The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-05-18
OatrsHe by the Postmaster General upon the rights
Poor Msohaaics.

I'VE publish the following correspondence without
comment except to remark that the Messrs Greer are.
as they state poorAnechancs of this city, engaged in the
business of printing upon which they depend for living
They known to be honest, Industrious and worthy
men, and valuable members OF this community The
Messrs Gideon, to whom the work to which they
titled by their contract wasgven by the Postmaster Cen
eral, we understand wealthy and stand in
need OF the humble pance which they have thus wres
ed from their poor brother printers through the injustice
of public functonary, to reward them for partisan
vices Their own magnanimity and sense of justice
should have forbidden this STOPPING the part of the
Postmaster General to act SO gnobe and unworthy
of his high station, to Them In long po-
litical life, we have known dsreputabla
procedure than this, the part of dressed in q
little brief authorty" and it shows with what reckless
and audacious disregard of public faith and prvsts
right now in the high places Of the govern
ment exercise their i'll. gotten power But such unus-
tabe acts this will bring retrbuton upon them
Such acts these should not be permitted TO bring dis
honor and disgrace upon the government
| WASHINGTON. May Is, Is49,
SIR We ask the privilege of laying before the people of
the United Sates through the columns Of the Union fol-
lowing letters, with brief of the wrong and In
Justice which have suffered at the hands of the Post
General; which General Zachary Taylor, the Pres
iden of the United States, has neglected TO inquire into
| and redress
then Postmaster General the printing for the
Post Office Department for the term of four years. we bc
ing the lowest bidders, and therefore, according to law
eatited the contract. which went into operation
the LIST of July, l547. Immediately after the
ton of contract, commenced doing the print.
ing for the Post Office Department, and continued
do it until the present administration came into pow
e; when it was, without cause or notice. taken from
Notwithstanding the mutual stipulatons which
tanned, and which equally binding upon the Post
Office Department and us, and given Messrs J. u
G.. S. Gideon, well known wing printers in this city
Having heard of the character which Fz Henry Warren
bears far his honesty aud integrity concerned.
and also judging from the and understandable viola
ton Of law we'll as the solemn obligations of contract
which the involved, believed that the wrong Of
which complain done by his order and direction
Under impression addressed the letto the Post
masor General Uucob CoilameD which copy below
asking redress for this violation of
But from that this Mr. Colamer has deiXned
reply letter, or notice our complaint
Having waited reasonable time to hear from Mr. Cola
aler laid the before Gen Taylor, aud asked him
redress wrongs will he by the copy of our
letter him, which will also be found below. But he also
has treated complaints with silence aud contempt
thus permitting this gross outrage upon private rights
| to pass without robuko redress.
We humble and poor mechanics, and have not the
carry controversy with the in pow
er who have wronged We therefore have means Of
obtaining redress Tor the injustice which have suffered
and to Congress We appeal the American people,
and ask ,hem if submit to be despoied Of our 10.
gal rights and Of obtaining honest living al.
though be democrats and poor mechanics And We
shall apply Congress for the losses we
have sustained by this and unnsable violation
with Of the departments Of the govern
mcn which made in accordance with the provisions
directions of OF Congress, and which has been
on our part faithfully executed
/ We are, respectfully, your obedent servants.
i WIN. u J. c. GREER
! To THOMAS Richie, esq
/ WASHINGTON, March 81, lS49.
SIR: By an Of Congress approved Angus, g. 1912,
H. enacted that all the printing for tho exec
departments should thereafter BIO let to the lowest
bidder, giving adequate security for its faithful perform
ance.
About two wears ago. the Post Office apartment, in
pursuance OF that law, advertised for proposals do its
printing for fo y,ars aud being tbs lowest bidders the
contract assigned We adeq aate security,
and up the present time have rendered the services
CURED by contract.
Having incidentally learned your Second Assist
in violation OF law and contract rights had sent Job
of printing another called him for explanation,
and informed that he had done o. erpsa d..
| rections
We cannot but think that you are under some wrong
preston matter and tho object OF this conmunica.
ton call your attention it, and request such direc-
tons to your subordnaes may hereafter secure to US
our contract, rights Tho favor of speedy reply is re-
| quested.
4 Very respectfully. your obedient servants,
| WIN. q J. G. GREER.
| Hon. JACOB CoLLAMgR, Postmaster General
I WASHINGTON, April IS, lS49.
| RESPECTED We poor men, printers, and demo-
Gratis depending labor for the support OF our
| selves and families. 1t is not however, rs supplcans
that approach you, but eenen, whose rights have
been ramped upon through violation OF the la VS. OF tho
United States by for whose official you re'
sponsibe.
To place in its light it is necessary to look
back years At the December session OF Congress-
1893 propiso xed section in the approPra-
ton BILL the essential parts OF which in the following
words, Wis
"Prorided, That the printing of said Biennial Register
and the printing stationery, and binding Oh each o i0
executive deparn shall be furnished by CONTRACT pro
posals for which shall be regularly advertised Tor n Inc
far the proposals and acceptance shall en-
able the be made be given 10 the lowest pioue
whose bid shall be accompanied with proper estinohia"
of the ability of the bidder TO fulfil the contract
In obedience this law, the executive departments con-
tnued their job printing stationery, and binding
the bidders until 1884, when, without any chahse
of law the members of the cabinet under Genef@
Harrison, gave out their printing to whomsoeVef ,
pleased, in disregard Of the rights of the contractors o.
whom we were They endeavored to JUSTIFY "''
course the ground that the provision OIL was aPp
Bile only the appropriation contained IN the oil'