The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-03-02
IN CONGRESS OF THE U. STATES.
Thirsieth Conxrs..---Firss sss.son.
THURSDAY, MARCH ., ls4S.
HOUSE OF REPREsENTATIvI
The journal having been read

70 6lj The vacancy occasioned in the Joint Committee
tho Library by the death Of the gentleman from Massa
chuses [nir ADAMS j which mohon was agreed TO- anu
The SPEAKER appointed Mr. PALFREf'
oREGoY-THE PUBLIC PRINTING
Mr. CONGER, from the Committee on Printing, TO
which the subject had been referred, reported an otueI
for printing ten thousand extra copies OF Col howiSo
report in relation TO the climate, SOIL and productions OF
Mr. ASHNIUN avaed himself OF the occasion OF this
report being made, 10 make some inquiry ABOUT the con-
don OF the public printing generally Inc prlntE was
greatly behindhand and members and their constituents
deprived OF the of the documents to an extent
which was quite unusual Certainly The Presidents
annual message, and the accompanying documents OF
which he informed each member was entitled 10 re-
ceive above sixty copies far behndhand, that
they had yet been furnished with only about twelve or
thifteen-not yet one fifth part had been printed, or at
least received here II did to him that some meas
ought be adopted by the House to correct this mat
teeithe by dschaging the printer resorhng to some
other source of relief The time had come, he thought
when the House should do something give impulse to
action in this matter What that should be, he did not
know but about this he desired the Committee on PRINT
ing if they could to give now some information 10 the
MI WENTWORTH was about to ask similar ques-
ton of the Committee Printing He had been in hope
that the committee would have done something the
long before this Suppose the present were short
session, he asked what would be our condition. The
18th of March at hand, and the most i'm
portant document OF the session not yet all furnished
He had received several letters inquirng for the docu
mens and the public press throughout the country was
complaining because no documents were received He
spoke of it matter which should not be longer en-
dured for the annual message, which had been already
long delayed to be furnished now received only
one at time He was prepared 10 so for any resolution
that would bring the documents
Mr. CONGER. So far as the message and documents
concerned, he could say, that longer ago than
the latter part of last week he the printers on this
subject and they assured HIM that the number required
would be ready the present week. That was the latest
information he had of this particular order So far as
the printing generally was concerned, he believed was
I,f nhart ,aftf p ha
the subject OF frequent and continued complaint at
the commencement OF every session Whether these
complaints more numerous or better founded now
than previously he could not say But in relation to the
delays that exist he coud only say that within the last
few days the printers had assured the committee that they
had nearly brought up the printing OF the documents
ordered, that hereafter there would be of com
plant
Mr. WENTWORTH Suppose this were short SEES
sion, what would be the condition of affairs and what
should be done with printers that would keep back and
delay the printing of bill for ten days, had been the
case in an instance which he mentioned
Mr. CONGER. The committee were aware that there
had been delays IN many cases; but as frequently as
they had brought the matter to the attention of the print
ers, in every instance the printers had given such assu
rance OF diligence in their office by exhibiting the amount
of labor performed that have been inclined TO believe
that in short time the work will be brought up as TO
relieve the House from embarrassment.
Mr. WENTWORTH would like 10 ask if the commit
tee had examined the paper and general material with
which the printing was done, and compared the whole
with the terms OF the contract,
MIR. CONGER. L am happy 10 nave the opportunity
of answering the gentleman This matter has been had
under the most serious consideration by the committee
The examinations have heen made; and the committee
are fully aware that the work thus far, has not been OF
the quality specified In the contract We are also aware
that the amount of matter page not sufficient TO
satisfy the terms OF the contract-n other words that
number Of words The committee aware, also, tina,
the paper which has been thus far furnished has been OF
very inferior quality These matters have all been had
under serious consideration and advisemen although the
mi hoUn not of
to what action should be taken in the case Never
heess in auditing the accounts of the printers they had
thus TAR deducted per ceniage equivalent to the deelen
Mr. WENTWORTH asked if the printing OF the jour
nal was not as far behindhand as the 18th OF January
Mr.. CONGER. Not so far back as that
Mr. WENTWORTH How far, then
Mr.. CONGER. My impression is that the journal has
been printed a up to the the 18th Of January
in the dark If the contract has been forfeited il is the
duty of the committee report the fact TO the House at
once, that action might be taken upon it-summary
Mr. CRISFIELD Is not the committee aware that
this delay arises from the fact that the price for which
the printers have agreed to do the work is small as 70
preclude the amount OF effort necessary to do the work IN
season?
Mr. CONGER Not being practical printer, he was
unable to answer that question There was but one
practical printer the committee and that gentleman
had expressed his opinion that the price too low
With regard TO the duty of the committee in the case he
answered, BEFORE that the matter was under serious
yet determined.
Mr.. VENABLE submitted whether it proper and
right for the House wait thus the action OF the
committee But most of ALL he objected to the quality Of
the printing 1t done such inferior paper, that 1t
could scarcely be read at all Paper and printing both
Infamous that the work ought not to be received
when it comes Better to give up the contract and let
the printing be done elsewhere SO that it may be read at
least He had asked for printed bills again and again.
and the reply that the contract was too low to
thorize the work to be done promptly. In the name of
sense, them why not give up the contract? lie would
say let pay for the printing like and have it done
credltably and promptly
MIR. HUNT thought there complaint made
than was justified by the 1t would be remembered
by gentlemen in the last Congress that similar complaints
were made at the first session. He thought the docu
produced early and the printing generally
progressed rapidly this session, during the
pondng portion Of The first session of the goth Congress
Ii should be remembered also, that the documents this
year nearly fifty per cent larger than ever before
With reference to what had been said about the
tract being put at price so low that the printers could
not execute the work with reasonable speed, he had
word to say. He knew these printers to be responsible
men, and that they asked relief from the terms of
their contract nor they prepared willing to give
up But in making important change as had been
pected that everything could be carried forward without
unforeseen delay. MIR. H. in favor of paying
good prices for the public printing; but long as the
contractors perfectly responsible and remained
willing give up their contract it not for Congress
to propose relief for them Where there any inst
cause of complaint he would go as far any man to
correct it but it did really to him that there
disposition to indulge i'll censure not fully Justified
With reference to the complaint about the paper, he
understood that matter susceptible of satisfactory
explanation The printers had contracted with the
ufacturers for such paper described in their