Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-05-27
FORTY-SIXTH CONGRESS.
THURSDAY, May q, 1850.

SENATE.-The President pro TEN. laid before
the Senate a communication from the Secretary
of the Treasury transmitting in response to
Senate resolution, Information as to the num-
Der, location and annual rent Of buildings rented
Dy the government In the District. Printed and
laid On the table,
Mr.. Jonas presented the memorial of the
Chamber OF Commerce of New Orleans asking
the establishment Of an ocean mail service in
steam vessels between ports OF the United
States and ports On this continent south of the
United States. Referred.
Various petitions of women for female suf-
frage were presented.
MI Plumb Introduced bin to Increase the
police OF the District. Referred.
Mr.. Pendleton submitted resolution request
ing the President to communicate to the Senate
census, appointed by and with the advice of the
Senate, have been removed from office by him.
and whether successor to I'LL the vacancy
caused by such removal has been appointed by
him or with his consent.
Mr.. Edmunds said he would like to see that
resolution in print There was a little other
information Of the same kind that he would
add.
The resolution went over.
On motion of Mr.. Thurman, the bill authoriZ-
ing the purchase of ground contiguous to the
post Office at Toledo, and to erect on the en-
larged grounds building for the U. s. courts
custom house. bonded warehouse, etc.. and
appropriating, $4,000 therefor was taken UP.
Mr. EdmundS, without opposing this particu-
lar bill, called attention to the tendency to eX-
travagance in the matter of public buildings.
and hoped Mr.. Thurman would insert provi-
sion strictly limiting the use OF this apprOpria-
ton.
Mr. Thurman showed the great appreciation
OF value OF the property purchased by the gov
ernment, its freedom from state taxation, ETC.,
as JustifyiDg expenditure In this direction, and
showed the great necessity OF building at the
great mart OF Ohio.
Mr.. salisbury said the committee on public
buildings and grounds exercised all the econ
omy possible. very large proportion Of their
recommendations were made necessary to carry
out contracts made under the former admins
tratiOn.
Mr. Jones (Fla-), chairman of the said COM
mlttee, remarked that misrepresentation ex-
1sted as to the amount appropriated for build
ings. There were large number Of bills re-
ported, but the amounts were small. The eX-
penSe OF finishing one such building as that at
Boston, for instance, equalled that of erecting
30 ordinary buildings such as are now recon-
mended. He advocated the policy of owning
instead of renting buildings, as more econom-
ical.
Mr.. Edmunds said he had not attacked the
committee, but he knew of no adverse report
from the committee on any proposition for
building. Perhaps its policy was to let them
lie and smother. But If they were reported ad-
verSely low, all the candidates for the preSi-
dency in this body-and did not this include
nearly all OF us-would sustain tae reports.
whereas. If the committee waited until after
December, who could tell how many of these
schemes would suddenly hatch out.
MI. Morrill, "a member OF the committee) hu-
"
mittee had been 10 provide for all the presiden-
tial candidates. They had appropriated for the
Independent candidate from Peoria, for the
democratic candidate from Toledo. and they
proposed to finish the Washington monument
which his colleague would probably take as a
compliment to himself. IL was true he (Ir
MOrriiD had opposed giving $4,000 to begin
that chimney, preferrng a triumphal arch but
the committee would not neglect its completion
now, though SG67, 900 more was asked for. He
defended the committee from any implication
of eXtraTagaHte,
Mr. Beck said the troubles was not that toe
many building were put up, but that the Off
Gals d1sbufSing the money appropriated did not
do their duty. Good substantial buildings
should be put up and not the expensive ginger
bread work SO conspicuous in some cases. The
officials who wasted money should be punished.
and buildings should be put up wherever neces-
Sary,
Mr.. Dawes endorsed Mr.. Beck's remarks.
There were bills pending appropriating about
slO,6C000O for completing buildings, over and
above the amount limited in the original bills.
The amount for the building at Boston was
limited to 81 500, 900. The building at New York
was limited to S3500,0O0, but year after year
more was asked for, until it has cost over OOo,
0G0.
The bill was passed.
On motion OF Mr.. Kirkwood, the bill was
taken up and passed authorizing the Postmaster
General to treat the NAL service between Eas:
St. Louis and ST. Louis as other than railway
service and let it to the lowest bidder.
On motion OF Mr.. Burnside, the bill was taken
up and passed donating thirty condemned
brenZe cannon for the erection Of a statue to the
late Major General George Gordon Meade by the
Fairmount Park Art Association at Philadel-
phia.
On motion OF Mr.. Eaton his bill to provide for
the appointment OF a commission OF nine citi-
ZenS TO investigate the question of the tariff
was taken up. Amendments reported by the
finance committee were agreed to.
Mr.. Garland moved TO strike out all after the
enactlng clause and insert the language OF
bill formerly introduced by him.
HOUSE.-The conference report On joint reso-
luton to print 10000 extra copies of the report
Of the commissioner OF fish and fisheries was
agreed to.
The morning hour was dispensed with and
the House, at 11:2o, went into committee OF
whole (Mr. Simonton in the chair On the sun
dry civil appropriation bill.
Mr.. Goode offered amendment appropriating
t20,G00 for the continuation OF repairs on pub
tic buildings at Fortress Monroe. Ruled out as
not being gelmane
Mr.. Keifer offered amendment appropriating
$4,000 for the geographical and typographical
survey OF the territory of the United States
west of the Mississippi river. Ruled out on
point OF order.
Mr.. McCook offered amendment appropriat-
ing $4,000 for printing ana binding, under the
direction OF the secretary of War, 10 600 copies
ana confederate, OF the war OF the rebellion, so
lar as the same may be ready for publication.
The amendment was adopted.
Mr.. warner offered amendment striking out
the clause authorizing the Secretary of War to
negotiate with the legal representatives of the
late confederate Generals Bragg and Polk for
the purchase OF their private papers relating to
the late war, and directing him to report there
on at the next session OF Congress. This led to
long debate.