Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-15
THE WALTER CLAIM.
MIR. Suyers Objects to the Considera-
ton Of the Bill.

II object, Mr.. Speaker" This assertion,
made by Mr.. Sayers on the floor of the
House today, recorded another instance of
the refusal of Congress to honor the debts
of the government. Mr.. Sayer's objection
was leveled against the consideration of a
bill to pay the heirs of Thomas U. Walter
for work performed by him for the gov
ernment. The history OF the case is stated
in the report accompanying the bill, as
follows:
I'm the year 1850 the government deter
mined to build the new wings of the Cap
itol. AT that time there was no such ofilce
as government architect, and the govern
mcnt advertised for plans and Speciflca-
tions for the extensions, just as an Indi-
Vidual would. Various plans were submit
ted, but that of Charles u. Walter, who
had spent most of his life in Europe study
ing his profession, was accepted. The con-
tract as architect was awarded Mr.. Walter,
and he accepted, and his pay for that spe-
cial work was liked at s4,5uU per annum
subsequently, the Secretary of the In
terror said:
This, 1 feel sure, was a single and sep
arate contract relating exclusively to the
two wings of the Capitol and the corridors
connecting them with the old building
Thus it will be seen that Mr.. Walter
was not a government officer, but he was
employed and paid for the specific work
above referred to. Mr.. Walter displayed
such taste. capacity and energy in the ex-
signed him to perform the following duties:
To add wings to the patent office, which,
when completed, became the great Interior
Department building; the extension of the
treasury building; eXteLsiCn Of the post Of
flee building; to make the fire-proof con-
greSsional library; to plan and personally
supervise the erection of the immense
dome of the Capitol. which required his
hourly presence; marine barracks in PEN
sacola; marine barracks at Brooklyn, N.
Y, and other valuable public services
These services ran through the period
OF fourteen years, from 1851 to 1905, and
by the estimate of architects would
amount to over S1OOO0O. They embraced
nearly the whole of Mr.. Walters profess
and the strain on his mind that he was
subsequently incapacitated for any i'm
portant work. 1t appears that Mr.. Wal
ter's desire was to live on the sum paid
him for the extension of the Capitol and
to reserve the amount for these important
as furnishing the means to support himself
and family. After he had completed all
these extra works he was Informed by the
Treasury Department that there was no
appropriation for that purpose and he must
rely on Congress. Then he filed his me-
mortal Since then he died, leaving his will
giving to his wife and daughters his in
terest; since, his wife has died. leaving the
two daughters. who are single and without
any means of support. Your committee
thinks 1t the merest act of justice to allow
the sum Of $4,000, the sum fixed by the
Senate, as it seems, at $1,000 a year for
fourteen years, for Mr.. Walters labor in
all these matters. Your committee feel 1t
due to his memory to state that no work
was ever more superbly done and that his
work reflects credit on this government,
for which he comparatively gave his life.