The New York herald., 1876-02-25

ground donated for Custom House building by the
440O 900 at the time worth half that sum He
stated that because the banking classes OF the
country had destroyed all values and made real estate
a burden 10 the people. But said he, let the sails
OF be spread once again; let the hum Of in
dustry be heard throughout the land; give to the
people medium Of exchange whereby capital can buy
and pay for labor, and our revenue will flow in IN the
rich streams that they did In the better days before
Hugh McCulloch "hamstrung" the industries Of the
country, and then will not feel that to build
adequate building in great commercial centre in the
heart Of the country is a burden on the people
Mr. CoSGER, (rep.) OF Mich, replied TO Mr. Chitten-
den's criticism on the Supervising Architect OF the
Treasury and asserted that that officer and the Secre
tary OF the Treasury had been unusually prudent and
economical in their recommendations for public build
ngs He alluded to the TACT that the Post Ohce build
ing at New York had cost between SIS. O00 900 and
SO 900 OO0 while the original estimates had been only
s., ,OOO, 600 or So, 600, 0O0
Mr. CHrrrkSDEN remarked that the fact Of Congress
being practically unable TO limit the expenditures on
these public buildings was the very base of his argu
ment in regard TO this Memphis building.
Mr. CoNGER-And that Is what say Is the baseness
of your argument (Laughter) 1t comes with an i'll
grace the representative Of city that has been
urging Congress- year after year to make approprla-
tions Tor vast palaces, costing millions and millions,
to oppose the little $l0O 600 appropriations that are
asked the cities OF the West and South But that
is thing. The principal opposition to appro-
priations for government buildings in the south and
demanded the largest appropriations for paatia sruc-
lures IN their own midst do not wonder at the gen
tleman from New York objecting to government build
ings in the valley of the Mississippi and
on the Mississippi River Through the lib
erality Of Congress and through the plans and
devices Of engineering genius the day Is
speedily approaching when the largest ocean vessels
viii the Mississippi and deliver freight at the in
cities bordering great artery instead OF at the
crowded port Of New York Then New Orleans win
need larger public buildings; then yicKsburg and
Memphis and St Louis and the great cities that sleep
the borders OF that majestic stream will demand
buildings appropriate 10 the vast business
which the opening of that river will bring to the en-
pre valley of the Mississippi II is in view OF such
results from the
ing of the valley of the Mississippi that propose to
have buildings that necessary now but that will
be OF vastly greater importance in the near future.
Mr. HOLMAN, OF Indiana, said he was glad that his
bill had come before the House at early day, in
order that the views of the House might be ascer-
tanned how far the old policy OF extravaganza in
regard to public buildings should be perpetuated He
admonshed gentlemen that the speeches Of the gentle
men from Pennsy yvania and Michigan (Messrs Kelley
Conger) OF the order OF speeches which the
House had heard for great many years and the fruits
OF which had been in the swelling OF the current
ordinary expenditures of the government up to
$780, 00O 900 year. These were the kind of speeches
Wild Of thought and gay of wing
that had loaded down the government for number Of
years and which had resulted In that wild extravaganza
which the people were now trying 10 curb somewhat
He argued that appropriation of $400 900 econom
cally expended and not expended in mere embesh-
ments would build solid structure adapted TO all the
purposes which the city OF Memphis would require Tor
a quarter or half a century
Mr. YOUNG. of Tennessee, remarked that there was
difference OF opinion between himself and the gen.
tleman frOm INDIANA on tue question Oi oCOnOuy,
neither was there any difference of opinion to the
necessity and proprey of erecting the proposed build
ing at Memphis, The only question was what ought
that building TO cost? He had laid before the House
the testimony of the Secretary of the Treasury and Of
Supervising Architect and he was entirely willing
their opinion rather than on that of the gentle
man from New York tNr Chttendenl
Mr. HOLMAN in reference to a remark Of Mr.. Kel-
ley said that the South not neglected in the
Of public buildings and called attention to the
that within the last few years public buildings had
been erected Knoxville and Nashville costing from
$500, 900 TO S400 900 each
Mr. KELLEY-The unfinished Custom House in
Charleston s. c., has cost from $4,000, 600 TO
81 OoO ooO That what used to be done in the old
economical times.
Discussion being closed the House proceeded to vote
the pending amendments.
The amendment offered by Mr.. Wells of Missouri
limiting the amount TO $500, 000 was rejected.
The amendment offered by Mr. HOLMAN, of Indiana
limiting the amount to $500 900, was agreed to-yeas
131, nays log
LATE Mr. eTARKwEATHER
Without proceeding further in the bill, the recent
death of Mr. Starkweather, OF Connecticut
nounced by his colleague, Mr.. PHELPS, and speeches
were made in euogy OF the deceased by Aessrs Phelps
Stevenson OF Illinois, Hale Of Maine and Garfield OF
Ohio after which resolutions OF coincidence and re-
spect were adopted apd the House adjourned