The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-12-08

gress took from the President the power -of be-
slowing on Press which supported bis Admin,
istration the little Executive printing in lhis
city. The cause alleged in justification Of the
act was, that regard for economy in publ,
expenditures required that the work should be
given to the lowest bidder. Such was the argu-
ment advanced by Mr.. Bolts, the mover of the
resolution, which cut us off with shilling
Well, the printing acas let 10 the lowest bidder
and we have just been informed by the disburs-
ing officer at the State Department, that the
printing OF the Laws of the last Session, in pam
phlet form, cost the Government, So IS pc,
page: whereas, those of the preceding Session
under the old arrangement, were printed fol
Sc 81 per page. So much for the economy OF
Mr.. Bolts.
But we should never have said one word in
relation to this matter ofpatronage, were there
not palpable want of CONSISTENCY in our Con
gressional reformers. The following extract
from yesterdays proceedings in the House oil
Representatives, will show the palpable injus-
tice done the President by M Bolts, and the
supporters of his famous g heading" resolution
Mr.. DlcKEy, of Penn, offered the following
amendment:
That the Clerk be authorized to contract with
the lowest bidder"
The CHAIR decided the motion to be out of order
So the question was taken on the amendment OF
Mr.. Gilmer, to separate the Public Printing from the
political Press and the following the result
Yeas SO, nays l24
So the amendment of Mr.. Gmer was lost.
MIR. Dickey's amendment was here announced to be
in order by the Chair, when he demanded the yeas
and nays.
Mr.. CAVE JOHNSON spoke in opposition to the
amendment, because he believed it would prove detrl
mental to the public interest, from the fact that nd
viduas would bid who were not capable of executing
the work
Mr.. DIcKEY here rose and offered modification to
the original amendment, to meet the objection of the
gentleman from Tennessee, mt Cave Johnson.)
Mr.. CAVE JOHNSON inquired il the Senate had re-
duced the compensation of their Printer.
Mr.. DIcKEY said that was an independent body,
and he had nothing to do with the business of the
Senate.
which was inaudible.
Mr.. CAVE JOHNSON gave him satisfactory answer,
as he nodded assent.
Mr. WISE SAID this subject had at the last session
been referred TO committee and II was the opinion
of every member of that committee that the Public
Printing could be done with saving to the Govern
ment OF SO l-3 per cent by the establishment Of a
Government Office. He said there had been report
ed bill to this effect al the last session and to rem
edy this difficulty all the House had to do to take
up that bill and pass it, and send ii to the Senate and
let IT become a law. He would no sooner vote in
favor OF the NladIsonan than for Blair Rives. All
he wanted was to remedy the evil which exists under
the present system.
The question was here taken on the amendment of
slr Dickey, as modified, by yeas and nays and the
following is the result Yeas 81, nays no
So the amendment Of Mr.. Dckey, as modified was
lost.
Now, the same objections made TO Mr. Dick
ey's resolution will apply TO the Executive print
ing; and those who voted against Mr.. DIS reso-
luton, should, it seems TO us, lose no time in re-
peaiOg the resolution of Mr.. Bolts. The Exc
cutive printing, however, does not amount TO
more than $1,000 per annum while the print
ing of the House will exceed 100000.
N. B.-The resolution Of Mr.. Bolts seems to
be the more unjust 10 US, inasmuch as we had
just purchased the materials necessary to do The
work, having been engaged to execute it.
Those materials are now idle. and rusting in our
In e.