The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1846-07-24

ted by Mr. johnson at S57 900 Is not
this a gross and intolernble abuse-the
more fragrant, that the fruits of il enure to
the benefit Of Press recognized as the or
gan of the Executive and the champion Of
the party from whose action these enor-
nous profits have accrued
Mr.. Davis, of Ky. from the select com.
miItee 10 which the subject was referred.
made long and interesting Report to the
House last Monday. The committee had
laid before Mr.. Towers and Mr.. Gideon,
two master printers in Washington, several
documents ordered to be printed at The pre-
sent session, for the purpose OF procuring
from them a definite opinion in regard 10
the price tina, ought 10 be paid for such
work. Mr.. Gideons opinion IS, that where
the same individual prints for both Houses,
the rates Of 1919 could be reduced l6 per
cent and when for one House, 33s per
cent. and leave for the printer fair profits
in both cases. Mr.. Towers thinks that
whether the printing IS done for one or both
Houses, the prices OF 1919 could be redu-
ced 333 per cent. and leave fair compen-
sation for the work.
Inorder, therefore, 10 "cheapen the cos;
Of printing to Congress, and 10 separate SO
large an amount Of the patronage Of the
Government from the newspaper Press,
upon which It's influence is necessarily
banelul and corrupting," the committee re-
commend the classification of the several
kinds Of printing required BY Congress,
and letting the printing OF each class, as
separate job, 10 the lowest bidder, who
shall exhlbi, satisfactory evidences Of his
skill and Of his ability TO perform the work
as is now done in regard to the printing
Of the several DeparttnentS-andth thus give
the printing TO those who are printers by
trade, and separate il from the political
press, hich, though j, may be nor uuder
the control o: n man too honest and too in.
sensible 10 pecunlary influences 10 be sway
ed IN his course by such paltry conslIeIa.
tons, may hereafter fall INTO the hands Of
less conscientious and more avaricious in.
dIyduals. We can see 10 possible oblec-
ton to proposition which places the pub
lie printer on a footing with all other APP
phcants for government jobs. There can
be none, other than the supposed necessity
Of supporting an Executive organ by boun.
ties from the public treasury and that
constitutes with US, as He think il viii with
the people, decisive and overwhelming
argument against the. longer liberation Of
the existing system. Ii, however, the
House shall refuse 10 adopt this suggestion,
the committee submit an alternative plan,
providing that the printer shall, instead Of
tie present prices, be allowed the reason
able aggregate cost Of the paper, ink, com
position and press-wofk, and forty per ceut
additional on that amount.
Some change is Imperatively demanded
and, unless II be effected before, (oI
which we confess we have but little hopel we
will unite with our netghbor Of the Times
in insisting that upon the Wing banner, il
the next Presidential campaign, as in lhc
next Congressional election, shall be IN
scrlbed, as a reform OF no ordinary impor
tance-but Of far less importance III it
pecunlary than in its political aspects
"rHE DIVORCE OF THE GOVERNMENT FRO,
TIE PoLITIcAL Pass