The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-04-04

Wnite, ana foung-iI.
The question then being about to be put the en-
grossment Of the bill,
Mr.. CLAY Of Kentuckr, minated his wish to ad-
dress the Senate on the BILL and on his motion
The Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
THURSDAY, April o.
Committee on Public Printing.
Disconnection Of the Government Patronage from
the Public Press.
The SPEAKER announced the special order OF the
day taking precedence over all other business TO be
the report heretofore made by the Select Committee
Printing Of which Mr.. Black, Of Georgia, was Chair
This, it will be recollected is repor, in part d.
rected TO the question Of prices.
After some conversation the propriety Of post
posting the consideration Of the subject for few days.
until the reports and testimony should be printed and
laid on the table and Wednesday next having been
suggested by Mr. Wise---
Mr.. II. GARLAND inquired Of the Chairman Of the
Committee, whether the report the other branch OF
the inquiry embraced in the resolution under which the
Committee raised, would be ready by Wednes-
day, that the two subjects might be taken up toge
ther1
Mr. BLACK said that II il was it would avail
thing, far the FIRST branch Of the subject
cerned, because could not be printed by that time.
The second branch Of the resolution that which re-
Government patronage, had not yet been definitely act
ed upon by the Committee. He free to state,
he presumed he liberty 10 do, that the majority
of the Committee had determined to report against the
separation, and had directed him to make report ac-
cordingy, which he had not had time to make for he
could not put aside all other business requiring his at
tention TO attend to this exclusively
Mr. r. GARLAND said that so far back as last
Wednesday week, the committee Che MAJORITY decided
against this Of separation being an nfrac
- I'LL
ference the public interests and directed the chair
man draw up report based on these principles Mr..
G. hoped it would all events, be in the power Of the
chairman to prepare report BY next wednesday, 70
space of seventeen days from the time the
chairman had been directed to prepare IT, presenting
the reason upon which their decision was based He
(Mr G for some time had had prepared the vicws Of
the members OF the committee who differed from the
majority and he wished that tho whole subject might
be brought up for the consideration OF the House at
and the same time.
Mr.. BLACK said it not necessary; indeed, it
would be highly mpracticabe that both branches OF the
subject should be considered at the time because
the gentleman himself, (Mr Garland,) and his friends
upon the committee, had adopted resolution to recon-
mend that no change shall take place in the manner
and form of executing the public printing at this
sion II that SO, where the necessity Of urg-
ing that matter Immediately before the House. and in
direct connexion with the subject that related only to
tie prices Of the public printing!
Mr.. N 1hRlIAND sdtu u was HeCesestys III oIucI
that arrangements might be made by which the whole
printing might be done at the next session Of Congress,
if his proposition was agreed to.
Mr. GRAVES remarked that he would not consent
the House should the proposition TO postpone the
special order for another week two until some steps
should be taken to secure report from the committee
on that branch Of the subject committed to them which
relates the separation Of the public printing from the
newspaper press And, as it seems the chairman Of
that committee directed by the majority Of that
committee to make report adverse to the separa
ton at present on last Monday week, eleven days ago.
and had yet done be proposed to submit 10 the
House a resolution nsructing that committee to make
their report during the present week, so that may be
printed in time for the action Of this House. when 1t
comes act upon the first branch OF the subject COM
mted to that committee, next Thursday, or the sue
ceedng Thursday, if the more remote day should be
fixed for the consideration Of the special order.
The chairman ofthe committee had informed the
House that the majority OF the committee were
against the separation of the printing from the
newspaper press and that the minority of the COM
mittee concurred with the majority upon the policy
of not attempting the separation al this session, and
therefore he had supposed it important about be-
ing in haste to submit his report as he supposed no
action would be had on it. Did the chairman re-
member II was the privilege of this House TO re-
verse the decision Of its committees whenever il did
not concur with theml Has he forgotten that the
committee is merely constituted the organ OF this
House, 10 investigate the subject committed TO their
charge and that their report was in no sense binding
but at all times subject TO be reversed by this House
Ii he did not know this fact, Mr. g. said he would
beg leave 10 inform him it is so, and that he hoped
the House would come to conclusion very dife-
rent from that 10 which the committee had arrived.
Mr. G. said he did not profess 10 be very well in
formed as to the facts it might be necessary TO know
in order to to correct conclusion ON this sub
ject although he had looked into il with some care;
and it might be that when he should be as well In
formed as the committee, he should change his OPT
- -.s..t tnnAfx m he
This session. CONTINUED Mr.. g. he regarded, from
what had been said in certain quarters when ms
subject was first up, as proPitious peIou o. nay
presented TO us to accomplish this great reform ana
he was very reluctant 10 yieiu up, ash was one he
had much al heart.
Mr. q said that, in order TO get this report into
The House and have il printed by the time the hrst
branch Of The subject shall come up he offered the
following resolution
J2esolped That the committee raised upon the sub
iect OF the public printing OF this House, ana WIN
view of examining into the proprie,y and practical
bility of separating the Government printing from
The political press be instructed TO report during the
present week upon the latter branch Of the subject
committed 10 them.
Mr.. GRAVES said il was contemplated TO have a
report made on the subject In ten days alter the con-
siuion of the committee. More than Two months,
he believed, had elapsed and yet we nave no
and unless the House should take some s'ep 70
cause The report to be made he knew not when ~
would be done.
Mr.. r. GARLAND asked Mr.. GRAVES 70 Withdraw
his proposition, as he (Mr GARLAND thought prooa.
BILE that the chairman would make report soon ba'
il not. he (Mr G. } would submit the views Of The mi
nori,y so as to test the sense OF the House.
| M GRAVES remarked that his only object was TO
hrn IN far the consideration Of tho House the subject
contemplated by his resolution. He had no objection
10 whdrawinq it, at the suggestion Of his friend from
| Ioosians. and he accordingly withdrew II,
| MIR. RICE GARLAND moved TO postpone the con
sidera,ion Of the report Of the committee unti mex