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

session Of 1871 the first thing they did was TO pas
a resolution providing that the prices should be re
duced 20 30 per cent below ths rates Of 1919, or
| per cent lower than was paid to Blair a. Rlyes
Both houses agreed 10 this resolution The HOUSE
then proceeded and elected Gales a Seaton printers
under that contract, and the Senate Thomas Allen
under the same prices. His friend from Kentucky
| MIR. DAVIS, went for that reduction in common
with the large majority Of this house, reduction
to prices which Gales 4 Seaton said were sufficient
They went on and executed the printing for two
years--for three sessions Of Congress, enormous
amountundeT that contract and at the expiration OF
the session. the Sd March, their political friends
the whg majorities in beth houses, came Ia with an
amendment to the civil and diplomatic bill TO restore
the old prices Of l6l9-eyery man who voted for II
in this House being wing, il being strict party
vote.
Mr. GRAHAM stated that he had voted against
that proposition.
Mr.. DOUGLASS repeated il was strict party
vote. The wings were in a large majority, and ey-
cry who voted for il was wing. Some OF them
were too conscientious TO perform the act, and he
was gratihed to learn that his friend from North
| Carolina was one. Every wing in the Senate also,
with one exception, voted this graluy, in violation
OF the contract with the printers and in violation OF
the pledges given TO the people, and in defiance, too,
| Of all their professions Of economy.
He had before him statment Of this little extra
sumthis gratuity voted by the wings to their friends
W.
the prices at which they had taken the printing,
| SIS, 1884, and to Thomas Allen, s., $50.
But IN the course OF time the people brought a
just reribution these men; they were swept from
power in consequence Of their violation OF the pledges
given 10 the people, and the democrats restored
to power IN this House-the wings still remaining In
small majority in the Senate. What followed
They IN the House reduced the prices Is per cent.
below the rates OF 1873 and Is per cent, too, below
what any wing had ever done the printing for. But
In the Senate, al the same Congress, Gales & Seaton
were elected, and received the old prices Of 1919;
their friends refusing to make the reduction for them
and they thus receiving Is per cent than Blair
q Rives did at the same time for the work Of the
House.
Mr.. HENLEY made a remark, which was not
heard by the reporter.
Mr. ID. (eontinuing) said he had shown that the
only men that ever did the printing below the rates
Of 1919 were demoerats-the wings always having
been paid tho old rates, and even when they agreed
TO do II for less their friends having restored IL to
them at the termination Of the session. and that by
the votes Of some Of those men who now get up this
hue-and-eTy about reduction stll under 20 per cent
below the rates Of 1873.
Some conversation ensued between Mr.. c.
| DAVIS, and Mr.. ID.
Mr. DOUGLASS resumed. But again, (said he }
while the democratic party made oil these reduc-
tons, while the wing party restored the old prices
TO their faVontes, yet they at the last ses-
o
Heiss at this moment were executing the public
printing per eeL. LOtoe Than Il had spe been
done by any printer, wing or democrat, before.
And what did this prove Il proved that the whg
party paid high prices when II went TO their ia
vorites, although they raised loud clamor such
as we were now hearing, when their opponents
were in power, even while they were executing the
printing at 20 per cent lever than they themselves
had voted
He was opposed to this whole system. He
wished the matter placed on a fair footing. He
wanted TO see a permanent and uniform system es-
tablished. Let the democrats and wings unite; let
them appoint committee OF both parties; and let
them devise system Of public printing which
should take effect at the next Congress. IL not
now known which party would then be in power
here; therefore they could decide impartislly. And
inasmueh Richie & Heiss were now doing the
work lower by 5Per cent. than any man ever did it
doing IT at the same price that Gales & Seaton said
u was worth, and 20 per cent. lower than Gales &
Seaton themselves received at the very last Con-
gress as printers TO the Senate-et the present sys-
tenn stand until the one which should be well con-
sidered, well regulated upon better information than
they now had, should 60 into operation. And IL
the wings insisted now upon carrying out the re-
Irrespective principle Of this resolution, and thus
committing a fragrant violation Of the contract
which the printers had performed their work, let
them vote for amendment to reach Gales q Sea-
ton, and obige them to disgorge this 20 per cent.
contract, and what Richie & Heiss were now doing
II for-which 20 per cent. amounted to near
S40,OOO, which was voted a gratuity; and
also let them make the same deduction upon the
work which 1t was said Gales q Seaton were now
doing.
Mr.. GRAHAM obtained the floor, and after
few remarks,
The hour Of one having arrived, the committee
proceeded to vote.
The first question was on the motion Of MIR.
BAYLY, to give the resolution a prospective and
not a retroactive effect.
The question was taken by tellers and the vote
stood, ayes 4S, noes 6S.
So the amendment rejected.
Mr.. G. DAVIS offered the following amend
ment
Amend the joint resolution by striking all Of 1t AFTER
the word regulations" in the fifth line and in lieu thereof
add IRON and after the commencement of the
sion OF Congress that the printer printers Of the two
houses OF Congress shall receive in full satisfaction for all
composition and presswork of all the printing by
them either Of them, and forty per upon az
by appropriate committees of the houses from time
time, as either house direct"
The amendment, by ayes 43, noes 81, was re-
jeeted.
Mr.. DOUGLASS moved to amend the resolu-
ton to make the resolution take effect from and
afrer the LIST OF August next instead Of being appl
cable to the printing already done.
Mr.. J. q. ADAMS suggested to Mr. Dous-
LASS so TO modify his motion as 10 say, latter the
end of the present session."
Mr. DOUGLASS modified his amendment accord
ingly.
And the question being taken by tellers, the
amendment, by ayes &C. noes TO- was rejected
Mr. BURT indicated an amendment, (Which was
not entertained that the resolution should take ef
feet from the passage Of the resolution.
Mr.. JOSEPH J. MCDOWELL moved an
amendment providing tina, the resolution shall take
effect from and after the first day of August. Re
jected
Mr.. Mckay offered an amendmen, by way Of
proviso, tina, so much Of the resolution as fixes the
compensation for printing, where the number Of
copies exceeds five thousand shall take effect so far
as the Senate is concerned, from the commencement
OF this session, and far the House is concerned
from the passage of the resolution. !
The amendment, by ayes so, noes 6s, was re-
ieeted. sa-..a- |
Mr.. BAYLY moved an anendmen, by way Of |
proviso, that this bill shall not have re-
operation.
The amendment, by ayes 10, noes II, was re-
ectsd.