The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-04-29

and as an instance nat was unwlse he referred TO The
manifest deterioration the quality OF the public printing
which was now done by contract
Mr. GREGORY said the committee, IN looking over
the accounts had found heavy items Of charge for bind
ing but no liked rule 10 regulate the price, and that the
committee had determined, IRON the first TO adopt some
definite rule upon the subjects and they had considered
the present proper time TO do so, before deciding upon
the proposition TO bind the hundred thousand volumes
OF the Patent Office report at seventeen cents copy
Mr. kENNON further explained, that the object of the
committee was TO have the binding done in workman
IKE manner, and with due respect TO economy. As IT
was now, the printer contracted Tor the binding The
committee desired make the directly with the
binders.
Mr. STARKWEATHER added the remark, that the
Committee Accounts satisfied that the Patent
Olce report could be bound for twelve cents copy
stead OF going to the limitation Of seventeen cents The
OBJECT Of the resolution to place this binding under
the control OF the Committee Accounts, not to take IT
away from the printers, they will do the work cheap
and IN as good style others
Mr.. HENLEY replied TO the objections TO the contract
system urged BY The gentleman from Georgia, Mr. COBB
He was himself generally in favor of the contract system.
and he defended the experiment now being made with
the public printing from the charge that the quality of the
work has deieoraled under the effects of it, He stated,
and promised TO showmore particularly hereafter, that
the present contract would effect saving of sixty per
cent on the prices heretofore paid for printing
Mr.. KING, OF Massachusetts, further stated and ex-
planned the object and the necessity for the adoption of
Mr.. JOHNSON, of Arkansas. spoke in favor OF the
resolution, urging It's adoption especially in view OF the
saving OF five thousand dollars in the single item OF the
rose to express his firm belief that every honest
ought to denounce and expose the folly of the contract
system as practsed by this House He would go before
his constituents with this denunciaton, and show them
lis tendency interrupt and destroy their most reliable
sources of public information. He went for electing
public printer; and whenever the wings happen to be in
The majority, he sad let them give the place to their
friends press at the seat of government could not
be supported on either side, without the observance
OF this time-honored rule; whereas, if we so upon
this contract system, shall break down every press
we have here; and the press in this city was worth
to the people vastly more than all public docu-
ments But when you down to the mere outside of
book he said, he would go for ecOnomy because II IN
volyed no question which might njuriously affect the
intelligence of the people
After further remarks by Mr.. CoNGER and Mr. COL
LAMER-the latter proposing an amendment, with
view to equallze the distribution by the Clerk of extra
printed documents, under the resolution OF March 30
which ruled out of order
The resolution, reported by the committee,
adopted
Mr. HENLEY, from the Committee on Patents, report.
ed bill for the relief OF Oliver Harris read twice,
and committed.
Mr. CONGER, from the Committee on Printing, re-
ported adversely to the proposition to print report OF the
Secretary OF War, being statement showing the names
Of pensioners placed on he pension rolls since the 18th
OF October 1885, designating the name, rank, line, coun
ty, State, &c, OF each.
Mr. c. would take the occasion of making this
report, to reply to statement of the gentleman from
Georgia. mir. CoBBl yesterday, in which that gentle
man (reerrng TO Mr. CO. seemed to charge that this side
of the House had changed their desire to print the army
correspondence after they began to know its contents
Mr. c. well informed to the matter OF that cor
respondence when he agreed TO the resolution reported
by the gentleman from Indiana, Mr. HENLEY he was
He had changed his mind on this subject wholly in
view of the expense involved and SUCH he believed was
the feeling which induced the chief of the opposition
the order.
Mr. STEPHENS desired 10 offer an amendment to the
resolution reported resembling the resolution OF the Goth
March, in relation to the distribution by the Clerk of
ira printed documents which read, and ruled out OF
order.
The resolution reported by the Committee on Printing
then adopted
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
Mr.. HOUSTON, of Alabama, (by unanimous consent)
for the explanation of words attributed to him the
debate which took place in the House yesterday. He
found that portion OF the remarks submitted by him had
been imperfectly reported in city paperevdeny with
out intention to misrepesent the part of the reporter
another member and it therefore that he desired 10
explain This the first time he had asked such
thing snce he had been member; and he would not
now ask it, but for the fact that fellow member i'm
draw from publication any remark which might seem to
reflect upon him. In the report he made to refer
the gentleman from North Carolina Mr.. CLINGMAN] in
the following language:
" The charge against the Secretary OF War would have
been very serious If proceeding from any serious
spectacle source"
Now, he desired to say that he did not that lam
guage He neither said, nor intended to say, anything
calculated to reflect upon that gentleman, personally,
10 disparage his responsibility here or anywhere else
He regarded that gentleman with as much respect as any
member OF the House. and had to speak of him
disrespectfuy in any He had felt it to be his
duty towards that gentleman, the House, and himself to
make this statement.
Mr. CLINGNIAN On looking over the report OBJ
served that there was mistake am entirely satisfied
with the explanation.
The House then adjourned.