National Republican., 1878-05-16
SENATE.

MI. d'llNNl'4N IEtsClltu lIOlll
the mayor and citizens of Petersburg, Va,
asking recognition of General James Shields.
Laid on the table.
Mr.. FERRY, from the Committee on Post
Offices aud Post Roads, reported bill to regtr-
late tho compensation for transportation of
the mails on railroads, for tho classification of
mail matter, and for other purposes. Placed
on the calendar.
Mr.. ANTHONY, from the COMMITTEES on
Printing, reported bill FOR printing an cdi.
ton of the narrative of the Polaris Expedition
4 = sale.
The bill authorizes the Public Printer to
p int from the It rcotype plates an edition of
2 } copies in I'd lition to any that may he
Subscribed for at the time Of going to press, to
Ic s,ld to the public at cost and 10 per cent.
aidcd1
Mr.. lIOAR introduced a resolution calling
on the SCcratary Of the Treasury for informa-
tion as to the value of land taken for military
purposes at Pelican Point, s. c. Adopted.
Mr.. MATTHEW'S presented a memorial
from Ringold Council, No. 81, Order of Ameri-
can Mechanics, relating to the tariff. Re-
fcrred to Committee on Finance.
Mr.. EUSTlS presented petition Of citizens
Of Louisiana for ocean mal.steanship. service
fcrred to Committee OH Post Offices and Post
Roads.
Mr.. VOORHEES, presented n memorial from
eighteen business men of Boston for an imme-
diate repeal Of the resumption act. Referred
u Finance Committee.
Mr.. WHITE presented resolutions Of the
board Of trade of Baltimore against the trans.
for of the life.saving service. Laid on the
tabl-.
Mr.. VOORHEES, introduced bill to pro.
vide for the expenses Of judges Of United
States courts while travelling on official busi-
ness. Referred to Judiciary Committee.
Mr.. KIRKWOOD introduced resolution to
print 5000 copies Of the report on hog cholera.
Referred te the Committee on Printing.
The CHAIR laid before the Senate commu-
nication from the Secretary Of the Trcasury,in
relation to the suspension of the receipts Of
bullion for coinage into trade.dollars, In an
swcr to n resolution Of the Senate. Referred
to Committee on Finance.
Mr., MORRILL, from the Committee on
Public Buildings and Grounds, reported bill
to provide firc-proof building for the use Of
the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, and
the mechanical branches of tho Treasury and
other departments Of the Government.
He said the committee had now agreed on q
site at the corner Of Fourteenth and b streets
southwest. The location was desirable and
healthy, and Mr.. COrcoan had offered to sell
onc-half Of the square for $4,000, which was
below the market value OF the property.
The building was to he 100 feet wide, and
27O feet long, TO be built of brick, plain sub
stantial building, and to cost 100000.
Mr.. CONKLlNG thought tho bill should
not be passed until the plans had been per.
fected and the exact cost known. 1t had been
the practice to start public buildings on esti
mates, and then make repeated calls for addi.
tional appropriations to complete the struc'
lures
Mr.. THURMAN asked if tho building was
nc died ut ALL
Mr.. CONKLING said he had often heard II
said that the work could be done by private
contract cheaper. lie had even heard that
the postal system could be better maintained
and the work done more satisfactorily and al
less cost by private parties under contract
That perhaps was. however, an extreme Illus
tration. lie believed IL the bureau was put
in competition with the private establishments
the work could he dOno cheaper by those es
Establishments which are already fitted for the
busiucss% lie did not believe 1t best to eX
pand the bureau and put it in opposition to
those already engaged in the business.
Mr.. THURMAN inquired when the Bureau
was created and how the work was done prioi
to that time. Government had its bonds and
notes before that time How were they exc
cutCdf
Mr.. CONKLING said before the creation o
the Bureau the work was done by the bank
note companies. When the war came 1t was
thought there must be paper mill in the
Treasury Department, and all kinks of paper
was issued. The Bureau had gradually fOrti
fled and strengthened itself until it had be-
came pctrfcd in the Treasury Department a
permanent institution Of the Government.
1t seemed to him best that the plan be per.
fcctcd, and the bill be based on these plans
and the estimate of cost.
Mr.: MORRIL said he did not think that ht
81 MIA hot
would not be open to criticism by the Senator
Tho committee had sketch and an estimate
of the cost of the materials, labor &c, with
cost of each item. The building was to b,
built by contract, which could not exceed the
amount appropriated. As to the economy OF th'
Bureau he had no doubt that from p to 80 pei
cent. was saved by It. 1t was not expected t.
cxult and expand the Bureau, but to enable i
to perform its functions with greater economy
and with better facilities and to prevent fur
thcr damage to the present buildings, aud u
the same time make room for branches Of til,
Treasury now occupying buildings outside.
Mr. BLAINE said he had been struck by tn,
question of the Senator from Ohio Prior to thr
war the demand of this class of work woult
not ,givc employment to Il small bank-nOt,
company. We did not even use postage stamp
up to 1860 There was no great monetary in
stitution In the world that trusted this worl
beyond their reach. The Bank of EuglanC
MADE It's own paper tnc lank Ol flNNCe uli
the same Would the Senator think it safe t,
put the plates and dies of al the notes an,
bonds beyond its control, giving others til,
ability to not only counterfeit its own notes
but to issue them2 Such course might leat
to the bankruptcy of the Government or de
strOy the value OF its notes. Not even tn
l}urcau of Engraving and Printing was in
srustrd with the whole process, but one. hal
wns done by the bank note companies and tn
lettering and numbering was done in tn
Treasury Department.
Mr.. SALISBURY said, as a member of til
committee he had favored the bill. Estimate
of probable cost were submitted, while 70
public buildings generally the appropriation
was made first, and then the plans and est
mates.
The morning hour expired, and Mr.. MOI
GAN was recognized as entitled to the floor.
Mr.. MORRILL, said he would ask the Senat
to resume the consideration of the bill whe
Mr. MORGAN had concluded his speech.
Mr.. SARGENT said he would ask the Scnat
to go into executive session when Mr.. MoRGA
concluded.
Mr.. VOORHEES, said he would insist up1
the regular order, the bill tOrrpral the rcsumI
tiOn act.
Mr.. MORGAN then addressed the Scnat
upon his resolution touching the relations b,
tween the United States and Mexico, arguin
that the interests Of the two republics wcI
identical, and that the integrity Of tho terri