The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-21

commentary upon all this pretended anxiety TO d.
vorce the patronage Of the government from the
public press. Well, what occurred in the other
wing OF this CapiIoll Why, in the very teeth Of all
this cry the wing party voted for Gales a Seaton,
their own party editors! And yet at the same time
political editor, 10 whom they were attached-al-
though at 20 per cent less, be il remarked than
they voted their own printers.
lie undertook 10 say that, IL ever the gentleman
and his friends should get into power, we should
hear no more about these "praetcal printers" &c.
They would vote this printing where they had yot-
ed Il Tor twenty years, upon single establishment
But the testimony brought b. 70 the House by
the gentleman from Kentucky himself-the tes-
tmoDy Of Gales & Seatons forsman-showed that,
upon the ordinary printing, that's whore the num-
Der Is less than 5000 copies, the present rates Of
compensation not too high. Mr.. Riyes also states
the same thing and even Mr.. Towers, Of the To-
sonte witnesses OF the gentleman, expressly states
the same thing, well as Mr., Trenholm. Mr..
Towers says:
Under all the circumstances attending Congress print
Hg al present do not believe the rsgar printing could be
executed 3r less sum than ssy cent on the rates al
lowed by the law Of 1919"
Ia word, every one except Mr.. Gideon says,
Tor the ordinary work. the present price is not too
high IL 10 only where the number goes beyond
oOOO copies, that they pretend reduction should be
made Where, then, is the FAULT In this House,
10 ordering enormous editions Of useless trash. The
m.jortes OF both political parties have ordered
thousands Of heavy documents, and then the gen.
llsman from Kentucky comes in and makes a VIC.
lent attack upon the pubic printers for their profits
and upon the democratic party Of this House. Mr..
b. had not voted for heavy edition since he had
been herei there had been but one, the correspon-
dence in relation to the Mexican war, and the Ore
gon question. Thh he thought should have been
Tad ks,f .Fsk D.. IaE
snd other documents, he had never voted the print
ing Of large editions.
In conclusion, as his time had nearly expired, he
wished to say TO the House. after most careful ex-
animation Of the subject that IL was impossible TO
give this bill a retrospective operation without a
most palpable violation ofthe contract In the sec
ond place, from the testimony Of Mr.. Riyes, Mr..
Trenholm, and Mr.. Grouard, IL was demonstrated
that the calculations OF the gentleman, based on the
figures OF Mr.. Gideon, were most extravagant; that
they included scarcely one-hsf the items Of expen.
dhure, and, In his opinion, the whole thing was
got up merely for political effect.
Mr.. kArHBUN obtained the floor.
Mr.. @. DAVIS asked him TO yield TO allow him
personal explanation in regard to remarks OF Mr..
BArLY.
Mr.. X. declined stating that as, in his opinion,
the House were now prepared 10 vote and the time
Tor discussion had passed, he would move that the
committee rise with view Of offeriug q resolution
to terminate the debate.
The question being taken, il was decided in the
affirmative.
So the committee rose and reported.
Mr.. RATHBUN offered a resolution providing
that all debate on the subject should cease at one
o'clock this day. And he demanded the previous
question.
Mr.. COBB indicated an amendment, substituting
three o'clock.
Mr.. DRoMGooLE. Fire o'clock.
Neither Of these amendments was entertained, the
previous question having been demanded.
Mr.. COBB thereuPon moved that the resolution
be laid on the table.
Mr.. GEO. w. JONES asked the yeas and nays,
which were refused.
And the question being taken, the House decided
that the resolution should not be laid on the table
The question then recurring on the demand for the
previous question,
IL was taken and no quorum voted.
A second count was taken, and the vote stood
ayes 63, noes IS.
No quorum voted;
But the chair Occupied by Mr.. NoRRIs, Of N. II.
pre- tenn announced that there was a second.
The main question ION the resolution) was order
ed and, being taken, the resolution was adoplsd
On motion Of Mr. RATHBUN, the House again
resolved itself into Committee Of the Whole on the
state Of the Union, MIR. Born, Of Kentucky in the
chair and resumed the consideration Of the special
order.
Mr.. HENLEY replied to certain remarks of Mr.
G. DAVIS, in which Mr.. ID. had charged misrepre-
sentaton upon him, and vindicated himself from any
misstatement in his charge that Mr. D., notwith-
standing his great desire for retrenchent at this
time, had voted to restore to Gales & Seaton about
$40 000 at the close of the session. being the 90 Der
cent. above what they had taken the work at, and
above what Richie & Heiss are now executing
the printing for.
Mr.. II. professed some practical knowledge Of
printing, and, from thorough investigation of the
subject, he expressed his opinion that a reduction
should be made below 20 per cent. reduction from
he rates Of 1919. He had no feelings to graf
y against any one; but in the discharge Of his duty
10 his constituents to the public and to the printers
ne should go for this reduction, and that to take ef
feet from the commencement OF this session-as ac-
,ording TO his understanding the printers were elect
I'd With view Of the probability Of reduction of
prices.
He proceeded, in explanation and defence of the
provisions of his amendment, to give his views in
avor of the contract system Of executing the public
printing. This system had comr into vogue and
worked well IN nearly all the other departments Of
he government, for supplies, &c. After two con.
ract pans-one TO let out the work under the super
Iision of the presiding officer of each house. in con.
'exion with the clerk and the secretary; and the
'ther under the supervision of joint committee
With a competent clerk, practical printer-he
advocated the latter, but would be willing to take
he former rather than entirely fail Of it. Under
his latter system, the clerk, by attending properly
o measurement of printing, charges for double
printing, &c, much might be saved.
Mr~DOUGLASS obtained the floor.
Mr.. G. DAVIS made another appeal to yield TO
personal explanation.
Mr.. BAfLY was understood to express the hope |
hat it would be yielded, and to say, he, perhaps,
night also have occasion to request the same
avor.
Objections were made.
Mr., DOUGLASS however, concluded to yield
o each for FIVE minutes
But the objections being pressed,
Mr. d. resumed and proceeded. He observed, |
While he pretended to no practical knowledge on
he subject, that he had been inclined to think some
Their plan should be adopted for the execution Of
he printing Of Congress than by the election of
rinters connected with the political press; but the
'tter of Mr.. Rives, whose experience was great
pom that subject, had greatly shaken his faith
lie should not go into discussion Of the relative
,erits of the several plans but address few remarks
, another point
He proceeded to review the history Of the public
rinting for several years past. The minority
semed always to have been attacking the printer
the majority. When the democratic party were
/ power, the wing party had been loud 10