New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-07-04
Public Prlnting-Coutrnct. and Extras.
Correspondence Of The Tribune.


WAsHNGroN. July .. lag.
Your structure on paragraph IN my etter to
YOU published on the 20th ult relating 70 the Pub
lie Printing did ut meet my notice until yester-
day. The few lines which inserted in that letter
about the intention Of the contractors OF The public
printing were only given IS an item o. news, from 81
incidental remark Of person engaged 10 the business
ought not 20 be implied from my remark that Gov
enment ought 10 pay reasonably and even literally
Tor it, work that am interested IN some " unclean
way IN the Job in question, any more than that such
Implication should attach itself to those who advocate
20 strenuousy the contract system. In my experience
here never have heard the argument that Government
ought 10 speculate upon honest labor, and certainly
did not expect % hear ii from any quarter and. a.
though deem It supererogstory, asseverate that ]
have no interest directly or indirectly in the public
printing, nor am acquainted with the Contractors
With one-Mf. Wendell have a casual acquaintance
have bsttled against the practice OF giving extra
pay 20 employees OF the Government where cOmpen
satiOn has been established by law. have invariably
repudatcd the policy Of voting extra compensation 10
clerks, messengers &c. baf. long that ysfeq Is pr
.erfrtd By Congress hold that set OF contractors
much entitled to the benefit Of IT, when the claim
shall have been acknowledged, as any other Win re
gard TO contracts made by Congress for work OF any
description, the price which 10 agrees 10 pay Is an
douhtedy the only that could be collected By
Vi law Uut never tuclfr-. IL might not De - just htu
equitable price Under the present state OF things then
not lair and living price why should you wish Go
vcrnmcnt 10 play The part of Shyl0ck and demand the
tail csncelng Of the bond But in the view which
have taken J not arguing a propriey IN following
the precedents al infHuna OF voting extra pay 10 con
tractors yet ! think some plan should be devised
whereby printers for Congress should have fair
equivalent for their labor Until this practice Of voting
extra pay IS broken up equal justice should be shown
70 all. The remedy for the evil you speak OF, appre
bend s not be found in the simple act OF disau~lng
this particular instance, but IN the formation OF
plan which shall be permanent, whereby fair prices
may always be paid by Government for any species Of
labor and opportunity left tor extortion the
hand OF oppression the other.
am confident that the next Congress will regulate
this matter Of extra compensation, and a system
which is fraught with such evil tendency will be abo
shed. do intend 10 argue the contract system
at all but hope may never be found advocating any
system or policy which shall encourage Government IL
putting the hard earnings Of the Mechanic into its huge
pocket under the cloak OF justice, and conclude by
teratng my opinion before, that Government ought
70 pay reasonably and literally for all It's work
though the contract system should be smashed into
powder AsMopEus
~ Why this babblement about paying Me-
chsnics fair compensation The men who did
the work have received every penny they will get,
even if Congress should pay $4,000 extra. The
contractors who know what work is worth. have
got all they asked. Why give them more The
Contract System has already saved the People
many, many thousands Of dollars. viii not the
paonfa stand hV n Ed 7yIb.