toved the recommitmeHt of the bill for his
relief which had been reported adversely
So ordered,
Mr.. Craglp, from the Committee on Naval
Affairs, reported House bill for the sale or
exchange OF a certain piece of land on WALL
about Bay, with an amendment. Placed on
calendar.
On motion Of Mr.. Whyte, bills for the re-
lief of George L. Bsbcock and Randall
Brown were taken from the table and passed
Mr.. Dawes said that in the Record appear
ed in a speech by Mr.. Hartrldge in the
House. in which appeared the table which
had been referred TO yesterday In the Senate
relative to the number of civil employees of
the government, and said this was the fth
time that the statement. for which there was
no foundation. had appeared. He thought il
proper that whenever the statement appear
ed it should have an explicit denial. IL was
neither true as relates 10 the Biennial Regis
ter, nor true in fact. He trusted the Senate
would pardon him for taking the time TO
pronounc the table untrue aud without
foundstion every time it appeared in the
Record.
Mr.. Sherman called up the bill for the
THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT.
Mr.. Morrill, said the Committee on Public
Buildings and Grounds had had the sane
subject under consideration for several
years, and had had communication with the
association, and has been unsuccessful thus
far in reference to REIMBURSEMENT of the
control. He said there were some doubts as
to the foundations; the excavation for this
vast structure was but eight feet-no deeper
mn q FIJI m ord f,ao aTIo N
excavation was made when 1t was proposed
to make tie monument 600 feet high Sew
eral of the public buildings of the govern
ment in different cities had their foundations
80 feet deep-to secure firm foundations
He said that the base was now four-tenths
OF an inch out OF level, which would make a
great difference with the perpendicular when
the proposed height Of ass feet was reached.
At the present. height OF leo feet the column
was four inches out of plumb. Before any
additional weight was put upon the struc-
ture there should be thoroug "a examin alton
OF the foundation by competentengineers so
that there should be known the precise risk
run in the completion OF the monumsnt
The Committee on Public Buildings and
Grounds had for several years coutempla ted
a plan by which thing of beauty
could be put up at much less expense.
He had consulted numerous architects
and artists, and had plans that hal
been presented by prominent architects FOR
ence, Italy. The general idea was for a
grand arch. with an equestrian or other
statue of Washington on the top. II the
present plan OF the Washington monument
was carried out, it's only distinguishing
characteristic would be its immense height
The monument was an Egyptian obelisk.
He would not describe it as Horace Greeley
did-as pumpkin with stick in it-brt
would say there was no more in il to c1aI-
lenge admiration than a huge chimney for a
factory, or shot tower. The presen cOrDO
ration had, since the monument was begun
had four plans. 1t had In 1883 surrendered
its charter to the government, but as Congress
a n FT7u n Tho
ratiCn Iesum ed the charter ia 1859. II was
now proposed to build the monument $50
feet high, and omit the coOnnade that was
formerly contemplated. He preferred that
the persons to whom the completion OF toe
monument was infrdsted lis the President
OF The United States, the Supervising Aren't
tect Of the Treasury and the Architect OF
the Cspitol) should oe authorized TO adopt
some plan for something more worthy the
Father of his Country and more worthy tle
American nation. 1t was the judgment of
the Committee on Public Buildings and
Grounds and every architect and artist tn at
he had ever conversed with that IL would be
more creditable to put triumphal arch.
He opposed the present plan OF an Egyptian
my biological structure, over the doorway of
which the architect had placed the sun aud
moon, leaving TO posterity the superstition
that George Washington was a worsaipper
OF the sun and moon. An arch, ne said.
could be put up for from $3.50 900 10 $500 0GO,
and there was enough marble In this huge
pile to furnish the material, and when done
there would be something that the country
would be proud of, and something worthy OF
the man whose memory 1t was designed TO
commemorate. He offered an amendment
providing for an examination, and IL the
base be found out of level, or of such Char
acter as to render il unsafe to go on, then
the commission shall be authorized TO change
the plan, and put up such structure as they
may deem proper.
Mr.. Sherman said there was the greatest
unanimity for the completion of the Wash
tngtOn monument. He insisted that the eX.
animation made by Capt. Marshall and APP
proved by Gen. Humphries showed that the
foundations were safe and capable OF sup
porting the shaft contemplated. He said
the present plan was copy OF Bunker Hill
monument greatly magnified. Congress had
repeatedly promised to complete the monu
ment, AS early at 17S3 1t promised to
build q monument to Washington, and in
1899 1t declared 1t would build monument to
Washington of marble In Washington city.
He said he didn't object TO the amendment
providing for an examination Of the founda-
lions, as that would OF course be made; but
he did not think three men should be entrust-
ed with the power to change the plan. The
present board, the association, and the peo-
pie were welded to the present plan, and II
the amendment was adopted the associa-
ton, in view OF the possibility of a change,
would refuse TO make the transfer, and no.
thing would be done, as heretofore.
After further debate, Mr.. Morrill's amend
ment was rejected, and the bill passed.