The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-12-28
LN CONGRESS or THE u. STATES.


THURSDAY. DECEMBER AZ. is4s
SENATE.
CREDENTIALS.
Mr.. CLEMENS presented the credentials OF the Hon
VIM H. KING, elected senator by the legislature OF tne
State OF Alabama for the term OF six yeers from the 18th
day OF March last; which We're read aHd the oath pre-
scbed by law was administered to Mr. X and he took
his seat in the Senate.
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
dent of the United States by Mr. Bliss his private
WASHINGTON, Dec. "a, lsi9.
To the Senate and House of Representatives; !,
Ia Of the unexpected delay in proceeding TO
business, deem Il necessary 70 invite the immediate at
~ Of The Treasury as relates 10 the required
or the expenses Of collecting the revenue for the second
half OF the current fiscal year. !, ,.x,
On motion by Mr. PHELPS,
Ordered That be referred the Committee Finance
EXECUTIVE REPORTS.
The VICE PRESIDENT laid before the Senate re-
port OF the Secretary Of the Navy made agreeaby law
accompanied by statement OF the transfers OF appro-
praions for the naval service during the fiscal year
ending the 3Oh June, ls49 which was read and refer
red to the Committee on Finance
Also report Of the Secretary Of the Navy made agree.
ably to law, accompanied by statement Of appropria-
shs sS Of ne ai s4s which was read i
Also report OF the Second Auditor OF the Treasury
made agreeaby law accompanied by copies ofsuch
have been y o.
goods or effects, for the benefit OF the Indians from the
st OF October 1s47 to the 3Oh September 1s4s together
with statement exhibiting the names Of al persons to
in the time; which was read, and referred to the
Committee on Indian Affairs. and ordered to be printed
COMMERCE AND NAVIGATION.
Also report Of the Secretary Of the Treasury accom-
panied by report of the Register of the Treasury, and
statements of the commerce and navigation OF the United
States for the last fiscal year. prepared as required BY the
act Of 10th February. 1920; which was read
Mr. DAVIS OF Massachusetts expressed his grati6ca-
ton that this report had been sent in at so early day.
had been usual for Congress TO receive late in the
session to be OF little service. He would now move
that the usual number of the document be printed for the
use OF the Senate and when he asceaned what number
of extra copies was usually ordered, he would the
printing Of like numb number ssn slss -, =.
unanimous consent OF the Senate, the motion to print
must be referred to the Committee on Printing.
MIR. DAVIS. Will the Chair look at the rule?
The VICE PRESIDENT. The Chair may be mis-
taken in his construction of the rule 1t as follows
"A Committee Printing to consist Of three members,
shall be referred question on the printing Of
of the executive departments and all memorials, petit
tons, accompanying documents, together with all other
bills originating in Congress- resolutions offered by any
senator, Communications from the legislatures Of the re
ing committees Senate and it shall be the duty Of
such COMMITTEES on Printing 70 report in every case in one
Mr. WEBSTER. Mr.. President, the motion to print
which has been made appears to come within the provis
ion of that rule. 1t is quite evident, that mod
caton of that rule ought to be made, else shall
find ourselves very much embarrassed in dealing with
communications coming from the executive departments
hope for the present that there may be unanimous
consent on the part OF the Senate Tor the printing OF 50
without reference TO the committee. And would sug
est the hope, that member of this body, having
the necessary qualifications Tor that purpose would un
rule which the Chair has Just read.
The VICE PRESIDENT. II there is no objection,
the question on printing will now be taken.
No objection being made, the motion was put, and
Mr.. DAVIS of Massachusetts II appears by note sent
copies & Ss y S o. extra
use of the Treasury Department would submit mo-
ton, therefore, conforming with that usage-that the
of the number be considered to be for the OF the
Treasury Department As has been suggested by my
colleague this is document Of very great importance
and very glad to il here at early day in the
session; and rise for the purpose not only OF
making this notion but also again to express the hope
that the printing OF this document may not be delayed
believe that usually Congress has closed its labors and
we have left this place and gone TO our homes before
this document has reached II has, therefore, gener
ally come 10 through the mails II is a document
which the whole commercial community and all persons
who are curious in statistics, anxious would
therefore express the hope and expectation that much
earlier day than has heretofore been thought suitable and
proper this document may be printed and delivered to
ton will be enough TO accomplish the object in view
Mr.. HALE Before the question is taken, wish to
make few remarks upon the subject OF printing though
do not know that they proper to this occasion.
wish to be informed, sir, whether there is way in
which the printing Of Congress be done in such
manner that need not be absolutely ashamed TO show
constituents. made up my mind, after the last
session, that would never vote for Publishing another
document, unless mode could be devised by which
we could prevent Its being 30 absolutely ridiculous
remember, very particularly, the printing OF the last re-
port OF the Commissioner OF Patents the most dis
graceful exhibition OF printing that ever saw in my
life. After had distributed them around among some
OF my friends, they asked me II they used wooden types
in Washington. The paper was, il possible, worse than
before the discrediable and disgracefu exhibition
of printing that ever saw in my life.
There not oystershop in this city that would not
be ashamed 10 put out its advertisements in such guse
as the public documents OF the last session appeared
and unless have assurance that shall exhibit
ourselves to the country in little credabe light
shall withhold my vote Tor printing any more docu-
ments whatever.
Mr.. BORLAND. AS chairman OF the Committee on
Printing, would remark that agree perfectly with the
opinion expressed by the senator from New Hampshire;
and take this occasion TO say the Senate that so far
as | concerned, and think, 90 far as the other
members OF the committee are concerned, we are
resolved to cause the public printers to up the
standard by which the contracts made and that in
will any printing be received that does not conform
strictly with the terms OF the contract, and with the
samples given But, sir will say further that think
the main Of the bad printing complained Of is what
has been, az regard it, the bad economy OF the Senate
Instead OF paying fair compensation, and having
the printing undertaken by competent persons, sort OF
small economy has been adopted and the printers have
taken their contracts upon such terms that they positively