Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-08-12
Public Printing.

labilsh the true rc'e hue principle.
Public Printing.
We have looked with some interest aud
no little disgust at the course OF the House
OF Representatives in Congress, and many
editors and public speakers on this sub
jec,. Ii has been party hoby, and much
6emagogjsm has been displayed in the use
thereof with politicians in their patriotic
appeals to the people. And the wings
have been railing out most furiously against
the enormous fees paid to the present prin'
tiers to Congress. With what consistency,
reader, you may Judge.
The history Of the public printing is a
lite curious and instIucting. The prices
were fixed by joint resolution Of both
houses Of Congress, Of 1919, and much
lower thar had been paid previous to that
time. They SO continued up to lslO.-
The price fixed by The resolution of 1919,
was paid alike to Wing AMI Democrat,
Conservative and Nullifer,-whocyer was
elected public printer.
il will be remembered, that during the
sessions Of 1889 and 1910, every subject
Of expenditure was seized upon and made
a matter Of comment for the coming con-
Test in the election Of President, Ogle.
ism then prevailed TO a very considerable
extent, and the charge of extravaganza
was applied 10 every item of expenditure.
The subject Of printing was releted to
a committee--a majority of which recon-
mended a reduction Of Is per cent. and
the minority 20 per cent, The report Of
the majority was adopted, and al the next
session Blair IL Rives performed the prln
Ing Gi Is pea cent. below the charges of
1919. And this, be it remembered, was
the lowest rate at which the printing had
been done. But, even at This, the wings
were not satisfied, and made reports to
show that a greater reduction Should be
made, aud Gales and Scaton, editors Of
the IntelHgeHcer, the wing journal, made
their estimates, and stated that they could
do the printing at 20 per cent. less than
the rates If 1919, and per cent. less
than Blair and Hives had received.
The wings made strong promises Of re-
lrenchmont aud came into power, and al
the extra session Of lSI0, both houses
passed a resolution reducing the pay for
printing ~ per cent. lower than in 1919,
and under this contract, Gales 6, Sea.
ton were elected printers to the House,
and Thomas Allen to the Senate They
executed the printing for two years at that
price which Gales &. Sealon had said was
sufficient, Yet, on The Sd March, at the
expiration of The session, the wing Con-
gress, by wing vote, restored to them
the rates Of 1919, for the printing which
they had done for the two sessions under
q contract at 2O per cent. less than the
rates Of 1919. Thus the House gave TO
Gales u Scaton the sum of S30.334, and
the Senate to Allen the sum of S9,680-
in addition to the price at which they had
contracted 10 10 the work, and in addition
to what Gales Il Seaton had said would be
sufficient compensation. Pretty good, this,
eh for the uniyersuIy-promise keeping
wing party.
Perhaps they had presentiment, that,
the people had judged, and would con-
denim, them, as lhoy did.
AT the next election a majority of the
members elected 10 the House were demo.
Gratis. The wings were in small ma
jori'y in the Senate. Well, the House
again reduced the printing Ia per cent
below the rates of 1919, and Blair e. Rivos
were elected, and did the printing a, that
price and the Senate elected Gales g. Sea.
ton (modest fellows printers to the Sen.
ate, aud gave them the rates of lS19-l5
per cent. more than Blair g. Riyes were
receiving. Thus, for the same amount of
work, Blair 4 Riyos received SS5, and
Gales s. Seaton 500,
Thus the Democrats reduced the prin.