WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1852
359
now bending beneath the weight of his infirmities. He has given his life to the public, and though he has rendered no high military service, though he has never periled his life for his country, he has devoted his life, his mind, and everything to the diffusion of intelligence and maintaining the honor of his coun- try in his own way. Sir, there are considerations that come upon us, and that while he is bending beneath the weight of age, when the lighting of a grasshopper is becoming almost a burden to him, to remember, Sir, that he has been a friend to his party, and to his country. Let us do him justice. I shall vote for the amendment. 1 Cong1·essional Globe, Part III (1851-1852), p. 2399. These remarks were made during the debate on the proposition to pay for the public printing at a reduction of fifty per cent. An amendment had been offered to make an exception of Mr. Ritchie's claims in making this reduction. REMARKS CONCERNING CONTRACTS FOR PUBLIC WORKS, AUGUST 28, 1852 1 I move to insert in the bill after the clause, "For the erection of the west wing of the Patent Office Building, and completing the drains for the said building and the Patent Office Building, $150,000," the following: Provided, That the work and the materials furnished by con- tract for such building, and likewise the materials for the exten- sion of the Capitol, be measured agreeably to the original con- tract, and that no further payment to be made until the meas- urement is made and 1·eported, the contracts and the proposals to be put into the hands of the measurer, or measures, and he or they be sworn before entering on duty, to examine and meas- ure and report every part of the work and material without deviation from the contracts and proposals; and if it be shown that any extra materials are used, they to be rated at the pro rata price for materials only and entered in a separate column of the account; and the same rule of measurement to be applied to all other buildings and other public works in this District; and it shall be the duty of the Comptroller of the Treasury to arrest and stop any voucher not made in form and in accordance with the terms of the contract against which it is drawn; and it is hereby made a penal offense for every measurer and inspector of work or disbursing officer to make or present, or. pass or attempt to pass, any falsely made or fictitious vouchers to draw
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