The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-11
From the Pennsyl ysnian
THE PRINTERS TO CONGRESS.

We observe in the National Intelligencer, of
wednesday last, report In relation TO the printing
IN Congress, made to the House by Mr.. Davis, OF
Kentucky, which we have read with surprise.
This bill takes a retrospective action, reducing the
amount charged for printing, under contract 20
per cent less than the prices paid under the bill of
1913, hirtytree and ons-tird per cent. This recon-
mendaton is not only harsh and unfair, but, coming
IRON Mr.. Davis, who is leading whig, and who
voted for the dOucsur Of over $4,000 to Gales &
Seaton, few years ago, when, under bill reducing
the rates OF printing, they said they had lost money
by their bargain, II assumes aspect Of party ma
Lightly and injustice which The records OF wing per-
secuuon viii be sought in vain to parallel. Il APP
appears that Gales q S<aton, the former whg print
ers To the Senate, have Just finished their work for
that body, for which they receive 20 per cent more
than Richie 81 Heiss, the present democratic print
efs 10 Congress have contracted for, and which Mr.
Davis proposes by retrospective process, 10 reduce
nom the beginning hirtyhrse and ons-third per csm
more Gales & SeatoD, for three months printing OF
the last session, received Sl24 000 at rates 20 per
per cent higher than those contracted for by Rit
chic e. Heiss, whose bill for "four months" Of tho
present session ia $40 50l 80, which Mr.. Davis pro-
poses stl further to reduce by his retrospective pro-
cess We do hope our democratic friends in Con-
gress will not stand by and allow this foul injustice
70 be done TO the faithful and able editors Of the
Union, when the object is 30 purely partisan and
malignant, We have no interest in this question.
We are not favorable To the practice Of allowing any
man toget rich at the public CRIB. But il seems TO
US that after all the reductions that have been made
the present editors Of the "Union" receive only
fair price for their work, and more; and we
think further, that they are entitled TO the same
prices that were paid to the wing printers, instead
OF 70 per cent less Ii Is evident that the estimates
OF the wing papers on the subject Of the profits Of
the present printers, are exuayagant in every par
ueular; and It will appear from the following e1-
tracts from the letter Of John p Heiss, esq, OF
the printers 10 Congress, to Gen. Mckay Of the
House, that their expenses enormous, and their
business full Of uncertainty:
Gas the reports both of the majority and Of the
minority OF the committee, made Goth Of March,
1910, show the great difference between the cost Of
the public printing and Job work, due allowances
are TO be made for all statements made upon the
basis Of the latter now beg leave TO call your at
tenuon to some other facts, entirely overlooked no
doubt, in the statements before your committee In
dependent Of the cost Of our printing establishment
we had advanced, 10 cash, for materials and labor
on Congress work, upwards Of go, 900 before one
dollar was paid us-fve and half months amer the
commencement Of the session; $1,000 were then
refunded TO US; and we again at this time about
$780, 900 in advance for such materials and labor,
independent OF all estimate Of profit. These mate
rails and the labor had to be furnished at all haz-
ards, and without regard cost from their fail
ure the detri ment to the public interest might have
been inappreciable. Estimates Of the cost Of job
printing, which take no notice Of considerations
such as these, must be delusve in great de-
gree"
"To show the entire sincerity If that were ne.
cessary) Of Mr.. Rives in the opinions expressed in
his letter Of llth February, 1886 it may not be out
Of place to say, in our negotiations with him for the
purchase Of the printing establishment, he, az the
vendor, had the candor TO inform US, the prices Of
public printing, cut down first to the extent Of Is
per cent and then again per cent more, were 80
low, that he thought, after deductng all proper ex,
penses, no profit whatever could be made the ordi
nary business oil Congress- unless the printing for beth
houses could be obtained, and the price Of compost
ton for each should be allowed. He told US, more
over, no profit was made on the newspaper it was
all absorbed in the delinquences. He added, how
ever that the profit on the 'long numbers afforded
ample remuneration, and that the success OF the
experiment depended on the order Of Congress for
extra copies. His letter Of llth February shows
entire consistency with his original declarations 10
us, and that if the orders for extra copies were not
made, the prices are already too low for the ordi
nary public printing. Whether prices should be
varied to prevent the accidental profits arising
from such contingent, uncertain orders, is for Con-
gross 10 decide. The chanees of obtaining the pub.
lie printing, and of having these long number" to
print, constituted the only pecuniary Inducements
for our removing to the city. We had satisfactory
evidence that the newspaper establishment includ-
ing the ordinary printing for the departments and the
ordinary printing of Congress, embracing every
thing except the double composition and extra num-
VI
but leave US with the membranes of the immense
printing establishment We regarded the prospect
of the Houses continuing its printing its old of
fee as favorable, and thought the increasing de-
mands Of the people at large, for the public docu-
mens, justified the expectation that extra numbers
would not be diminished. Under these views, we
encountered the risks and Inconvenience of full
preparation for executing the public work; and if
even more had been ordered than has been, the
profit is accidental and not regular; it is contin-
gent advantage or emolument to those whose ordi
nary wages are barely equal to the regular ordinary
work done. 1t may never occur again"
II may be Just to add to this, that the daily con-
gressiona reports never have been so full faithful
and graphic, as those just now furnished in the
Union and to printer 1t must be obvious that the
paper "costs good deal more than it comes to. -
The amount Of matter furnished every day is abso-
lutely amazing. . .,r.'I ..' ~, Z
Another view of this subject is taken by cores
pondent, writing to US from Washington, who
shows the effect of Mr.. Davis's scheme upon the
iourneymen. ,,.., ...,r..
Taken all together we regard Mr.. Davis pro-
posal as a very harsh one, and as infinitely mo
Of partisan movement, than plan to effect
healthy reform. And we hope in
Congress will take the view of the subject which it
deserves.
Correspondence Of the Pennsy lvanan.
WASHINGTON, June 7, 1886
To the Hon. Garrett Dauis:
STA: have read with a great deal of attention
yeur report upon the public printing; and is with
surprise and regret that have discovered in it, from
the beginning to the end tissue Of false reasoning
no doubt conceived in your mind from partisan feel
ings and the defeat Of your favorite candidate for
the presidency. You are no doubt aware that, it,
you can succeed in making Congress believe tina,
the congressional printing be done at less ex-
pense by adopting the contract system, it is likely
that no democratic newspaper can exist in the Dis
trict Of Columbia, which has been fully exempfcd
to the the entire satisfaction Of the country ever since
the establishment Of the United States Telegraph
That paper, which had been conducted with great
deal of ability, although II had received vast
amount of patronage from the democratic party
was compelled to stop 80 soon as il had diverged
from ito original position, and become hostile to
General Jacksons ADMINISTRATION The bulk of tho
democratic partyis among the agricultural portion
OF our people; hence il ia that the means are limited
for the support Of press which advocates their in-
trest in contradisnction to those Of the great manu-
featuring and ercre classes, that exist exclusively
from special legislation which the great democratic
party believe TO be alien TO the genius of our gov.