Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-12-31

nate, to wait on the PRESIDENT and INFORM nun that Dot
Houses of Congress organized, and ready to re-
cevc anv communication ne might be pleased 10 make;
which considered and adopted and Messrs Everett
and Ramsey appointed committee on the part OF
the House.
The CHAIR then announced that the first business
in order under the resolution Of the gentleman from
North Carolina, (Mr Bynum) would be the election of
a d ,orkceper,
Mr. DAVIS of Indiana then nominated Mr.. Jesse
F. Dow for the Office Of Doorkeeper.
Mr.. BRIGGS nominated Mr.. Follansbee
Mr.. LEWIS nominated Mr.. John Houston.
The SPEAKER then appointed Messrs ]. W. Da-
Wis, Briggs Casey, and Griffin, telers, when the vote
was taken and declared as follows:
For Mr. Jos. Follansbee, l3O
{. Jesse Z. Dow, 13
John Houston, Is
S, Mr. Follanshee was declared duly elected.
Mr. CRAIG moved resolution that John w. Hun.
ter be appointed Assistant Doorkeeper, and VIM. J.
Mccormick be appointed Postmaster Of the House:
which was considered and adopted.
The CHAIR announced the next business in order
10 be the election of Printer for the House.
Mr.. CAVE JOHNSON then moved a call of the
House. which was ordered and the roll twice called
Excuses were then offered for the following gentle
men: Mcssrs. Bcrne, Grnne Jenifer, Mercer, and
Worthngton
Mr.. STANLY then sent to the Chair the following
resolution, which read Tor information: Nesai
Rcsoircd, Tint the printing and binding Of the Honse
Of Representatives shall be furnished by contracs
tcc Of which shall be given in the public prints OF
Washington City for - days, It being made con-
dition that the work shall be done in the City of Wash
ington and the contract SHALL in each case, be given
- the lowest bidder whose bid shall be accompanied
with proper testimonials of the ability Of the bidder to
fulfil his contracts.
The CHAIR said the resolution not in order,
the House being engaged in the execution of the
order of the House of Saturday j, being about to pro-
coed to the election of Printer.
Mr.. STANLY then moved to suspend the order for
the purpose of offering this resolution He had I'M
derstood that the House might probably save 100000
bv giving out the printing by contract.
Mr.. WILLIAMS of North Carolina thought it was
perfectly competent for the House to give any drec
ton they pleased to this resolution, and that would
be perfectly in order for the House to suspend the
order lay the table postpone it indefinitely.
The Gil AIR said the resolution could only be nitro
duccd b. motion to suspend the o:dcr.
Mr.. ANDERSON of Kentucky then moved the
following substitute for Mr. Stany IS resolution
Rescirrd Tha. the cacention of the order made
the 2lst instant relation to the election of public
Printer be postponed for the present and that the
whole subject of the public printing be referred to
select committee of five members, with instructions TO
inquire into the expediency of letting out the printing
the lowest bidder, who shall furnish satisfactory
evidence Of his fidelity, and ability TO execute 1t.
Resolved, further, That said committee inquire into
the expediency Of separating the public printing from
the newspaper press OF the country; and that II ex
pedent they report the most practicable plan OF nav
ing the printing executed
Reso!red, also That said committee report to this
House. what amount Of money can be saved to the Co
by the adoption Of either Of the plans above
suggested and until said committee shall make report,
all further proceedings in relation to public Printer
be suspended
Mr.. sTANLY accepted this as modification Of his
motion.
Mr.. ANDERSON only desired to say word in ex-
PLANTATION of the motive which bad induced him to oiter
this proposition He not now IN possession OF the
facts which would enable him to speak With accuracy
to the public printing but it had been suggested 10
him. by gentlemen Of experience, that the public PRINT
ing Of Congress amounted to about S30OO0O, and that
the profits arising from it about thirty three and
third per cent He found by examination OF the
laws, that the prices of printing had been xed many
years ago, and il material consideration Tor
the House TO examine and see the prices OF material
and labor had not been considerably reduced he
would not cmbarrass the legitimate operations
of the Government, and he would always vote for a
proper, economical expenditure of money.
Dir. VANDERPOEL here rose to point OF order
Rir. SiiERROD WILLIAMS. The gentleman
must reduce his point Of order to writing.
Mr.. VANDERPOEL then submitted the following
point Of order: "The previous question having been
ordered and the order Of the House partly executed
the main question not being debatable motion TO
postpone the further order Of the House cannot be de-
ba,able."
The CHAIR decided that the gcntleusa from Ken
lucky in order.
MI ANDERSON said he had been informed by
gentleman from Massachusetts, that the price of print
in few years past and he thought but light that this
matter should at least be examined into by committee
1t was the duty Of a Republican Government to re-
trench expenditures much possible; anG be trust
ed measures would be TAKEN at the present session, 10
rctrench all the expenditures of Government.
Mr.. EVERETT, from the committee appointed, IN
conjunction with committee OF the Senate to wait on
the President, and inform him that both Houses OF Con-
gress duly organized and ready to receive any
communication he might be pleased to make, made re
port that they had performed that duty and that the
President had informed them tina, he would send Mes
sage in writing, TO the two Houses, on tomorrow at
twelve o'clock.
MIR. THOMPSON of South Carolina said that he
had been denounc'ng, for the ac two years, the admir-
nisraton party for looking way and rowing another
Tor continually talking Of economy, while they never
pracsed it; and he wanted now to see them come mp
10 the scratch and show that they, the Jeffersonan
Democratic party were sincere in their professions
He thought now that the boldest of them would not
dare against the proposition OF the gentleman
from Kentucky. Two alternatives were now present
cd TO gentlemen. On one side, they had the oPporfu
nifty Of having the public printing executed tor the
lowest prices and the other side it intended TO
reward partisan press by giving it large donation
out OF the public purse. He wanted to bring the hard
money gentlemen down 10 their own system They
have reduced my ncone said MIR. T., and that OF eve-
ny man in the country and is Therefore incumbent on
them to bring the incomes of all their sa,ased officers
down TO the standard az which they have tep'ecated
the money of the country And if other person did
So he himself would before the close of the session,
introduce bill to reduce TIE salaries of the officers OF
Government that they may bear the same compare
son with the value of money that they did when they
Serc fixed.
Sir. GRAVES said he did hope they should be ao.e
TO bring the House to direct yote the proposition
before it. without its being cut off by points oforder or
motions 10 lay it on the table. He appealed to the
States Rgh, gentlemen of the South and said to them
that they protested to be the advocates of economy
they bad opportunity of practising what they
protested by voting for the resolution. They had The
balance ofpower in their hands, and them would
res, Inc responsibility of defeating the measure: The
gentlemen who stood in opposition to the Admins'ra.
lion were disposed to bring this matter to test
md try by direct VOTE whether economy should oe
practised in this branch Of the public expenditures
MIR. G. said he had been Informed by gentleman from
-xl--A 49,