The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-12-17


was submitted, and HE (Mr. SrEIGHr's) had one
| days priority. lie hoped the Senate would now
proceed TO the election of printer and then pro,
coed with the business of the country. lie expressed
his willingness to modify his resolution, that TIC
prices should conform to any regulation OF le"
which may hereafter be made.
| Mr. CLAYTON asked The senator to reduce his
| modification 10 writing.
| Mr. sPEIGHT called for the reading of the reso-
| luton; and it was read, as follows
Rssored That the Senate win tomorrow proceed to the
election OF printer for the twenty ninth Cengress'
| MIR. J. M. CLAYTON observed, that if the SEN
ator from Mississippi would show him his PROPOSE
| ton, he would give his opinion as to whether he
| tMr. CLArros) would be willing to accede to the
suggestion.
motion of Mr.. SrEIcnT, Ito take up the resoution9
when
| Mr. ]. nj. CLAYTON asked the secretary TO
state which resolution--hs or that of the senator
| from Mississippi-had the priority on the calen-
| dar.
The Secretary replied the resolution of the sem
ator from Delaware, Mr.. CLAYros.]
Mr. SPEIGHT then submitted proposition, %
the effect that the printer be elected bha be paid
at sach rates as may hereafter be established.
AIR BERRIEN begged to suggest whether it
would not be more appropriate to fix the rate of
compensation before going into the election, that the
printer might know the prices he was to receive;
| and &c postpone the election until tomorrow, az
many members, not anticipating it to-day, were not
| in their seats.
Mr. ATHERToN required to what had been
done by the two houses of Congress, and 10 the
practice of fixing the compensation to printers; and
he expressed the opinion that the proper way would
be TO proceed to the election of printer. If it was
| thought there ought to be a retrenchment in the
prices now paid he was willing to go as far as any
one.
Mr. J. M. CLAYTON insisted, that as there were
several propositions on the table offering to do the
printing at sums varying from twenty to fifty per
cent. below the resolution of 1919, they should not
| hesitate to save so considerable Of money.
And he called for the reading Of the several PROPOSE
| tons the table:
| l. From Dow & Co., at twenty per cent less
than the prices paid during the last session
g From William Greer at twenty-five per cent
less than the prices fixed by the resolution Of 1919
| g. From Jefferson q Co., offering to execute the
printing at twenty-five per cent. less than the price
| fixed by the same resolution, where the number Of
| copies does not exceed five thousand, and beyond
that number at reduction Of thirty-three and a
| third per cent.
THESE two last propositions proposed reduction
of about five per cent less than the prices fixed dur
Mr. PENNYBACKER addressed the Senate,
| contendng that they could not, by the proposition
submitted, change, alter, or modify what he con-
| sidercd to be law Of the land. From his remarks,
it appeared that, prior to 1919, the public printing
dividuals who undertook to perform it, did it in
| bnnglng manner, that Congress passed the res
olution OF 1873, fixing the rates of compensation;
| and committee reported and recommended scale
| OF prices, that the work might be done in
manner credtable to the literature of our country
| If resolution should be introduced to change the
law, the Senate would find him ready to make in
qniry to what extent the prices could be reduced;
but he protested against interruption of an cleo
ton of printer by the measure suggested
Mr.. CLAYTON briefly offered some remarks in
reply, to the effect that, in the event of the election
| of printer to the Senate he would hold vested
right by the act of 1844 and, if he elected he
could claim right to regulate the price of printing
| under his contract.
| Mr.. SPEIGI1T said he had no such object by
| the introduction of his resolution.
| Mr.. CLAYTON resumed by commenting on the
exorbtant demand hitherto made for printing in nu-
| merous instances, and at large per centage, and
considered the rates. in various instances, enormous
| ly high He went on to say that the act of 1874
described the maximum rates, beyond which they
could not go, at 90 per cent less than heretofore.
He would vote against the motion.
Mr.. ATHERTON read the act passed in March,
1919, in relation to the public printing in reply to
question from Mr.. SIMMONS.
| After few desultory remarks from Messrs.
PHELPS and BREESE, the question on Mr..
SrEIcHTs resolution that the Senate proceed to the
consideration Of the election of printer tomorrow,
| was taken and carried
Mr.. SPEIGHT proposed to amend by inserting
the word forthwith" in the resolution.
:, Mr.. WEBSTER considered that this could not
be done, the Senate having already voted on the
main question
The question on taking up the resolution was put
| and carried.
Mr.. WEsTcoTT proposed to amend the reso-
luton follows:
Resoed That the Senate proceed to the election of
printer for the Senate of the 10th Congress; and that IT,
hereafter during the term for which the printer elected
public printing from the press and for the estsb
lshment OF public printing office to do the printing Of
Congress the printer SO elected shall be subject to such
regulation may be made by such law to his contnu
ance in office.
He hoped that during the present session of Con-
gress the public printing might be entirely discon-
| nected from the public press Of the country. He
trusted that some law would be passed, that the
public printer, who may now be elected, may un-
derstand that hereafter proposition would be made
by regular enactment to disconnect the public print
ing from the public press
Mr.. ALLEN believed there was a law already in
| existence, and it manifest that this resolution
could not change the law.
Mr.. SPEIGfIT considered it rather curious that,
at this particular time, there should be much sem
sitiveness to pass upon mere matter of form. Two
years ago, the subject-matter before the Senate
disposed of by simple resolution; and now, when
there was law in existence, they proposed this
change, He hoped the amendment would not pre-
vail.
Mr.. WESTCOTT wished to have it understood
that he was actuated by sort of feeling whatever
in proposing the amendment, calculated to throw
any disparagement the respected gentleman
whose name was connected with the public printing
However, he had made his mind up on the subject
and was for paying those engaged in the public
printing literally He trusted that he would see
from one end of the countryto the other the public
printing disconnected with the public press, and
freed from any public patronage. In reference to the
,kaI r.
whom he intended to vote, he held him the highest
respect; but would propose the amendment from
consideration Of its being his duty.
Mr. ALLEN dissented from the views of the
senator who had just sat down; because they would,
by the adoption of the amendment, make it the
law of the land, that the patronage of the govern
ment as far as regards the printing, was to be with
held from one description of the people of this
country His views were, that the laws should |
confer privileges upon sects or subdivisions of