The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-12-08
PRESCRIPTION.

! IL has now been nearly two years since Con
gress took from the President the power of be
slowing on Press which supported his Admin
is,ra'ion the little Executive printing in ,hi:
city. The cause alleged in justification Of III,
act was, that regard for economy in publ,
expenditures required that the work should b.
given to the lowest bidder. Such was the argu
ment advanced by Mr. Bolts, the mover Of the
resolution, which cut us of with shilling
Well, the printing 1rds 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 So per
page: whereas, those Of the preceding Session
under the old arrangement, were printed fol
Sc 81 per page. So much for the economy Of
MIR. Bolts.
But we should never have said one word in
relation to this matter ofpaironage, were there
not palpable want of consistency in our Con
gressional reformers. The following extract
from yesterdays proceedings in the House OF
Representatives, will show the palpable injus-
lice done the President by Mr.. Bolts, and the
supporters Of his famous 8. heading resolution
Mr.. D,cKEY, Of Penn, offered the following
amendment:
That the Clerk be authorized to contract with
the lowest bidder.n
| The CHAIR decided the motion to be out of order
| So the question was taken on the amendment OF
Mr. Gimer, to separate the Public Printing from the
political Press and the following was the result
Yeas SO nays l24
So no nd Of NJ
Mr.. Dickey's amendment was here announced 10 be
in order by the Chair, when he demanded the yeas
| and nays.
MIR. CAVE JOHNSON spoke in opposition TO the
amendment, because he believed IT would prove detr
mental TO the public interest from the fact that ind
viduals would bid who 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, mir. Cave Johnson.)
Mr.. CAVE JOHNSON inquired IL the Senate had re.
| duced the ompensation of their Printer.
Mr.. DicKEr SAID that independent body
and he had nothing to do with the business of the
Senate.
Mr. BEARpsLEY here rose and made an inquiry
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 it was the opinion
| OF every member OF that committee that the Public
iiinunB Couu DC zone win a saving TO The Govern
ment OF 50 l-3 per cent by the establishment of a
Government Office. lie said there had been report
ed bill to this effect al the last session and to rem
ody this difficulty all the House had TO do was to take
up that bill and pass it, and send to the Senate and
let It become law. lie would no sooner vote in
favor OF the Madisonian than for Blair & Rives All
he wanted to remedy the evil which exists under
the present system.
The question was here taken on the amendment OF
MIR Dickey as modified, by yeas and nays, and the
following 10 the result; Yeas 81, nays 40.
SO the amendment Of Mr. Dickey, as modif, d, wa.
| 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.. D.'s reso-
luton, should, 1t seems to us, lose no time in re-
peaing the resolution of Mr.. Bolts The Exc
cuilve 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 Ia
be the more unjust 10 US, inasmuch as we had
just purchased the materials necessary 10 DO the
work, having been engaged to execute il.
Those materials are now idle, and rusting in our
| HI ;e.