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

In laying before our readers tho following re-
marks by General Bayly, in the House Of Repre-
sentatves en- the subject Of the public printing
do not deem il necessary to add single word to the
argument az stated by him against rsirOspsctiUs gs
iaion by Congress in relation TO the public printing
in 30 far as it has been already done at our Office
Were II not our own case which was at issue, we
should scarcely hesitate to say that the views stated
with 30 much clearness and force by General Bayly
would carry with them rresstbly great force. Even
with the interest We have in the question, we must
be permitted to say that Congress will probably per
eeive the strength Of the case thus presented We
know that General Bayly has spoken entirely from
his own convictions upon the subject. We know
well that he would not wish US to acknowledge
as personal favor to ourselves the views which
no has thus maintained in the performance Of
his public duty. Still we must be permitted to
MARYLAND the intimate association of years war
rants US in at least this recogntionthat there ID no
other quarter in which personally or politically the
advocacy Of our rights and interests would have
been more gratifying to US.
The character of General Bayly will speak for
itself five did not stand in the relation in which
we now do towards him, and in which our cause
now stands, we should not hesitate to say how
highly we appreciated the advocate as we'll as his
arguments;
Remark, Of Mr.. BAfLY, Of Virginia, IN rspy 10 Mr.
DAVIS, Of ksniueky, rtiaiiUs TO the public printing.
Mr.. BAYLY said IL is 10 be regretted, MIR
Speaker that the gentleman from Kentucky MIR
DAvisl has not on this occasion pursued the uBua
and obviously the proper and convenient course OF
IN haye and he eVi.
denee printed, and made the order for some named
day. But instead Of doing this, he has come into
this hall, pursued the unusual Of reading his
own report, and lnterlarding il with comments and
although Is 10 great exteEt made up Of intricate
and Obscure calculations about matter Of which
this House is but little informed, Of asking il, upo.
mere reading Of the report, to act at once upon It
This is so obviously improper that | have no ldes
the House will do il; and before conclude shall
move to give his report the usual destination, and
rom the same committee. But before | do that,
desire TO notice a few of the positions which thu
gentleman has taken. II is due TO the public print
ers that the questions he has discussed shall not be
prejudged.
The gentleman maintains that the transaction be
tween the public printers and the Congress il not
contract. He says there ia no definition Of a con-
tract which would cover the case; and he insists that
we have the power to give the law reducing the
compensation a retrospective operation. Mr. b
said he took issue with the gentleman upon all OF
these positions. In the first place, maintain,
lawyer, that there Is no definition Of a CONTRACT
which will not cover this case. What is il These
gentlemen have been appointed the printers of Con.
gress, uader a law prescribing the manner in which
the work is to be done, and fixing the compensa.
ton; and they have given bond with security in the
penalty of $4,000 for the faithful execution of the
job. Here is stipulation and a consideration on
both sides, and it is to all intents and purposes
contract. But what 10 very strange, the gentleman
from Kentucky himself in the debate which arose
here in the first week Of the session took this very
ground. He then insisted that if we went into the
election Of public printer, he would be beyond our
control, and we would not be able to touch his com
pensation during the time for which he elected
Well, sir, replied TO the gentleman. Did | take
issue with him on this point No, sir; as a lawyer
could not have done it. But said, as was au-
thorzed by Mr.. Richie to say, that if Congress
duced the rate Of compensation he would either sub.
NIT to it from the passage of the law or he would
abandon the contract.
Mr.. HENLEY. Did not the gentleman from Vir-
ginia understand that if Congress reduced the rate
Of compensation, the reduction should take effect
from the beginning of the session.
Mr.. BArLr. On the contrary, understood ex-
actly tho reverse. When MIR. Richie came here, |
he was to this House and this city personally 3
stranger. He had a very great indisposition to
have anything personally to do in the election |
of printers. He requested me to do for him, and to
pledge him, to whatever thought proper and right
very strong effort was made to prevail on me to
pledge myself for him, that If Congress made re
ducton, he would consent to allow it to relate back
to the commencement of the session. As prudent |
man. it was impossible for me to agree to any such
thing. | knew from necessity that a large portion
upon the subject. And if | had agreed for these |
gentlemen (Messrs Richie & Heiss) to any such |
arrangement, Congress, after most Of the work
done, and heavy expense incurred, might have re-
ducod the compensation to an extent which would
not have covered expenses, and would have ruined
the printers. Nevertheless, the proposition was \
so much pressed, that I consulted my col
league, tMr. SEpDoN,l and, as he will re-
collect, he concurred with me that such pledge
should be given. (Mr. SEpDos nodded assent) ]
did not hesitate to vote for the printers without any
such pledge did not believe then, nor do be. |
lieve now, that tho printing any thing like prof
table as gentlemen contend. Here Mr.. BALyy re- |
ferred to several Of the calculations presented by
Mr.. DAVIS, and said he was satisfied there were |
great errors. Many heavy items were altogether |
left out; others were underrated And, he continu-
ed, it seems strange to me that the wings should |
believe that the present rates much too hugh
They are less by 20 per cent than they have been
since 1919, with the exception of the last session
1t 10 true at the preceding Congress there had been
a reduction Of the rates 20 per cent from those OF
l8l9-in other words reducing them to the rates al
which the work is now DONE And at the end of the
Congress the printers (Messrs. Gales & Seaton)
satisfied committee Of this House that the COM
pensation was too low, and the House, by the votes
Of the gentleman from Kentucky, [Mr. DAVIS, and
his party friends restored the rates Of 1919, which
as have already said were 90 per cent. higher than
hose the present printers receive Under these cir
did not Think between the election o
he printers and the action Of Congress upon the
subject, that there could be much loss to the gov
eminent in the great profits which these gentlemen
could make. Aud il was under these circumstances
hey were elected. Mr.. B. concluded by asking
hat the letters Of J. c. Rives, and J. Fl. Trenholm
night be read, showing how extravagant Mr. DAvis's
calculations were, (Which was done,) and by making
he motion he had indicated, which was agreed to.
On our first page will be found an interesting ar
iclc from the Pennsylvania, together with letter
rom Washington correspondent of that journal,
relative to the public printing. We point our read
FRS to them containing just statements OF fact and
'easoning upon the subject.