The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-11

hs tooTk The main reason urged by our friends Il
us (priyaiely) to do tho work was that il would
show spirit of economy in the democratic party
which would assist 1t greatly at the approaching
d presidential election. One Of your committee will
no dosbt reeolect that this argument was used; and
he will also reeOect well, no doubt that the Ieduc-
ton ofths prices OF printing did assist the party
much at that election. Ii il did, the democratic
party must have been in very lean minority pre-.
vously. thought at the time that the reduction of
the pay and mileage Of the members would be more
likely to have beneficial effect the election, but
did not suggest IT, because did not think then nor
do think now, the pay and mileage too much 10 be
paid for the best talents Of the country which GER
tainy ought TO be brought into Congress; but il is
my opinion that il cheap printing be economy, cheap
legislation would also be economy, for It would not
be worth while TO pay high prices for enacting laws
which would be printed enormously, if the prices
paid for printing were no sufficient to pay
for printing them well. You have one notable ex-
ample If no more, Of what kind Of printing you can
get for low prices Il is in the laws printed at Phila-
delphia sevSrol years ago-he first year, believe,
the printing ofthe laws given TO the lowest bidder
There were so many errors in them that the State
Department caused TO be printed page OF "errata"
and placed 1t at the end of the book, where sup
pose II is rarely seen; for who would think of look.
ing at the end Of the pamphlet edition of the laws
passed at one session OF Congress for page of
'enaia'" The one that should first find il would
"
be bis interest TO tear out the 'errata." There
a whole session OF Congress- which cost a mil
hon OF dollars, rendered worse Than useless by the
erroneous printing of the laws passed II would be
much better not TO print the laws at ALL than to print
them IN sneh bungling manner. The common
law 10 much better and much more certain than
such uncertain laws-i say uncertain, because all
who are aware Of these errors in printing the laws
ars not certain, when they a Law with the words
"By authority" on the lle-page that il is not the
very reverse Of the one enacted by Congress, Of
which IL purports to be a copy, circulated by the
government have not examined lately the laws
published by the lowest bidder but feel confident
that they are not printed we'll for il is not to be ex-
pee,ed that tue contractors for government are so
patriotic as 90 lose money themselves, rather than
the government should be loser. Ii any person
shall expect It, he will look for what have never
seen, nor never hope to see.
return from this seeming DEPRESSION, which /
have not time TO pursue, and which perhaps would
not enlghten the committee if | were TO pursue it,
10 pertinent facts.
did not keep account OF the profit or loss on
the Congress work during the 2Gth Congress. 1t
was so mixed up and interviewer with our other
printing, that could not, may say, have hardly
approached anything like accuracy ii had attempt
ed II; but have no doubt made money on IL by
taking itnle and picking my time To do it-lhat is,
working but little Of nights and Sundays, when II
costs from IS TO 50 per cent more TO print than II
does IN daylight, during the working days of the
week.
When the next Congress (the 27th) met, both
houses passed resolutions advance Of their elect
ing printers, reducing the price 20 per cent below
those liked by the joint resolution Of 1919. As soon
as those resolutions passed, | called on MessTs
Gales d Seaton and told them that Mr.. Blair and
myself would not be candidates for either house. and
that we would not do the work for those prices If
Congress should offer il to us. Mr.. GALES reped
m hS al sNf hat al Il
friends in Congress had been mainly instrumental 10
having the resolutions passed. When the election
came on, Messrs. Gales Seston were elected print
ers for both houses, without opposition If recollect
right. They went on to execute the printing Of both
houses, and heard nothing more about The prices Of
Congress printing until the last night of that Con-
gress, when 1t was argued that the printing could
not he done for the prices they had been required
do 1t, and the 20 per cent. restored to them by
inserting clause in one Of the appropriation bills
to that effect.
When the next Congress (the 2sth) met, Mr.
Blair and myself were elected printers to the House,
and Messrs. Gales & Seaton were elected printers TO
the Senate The House reduced its prices Is PEI
cent, which was The same il had paid for the
Goth Congress. the Senate did not reduce its pr-
ces, hut paid to Messrs. Gales & Seaton the prices
fixed by the joint resolution Of 1919. The member
who made the motion in the House to reduce the
prices TO be paid to US said to me- that If the Senate
to restore the Is per cent to Mr. Blair and myself
The Senate did not reduce their prices, but the
mepaecS of the House who made the promise to me
fofr~ efss neglected to make the motion, and did
not -sass J worth while to remind him of it. The
Is per cent. deducted from us by the House may
have assisted to elect James X. Polk President OF
the United States, but am strongly impressed with
the belief that the IS per cent. which the House did
not deduct from the prices and the per cent added to
the democratic cause by Sias Wright conserving to
run on the democratic ticket fer governor of New
York, did more towards eectng the democratic can
ddate for President of the United States than all the
deductions ever made from democratic printer of
Congress.
Near the close Of the last Congress (the 2sth)
there was a clause inserted in of the appropra-
ton bills, which became law, reducing the prices
to be paid for the printing of Congress 20 per cent
below those paid under the law of 1919; therefore,
the lawful price is 20 per cent. less than the
printing of Congress was ever executed for, excep,
by Blair e. Rves, and per cent less than they
were paid for IL. understand the object Of the
twenty-four questions now propounded to me to be,
10 learn from me whether not the printing Of
Congress cannot be still further reduced and leave
the public printer reasonable profit That depends
upon many contingencies, but mainly upon the time
given to the printer 10 execute the work. the kind of
work, and the quantity of matter ordered to be
printed. If Congress should order nothing to be |
printed except what is intimately connected with its
legislation, order the usual number and require them
to be printed quickly, good paper, my answer is,
tina! the prices now authorized to be paid are not
high enough-certainly not too hight tested by any
OF the rules known to me for calculating the price
which an employer master printer should charge
Tor printing But if the printer to Congress shall
DC allowed his own time to execute the printing, to
DO it on such paper he may select, and Congress
should order great many extra numbers, then
some printers would make more and some less than |
a reasonable profit on the work. When it is known /
what kinds of printing are to be done, what time
Will be allowed to do it in, and the quantity, then
he prices which should be paid for it be ascer-
aimed with more precision than those for any other
work. But without these data, you might as we'll
expect correct answer to the question, "What is
bookcase WORTH" without informing the person
who Is to give the answer the size of il, or whether
is to be made Of white pine, mahogany, or rose
wood 1t is my opinion that there is from 40 to SO
per cent. difference between the cost of executing
ne public printing passabiy, and executing it well
md promptly. And, moreover, it is my decided
opinion that the printing for Congress has never
'een done as promptly "a it should have been done;
md !, may add, but rarely upon as good paper as
hould have been used