Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-12-06


duty their constituents and to the country did not de-
mand Of them adopt the plan by which great public
economy could be secured
But important this might be in ITSELF vanished into
comparative insgncance when put by the side Of another
considerations which he would invite the attention Of the
House and this was that the adoption Of such plan
directly and eectuay TO cut up what had justly been styled
the spos system brought to bear the public press The
press had been said in England to be the fourth power in
the State, coming next after king, lords and If
such was It's Importance there, less this side the
water Hero all felt and could but feel the impor
lance oil 80 mighty engine. II surely then matter
the utmost that the press should be preserved pure
and nconupblc and that might be preserved that the
Government should disenange itself from all coupng
nexon with IT, But what the spectacle exhibited by this
Government from year year Was not the odious and
degrading of Government calling itself purely repubi-
cam vlrtuous and free connecting itself in merecous en-
braces with party the most prosttuted in principle
feeding all It's venom, and rewardng layshy its utmost ce-
tiousness Mr. d. said he would maintain as prin
cpe Of the soundest policy that the Government ought
itself with the newspaper press of the country It's
patronage ought never to be given to posuted polluted
mercenay party press, whether esoused side or the
opposite party contentious 1t the solemn bounden
duty of Congress dsentange itself from all such
IONS and therefore TO from the patronage
ciscd over the press in any form.
Mr. d. disavowed all intention to cast censure peculiar y
the Democratic party this matter the two leading par
ties of the country in many OF their great features and
Of their impulses to action much the same and in either Of
them the results Of the evil he dpecans had proved
much the same
Two three years ago proposition had been introduced
into that House reduce the allowance for the public printing
of Congress- and similar measure had again been tried at
the last session. An apparent reduction in the prices had
deed been accomplished, but the actual effect OF that reduc
ton had been afterwards neutrazed and party avote had
been amply compensated by ordering vast masses OF docu
menary printing, which of little public utility.
For example, Congress had ordered very copies
Of the of the last Census and afterwards authorized
the printing Of Compendium OF the Census The former
of these jobs had cost the Government over SlOO OOO for the
other S22 OO0 Had the plan prevailed Of letting out the
printing the highest bidder the Government would have
been enabled to make saving of than thirds of the
whole amount
Had he time and inclination Mr. D. said he could adduce
facts of the description all going prove the
enormous abuses which had out Of this node of doing
the public printing Why should different practice prevail
with regard to this branch of the public expenditure from that
pursued in reference all other branches of Was it
wise Were not these expenditures made by advertising
for contracts the lowest terms Then competition was
invited and the result that Of great economy The plan
had been found to work WELL The work done upon the
lowest terms, by skul and competent underakers, and
immense saving effected to the Government similar
saving would grow out of the adoption of the plan he now
proposed the House But again he would say that the
consideration Of economy Of comparative mpor
the influence which such would exert
the purity the press and the corresponding purity OF public
sentiment The public press should be kept pure and uncor
rupt il ought be devoted truth, and To truth alone
should lend its mighty and controlling power to the of
morality and Of high patriotic principle. But it vain to
expect this long the most prominent editors in the
exclusive enjoyment of the public printing
In conclusion, he expressed his hope that the amendment
he had moved would meet with the favor of the House
he that it would in practice effect saving of at least
thirty and third per cent in the cost of the Govern
pntng-whie at the time its indirect operation
would be purify extent at least the public press
throughout the country generally.
He called for the yeas and nays the amendment.
Mr.. BAYIY said that the amendment just proposed Ivy
the honorable gentleman from Kentucky had taken him
wholly by surprise and this surprise increased in no
small degree the newborn zeal which the honorable mover
had exhibited in the of rcenchment in this particular
direction.
There Mr.. DAVIS nterposed and begged leave to assure
the gentleman that in calling his zeal this subject new
born" he wholly under mistake Ii the gentleman
would the evidence of the Journal he would find tina
Mr. DIS aud his votes th- subject in 1883 wc
precisely the now.
| Mr.. BAYLY, resumng said he was aware that propo
stion somewhat similar TO the gentemans amendment hac
been introduced in the beginning Of the Congress referred to-
and though ignorant of the fact he would take for granted
that the honorable gentleman had that time advocated it,
But he could forget that the gentleman and his political
party had been in majority in this Hall in 1912, and Mr. b.
had yet learn that the gentleman exhibited any Of his pre-
sent zeal at that time II very probable that the honoa
bic gentleman had shown himself very jealous the subject
Of retrcnchng the prices of public printing when he knew him
self to be minority, and his zeal would not be likely, per-
haps, effect much but when he and his friends held the
rens Of power and the zeal and abilities and influence Of the
gentleman would avail something towards the object Mr. b.
had learn that they directed to any special effort
for this branch of public economy.
Mr. B. said he far from wishing to give to the measure
he had proposed any thing of party caste He ID risen
chiefly express his surprise what he consider
ther newborn zeal the gentlemans part. He
prscd especially that the gentemans amendment had been
offered the time and under the circumstances which he
had brought it forward The House had public pn
ter printer had been appointed for the last Congress only
The House expecting momeny to receive the Executive
Message document which the eyes Of this nation
only but Of all Chrstendo fixed with waiting anxiety
Was that message not to be printed Must the printing of
be delayed until committee should have been appointed
and should have completed their inquiries the lowest bids
and the competency of the bidders for the public printing
To delay it thus would, in his apprehension, subject the
House to inconvenience not justly called to
endure ,
But he had another objection to this amendment Should
now be adopted it would be necessary that the committee
appointed it make very speedy contract for
this work. Who to be benefited by the plan Would
there, could there be, fair competition Would it not
still go into the hands Of favortes The gentleman had
fcrred the House to the existing practice of the Government
in reference other branches of the public expenditure
Well and what that practice Did the Government
enter into contracts two three days notice did it
not publish invitations for proposals long beforehand that
the whole country might be appzed of the opportunity Of
contracting and the fullest and aest competition be entered
into for the work to be done The practical effect of the
genlemans proposition, however might appear theory
would be throw the boon of the House printing between
two establishments in this city he referred the large print
ing offices of the National Inegcncer and the Union, for
these alone in state of preparation to undertake and TO
accomplish heavy work He did not think the House
called on to incur the necessity Of such act.
AS to the plea OF public economy, that did not necessarily
require the adoption Of like this The compcnsa
e "a