The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-05-21
gmentg=Strth Congress.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
SATURDAY, May l6, 1910.

SATURDAY, May To- l64O.
Mr. c. II. WILLIAMS presented an additional
was referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Pen
sions
MIR. PETRIkIN moved suspension Of the rule
for the purpose of calling the States for petitions
Mr.. BRIGGS rose, he said, to privileged motion
He wished to move reconsideration of the vote by
which the House had yesterday adopted resolution
reported by the select committee of public printing
This resolution, it will be remembered, provided
for reduction of fifteen per cent on the prices Of the
public printing fixed by the joint resolution of 1915
Mr.. b. had voted, he said, in favor of that resolu-
ton looming from the majority of the committee be-
cause there other proposition then before the
House that he thought more deserving Indeed there
was no other After the vote had been taken, he
for the first time discovered that the terms of the re-
solution were general-that il did not purport to be o
resolution of this House in relation TO the printing
of this House 1t provided that hereafter the print
ing to be done by Congress should be at prices there
prescribed Now, the House could only pass reso-
luton for tself-to apply to its own printing Upon
reflection, he had strong doubts whether the resou-
ton itself was not nullity since il protested To do
that which the House had neither the right nor the
power to do II proposed to do that which could only
be done by Joint resolution of the House and Sc
nate--the President concurring-or in the form of
bill or law Of the land. The resolution was entire
it was single proposition that hereafter the printing
to be done BY Congress should be paid for in qver
wsy. The House had no power to pass such reso
luton Was it not therefore void and did not thu
prices Of the public printing remain precisely
where they were before the resolution was passed
Would be said that it might did operate upon the
printing Of this House Such not the resolution
i was to be construed it stood-this House could
not 30 behind it and this resolution being nullty
the Joint resolution of 1919 in full force and the
printer of the House would at the end of the session
be entitled to receive pay for what he did for the House
thcprccse amount fixed by that joint resolution Ifh.
\ r,Uht ~,
to rctrace its steps and correct the error
As an additional reason why the vote should be re-
considered Mr. b. adverted TO the fact that whilst tho
House. by the resolution Of yesterday had decided or
reduction Of only fifteen per cent il an admitted
truth that individual or firm had offered to exc
cute the printing at % per cent and another indiv
dual firm at 70 per cent less than the prices fixed
by the joint resolution Of 1919 These offers had
been made by practical, responsible men, He did no
wish to have the work done at prices not yielding
fair compensation. He had himself no knowledge o
these things, but he could not why the rule ait
down by the two individuals firms referred to shoulc
not be adopted.
Mr.. b. then moved to reconsider the said vote re-
marking that if the motion prevailed he should ofc
the following substitute for the resolution:
Resoired, That the printing of the present Hous,
of Representatives shall be paid for at reduction
twenty per cent from the prices fixed by the joint re
solution passed March B. 1919.
Mr.. SMITH, of Indiana, moved to lay on the Ia
BILE the motion to reconsider yesterdays vote
The SPEAKER asked leave TO lay before tn
House letter from Mcssrs. Blair g. Rives.
Mr.. PETRlKIN said, if there was going to be an,
debate, he should object
The letter was then read II sets forth that tn
prices of certain work. the and character where
of the Reporter does not comprehend, were not fxe
by the resolution adopted yesterday; and that the
would, therefore, IL no further order made by tn
House charge it as other printers had hcretofor
charged IT, fifteen per cent off
Mr.. BRIGGS asked the yeas and nays on the mo
ton TO reconsider, which were ordered
Mr.. EVERETT inquired of the Chair whether tn
motion to lay on the table, II il should prevail woul