Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-06-16
Real compensation,

Real compensation, S9;9of ~
SO that the printers of "the Boston States
man." thus employed by the department, re-
ceived compensation for the articles which they
were employed to furnish, within the period
named in the resolution exceeding by S23,00S
so, the sums published by the department in the
Blue Book.
And from an accurate examination OF the orr
ginal vouchers for these payments to them, the
following facts appear:
First, that the real paid for "printed
blanks" Gncluding the press work, type setting
and the paper, on which the blanks were actl-
ally printed.) was $l6,453 %
And that the real sum paid for wrap
ping paper and Irvine, was 13,444 30
29,9o7 rs
So that the sum paid for the printed
blanks alone exceeds the sums publish
ed in the Blue Book by 1854 90
Secondly. 1t appears that the only evidence
upon which these large sums were paid is the
certificate of Nathaniel Greene, the postmaster
at Boston. He is the brother Of Charles Greene,
Of the firm of True and Greene. He under
takes to certify in all cases, that blanks, paper,
and Irvine, were furnished to the various post
masters Gin New York and elsewhere" to the
precise amount stated in all the vouchers. He
is the same person who edited " the Boston
Statesman" before that press was transferred
to its present propretors; and, from the infor
nation we have had it appears to Us that the
postmaster himself was interested in it at the
time of granting bis certificates.
This is but one OF class Of cases presented
by "the incidental expenses" and we think it
proper to remark that, profitable as such con-
tracts are, there is no competition admitted for
them; no advertisement or other notice invites
other persons to enter the lists in rivalry with
the favored newspaper editor upon whom such
compensation is to be besto wed. Established in
a city where its patronage from other sources
than Executive favor was probably not very
great the press Of the Boston Statesman" APP
pears by the vouchers and receipts to have been
sustained in the year 1892, when the last Presi-
dental election occurred, by the employment of
its prOprietors in rendering services to the
amount Of nearly sixteen thousand dollars,
which was paid out Of the revenues Of this de-
partment.
And now it also appears that Hill and Barton
(printers of the New Hampshire Patrio) were
allowed, during the same period when True and
Greene were employed, 81 SAB 26 for blanks
paper and twne," of which 3d. 23S So was for
printing blanks, though the sums appearing in
tine Blue Book, as paid to them, amount only to
l,494 g.
Horatio Hill also had mail contracts for which
he received $6,272, with newspaper privilege"
as we have seen; though the Blue Book does not
notice the fact in the list of printers; and Hill
and Abbott appear also on the list of mail con-
tractors, both for Maine and New Hampshire,
with Hill and Morse, L. S. Abbott Co., Hill
and Crane, and Rabbit and Hill.
During the same period Shadrach Penn who
is the printer and proprietor of the Louisville
Public Advertiser, was employed to furnish
blanks paper, and Irvine, to the amount of So
$50 36 although in the Blue Book his name ap-
pears on the list OF printers as in any way en-
ployed by the department only for the sum of
S2297 81. Other sums were paid within the
same period to other persons, for "paper and
twine," amounting to 1924 1862 81. The sums
allowed during these two years, as appears by
the vouchers and accounts for printed blanks,
paper and Irvine, mot including the large sums
paid to other editors for printing email propo
sals,") amount to more than $4,000.
The account now exhibited by the depart
ment shows that Francis p. Blair editor Of the
Globe, received from the 30th Of December,
1881, to the 26th of October 1888, inclusive, the
sum of $21,6 34 90. He appears on the Blue
Book for only $14,371 81 But as the depart
ment, on the application of the committee sent
lis only part Of the vouchers for this account,
and deferred sending the rest until it is now too
late to examine them in time for this report, we
cannot say how far the official statement in the
Register is correct or incorrect. The rates at
and, in opinion, are not to be justified by re-
ference to any thing which has occurred in the
past history of this department. We herewith
submit a specimen Of the rates paid him for adj
vertising; and accompanying the same is state
ment Of the rates and sums allowed for printing
advertisements in July, 1880. The sum allow
ed for printing these advertisements is, it will be
seen about four times the amount then paid for
them. See the statements marked X.
hot 1,f
of July and the Both of December, 1892, the Gin
cidental expenses" were $22, 95s o. Within
that time 1858 81 was paid for printing, to
the editors and printers of newspapers besides
IS, 1855 Is for other articles by them supplied.
Of the sum so paid to printers, Francis p. Blair
received IS, 1856 so for printngproposals for car
rying the mail from the goth of July, 1892 to the
18th of October, 1882" period of two months
and twenty-five days. The period Immediate
ly preceding the Presidential election was the
time selected for paying from this department
to this single editor about one hundred and
sixteen dollars for every day his paper issued
from the press. At the same time "the mail
proposals" appeared not only in the city prints,