Mr. Foot) was called to it when he was it on he ComPubBldg and rounds, Mtg he became very well satisfied that the govrnment owed these parties a large amount of money. The same claim was before the ComClaims in the last Congress, and was under the attention of the Senfrom Maine, [Mr. Moniiii.i.] who came to the same conclusion, but did not arrive at the exact amount that ought to be paid. At this session of Congress it came before the ComClaims again, and I have devoted to it a good deal of time, such time as I could command during the business of the Senate, and have made a very careful analy sis of the claim. We have not awarded them anything by way of damage, simply upon the claim itsel. There is no doubt in the world that they had this contract to do this work at a given rate, and that they were going on successfull, were engaged in doing the work when towar broke out. There was no provision that the Government should have any right to stop their contract; but when the war broke out the SecyWar by an arbi trary order stopped the work unless those parties would go on and do it at their own risk and pay their own men. They having at that time a considerable quantity of cast iron layin under the derrick, which would become rust and broken to a certain extent and spoiled, went on and put that work up at their own expense, and it was a year after that time before the Government would settle. Notwithstanding the SecyWar arbitrarily broke the contract in that way, when the quartermaster came to settle, though the parties were entitled to their money, he would not uy them so much by a cent perpound, keeing back not only the 15%. which 0 had for security that they would go on with the contract, but he ke t back a cent a pound for all the work done y these parties and allowed no interest. And it was not till about the time we were getting a bill through to at the work into the hands of the Secretary olpthe Interior and ordering it to go on that the quartermaster would settle with these parties for work that was done long before.