The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-02-03


est and most degrading that be devised by Congress IL
is Offering premium for having the work OF Congress
executed in the worst style. The issuing public adVei-
isements inviting proposals, and giving the work 20
the loves. bidder is practice founded on the rule oil
describing expedition neaness and superiority OF exc
cuton, or sacrificing them all TO The haicent prnci-
pie Nothing else be expected than that the cheap
material will be provided that can be under The con,
tract pamei of upon Congress- and that the work VIII
be done IN the most soyenly manner and nothing oa'
saving the contractor will be considered Delays will
take place. and if the work s slouched over, you have
no remedy but a lawsuit Sir, | am not very ardent
ad vocate of the doctrine which maintained in
this chamber that to the vctors belonged the spos,"
though it is good In It's place; but | am the advocate
for the rule that the majority in both Houses OF Congress-
and in either House, have rghta right that is founded
in justce-to have all their officers subject to their own
supervision and CONTROL matter what party that ma
ory may be- II the party opposed to me have The ma
orty, would yield to them as an act OF Justice The
election of the printer to this body In justice belongs
the party the majority. here That party is response
BILE Tor the performance Of his duty and they should have
of this system of peddling and hncksterhg out the
public work TO the lowest bidder, you may be sure oil
having the work done In an lnefhcient manner lou
offer a bounty premium for mean work, II they VIII
only do it cheap You offer an inducement for ire
sponsbIe adventures to offer to underbd the regular
mechanic and, if he does not cheat you in the work,
he will have to cheat his workmen, Sc am in ia
vor of the old system in preference to this was,
when first came here in favor OF the establishment
all connection between Congress and the partisan news
paper press here But as have ayowed on former &C.
casion upon this subject have changed my opinion
Experience has convinced me that the connexion Is
salutary one, il has influence in keeping the newspa-
pers right well as in keeping Congress right 1t is
sauary check upon both Congress hold rod over the
press If It behaves improperly and then the press Is
Now in respect TO public printers. ! have paid
some attention TO the matter. and believe that Messrs
Wendell Il Van Benbuysen have performed their work
as faithfully any men in the United States could
have done under the terms upon which they under
took it, and under the circumstances that have ex-
i'm IN that thew contracted
paper according to the sample which they furnished
10 the Secretary of the Senate and which they agreed
to print upon but the persons with whom they contract
ed failed TO furnish them paper of the quality and
the paper contractors the persons who are to blame
in the matter. The public printers had this alternative
either to take paper at all from them, and run the risk
of getting their supply in small parcels from different
sources, to stop their work altogether with ruin
staring them in the face by a suit on their bond by
could get, and go with the work in the best way they
could. for one, approve of the course which they pur.
sued. And will say further that, even as it is. am
satisfied they will be losers TO perhaps fifteen or twenty
thousand dollars. And hope that if they make their
appeal to Congress to save them from this loss, will
not be unheard do not hesitate to say that will most
cheerfully them sufficient to all their
losses and allow them for their labor, and have no
doubt there is not senator this floor that will not be
equally Just and liberal.
Mr.. KING made remark which was naudible at the
reporters desk and gave way to
MIR. PEARCE, who said: Will the senator allow
me to make correction of fact When | spoke of the
working at night did not refer TO the presses running
at night The compositors do not work at night, and
that accounts for the delay in the printing Of the docu
morning. told also, that typographical errors
arrangement The Previous printers had careful proof
readers and always read their proofs twice. which has
not been the under the present system only state
what have been informed | do not know anything
about these things from my personal knowledge, but
from information received from reliable sources.
Mr.. CAMERON. Will the senator from Alabama
allow me to make a correction'
Mr. ESG fTIssi s.ns,o from has
tainly been misinformed. The composors do work at
Acknowledgement is found necessary. This has always
been their practice. | will state another fact while
am up, which shows great saving by this method OF
printing. The report OF the Commissioner of Patents
cost us only 20 cents stated IS cents this morning.
but was mistaken. Under the old SYSTEM it cost us
Mr.. KING cannot understand the necessity of en-
terng into discussion at this time OF the comparative
merits of the old system and the newwhether one is
better than the other, whether there is loss OF mo-
ney IN inc one, or again in the other II appears % me
the question now before the Senate is, whether we
will postpone the time for opening the bids for this
tract until we can have report made whether we should
change the system or continue IT. That understand to
be the question and if that is the question, ask gentle
men why consume time in entering upon discussion
OF the relative modes of getting the printing done am
disposed to vote in favor OF suspendng the contract
perhaps to be made TO. morrow--n order that it may
be inquired into. | have not sufficient information to
enable to Judge, until those who make il their business
shall consider it and submit report Then will vote
instead of continuing the discussion upon the merits of
the question: shall agree 10 reconsider the vote and TO
adopt the motion OF the gentleman IRON pennsylvania,
to extend the time, that opportunity may be allowed Tor
investigation. That being made shall be prepared to
hear gentlemen on both sides, and shall make up my
mind after the discussion takes place but hope the
discussion will not be continued at this Time
The question being then taken upon the motion to re-
consider, it was agreed to-
The Senate then proceeded to the consideration OF the
said joint resolution; when
Mr.. CAMERON moved that it be amended so as to
sails for the execution of the printing to the 14th of Feb
ruary, instead of the LIST March, which was agreed to
and the Joint resolution then ordered to be engrossed
and read third time, read third time, and passed
On motion, II was
ordered, That when the Senate adjourn, be to
Monday next.
LEVI H.. CARSON
On motion BY Mr. DIX, the Senate, in committee
of the whole, proceeded the consideration OF the bill
for the relief of Levi H. Carson and for other purposes
and no amendment having been offered it reported
the Senate, ordered to- third reading, and was
subsequently read third time and passed
BILL INTRODUCED LEAVE.
Mr.. RORLAND, in pursuance of notice, asked and
obtained leave to introduce bill for the relief of John
Hutchingson which read twice. and referred to the
Committee on Military Affairs.
On motion by Mr. BORLAND, ordered that the papers
orfe in the Senate in relation 10 the claim of Adam ID.
Steuart be referred to the Committee on Claims.
Mr.. CAMERON presented memorial from merchants
and officers of insurance companies in Philadelphia, ask
ing an enlargement of the bounds of the navy yard
which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.
Mr. BUTLER prese Ated the petition of Mr. Byrd Page
clerk in the TreasurePs Office asking compensation Tor
services which referred 10 the Committee on
Claims.
On motion, the Senate then adjourned.