The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-12-28
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
TUESDAY, Dec. "a.

TUESDAY, Dec. "a.
The Presidents Message received, by the
hands of Mr.. Van buren,, his Private Secretary, and
was read at the Clerks table. ~.
The Message having been read
Mr.. PETRIkIN moved that the Message and &C
companying documents be laid upon the table, and
- be printed ~.
Mr. VANDERPOEL hoped no motion would be
entertained which would interfere with the execu-
ton of the order of the House of the 2lst instant:
Mr.. PETRIKIN withdrew his motion.
Mr.. LEWIS WILLIAMS renewed the motion.
A desuory conversation here ensGed as TO the
usual disposition OF the Message, and as TO the num-
Der Of copies that should be printed in which
Messrs. yanderpoel, Wise, L. Williams Briggs
Smith, Giddngs, Graves, Dromgooe, Pope, Bynun,
Turney, and Stanly participated
Various motions were made, after which, the mo-
ton TO lay the Message on the table was agreed
to- and the motion to print received similar dspo-
siion. 5s" . ~.
The SPEAKER laid before the House the report
of the Secretary Of the Treasury the reading OF
which, motion of Mr. FILLMORE, was dis
penSed with.
The SPEAKER announced tina, there were other
communications on the table.
They were all, by consent, reserved until toll NOR
Mr. PETRIKIN asked leave to offer resolution
providing for the appointment OF the standing COM
fnittees.
The CHAIR ruled that the resolution was no, at
this time in order.
Mr. GIDDINGS moved suspension of the or
der of the House, for the purpose Of enabling him to
offer the following resolution, which was read for
Information:
Resolued That it is expressly understood that the
election oil Printer shall give to the person elected
no right to do the public printing for longer time
than the House shall hereafter deem compatible with
the public interests.
The SPEAKER decided that it was in order to
move the postponemeDt of the execution of the or
der, but thai the resolution itself was not in order,
being against the law of 1919, which specified the
mode Of electing Printer, and the time Tor which
Mr.. FILLMORE inquired whether under the
law of 1919 the election was to take place by ballot
or Gira poes
Mr. DROMGOOLE said it would be time enough to
decide the question when it arose
MrFILLMORE understood that this the proper
tme-he first business in order being the execution Of
the order Of Saturday =.
The SPEAKER said. in examining the laws, he had
had difficulty the question; but that, in his
opinion, the mode prescribed by the law WAS that Of
ballot.
long debate, directed not to this decision but to
review Of the laws and proceedings Of both Houses in
relation to the public printing the alleged extrava-
gances in this department OF the public expenditures,
and to the efforts which the other party had
made towards retrenchment relation it, then arose;
and participated in by Messrs. Mckay. Fillmore,
and Dawson and Gin explanatory by Messrs. Wise and
Nanderpoel .... a.". ..s
Mr. DAWSON offered the following resolutions:
Resokted, That the order of this House in relation to
the election OF Printer be postponed until the first day
Of February next. ....
Rcsotpcd further, That the Clerk Of this House be
authorized to employ some suitable person persons
to execute the necessary printing Of this House in the
manner prescribed by the joint resolution OF lsl9 until
further ordered by this House.
ResOtred further, That a select committee be at-
pointed TO paure whether the public printing of this
House canno, DO better and cheaper done by contract
than BY the existing mode.
The CHAIR thought that the resolutions, as now
worded, were not in order
The debate was continued by Messrs Vanderpoel
Mason, Davis, Of Ky, Bond and Bynum After which,
Mr. CAMPBELL, OF South Carolina moved that
when this House adjourn, it be meet on Friday next
On which motion the yeas and nays were demanded ,
and being taken, were--yeas So. navs So
So the House agreed 10 the motion
Then Mr.. WISE moved an adjournment, which was
c'rrled in tho affirmative yeas So nays ~