New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-07-05
Public Contracts and Extras.

Correspondence Of The Tribune.
WAsHiNGroN July ,, ls49.
Your structure on a paragraph in my letter to
YOU published on the goth ult relating 70 the Pub.
lie Printing did not 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 as an item Of news, from an
incidental remark Of person engaged IN the business
II ought no; TO be implied from my remark that Gov
eminent ought pay reasonably and even literally
Tor its work that am Interested in some d" unclcNn
way in the job in question, any more than that such
implication should attach itself TO those who advocate
90 strenuously the system In my experience
here never have heard the argument that Government
ought To speculate upon honest labor, and certainly
did not expect to hear IL from any quarter and Al.
though deem It supererogatory, ssseverate that |
have no interest directly indirectly in the public
printing, am acquainted with the contractors
With one-Mr. Wendell nave a casual Acquaintance
have battlcd against the practice OF giving extra
pay 20 employees of tie Government where compen.
sauon has been established by law. have invariably
repudsted the policy OF voting extra compen' alton 10
clerks messengers sc buf 81 long tkS sysfs Is Is
sspered ~ C0gRrcss hold that or t o contractor,
ia as much entitled 10 the ben~ NJ of n when the CLAIM
snail have been seAno" dyed AS any other. Win ne
safe 40 So"',s'' asde by Congress for WORK OF Ha'
Sonh,aSl. e price which u agrees 70 p"s - ~
but nevertheless, 1t might not oe " JUST guy
equitable price Under the present state OF thinss sn
,fnot fair and living price why should you Nlsu w
xerpment 10 play the part OF Shylock and demand w
b,u eapcelne of the bond But IN the We" Mh''"
have taken | am not arguing propHeN IN lO1o"'u
g. nre,edents ad sfnna OF voting extra pay 20 con
.ysctors. vet | think some plan should De devise
,herrhv printers for Congress should nave IA
EQUIVALENT for their labor Until this practice oil YOU"
extra nav Is broken up equal lushce shoe'o oy euo"
q, al The remedy for the evil you speak o. SppI'
md 4. moi 10 be found in the simple act Of disAo~n
IN ,h,s nartcular instance. but IN the formation OF
plan which shall he permanent WHEREBY i~r PilN'
NAV always be paid by Government Tor any specs
labor and no opportunity eit Tor eNofu0n Q" 'u' "a
hand or oppression on the other. ., III,
am confident that the next Congress WIZ reSu-N
chi. ms,t.r of = extra compensation, ana sNste
which il frsusht with such evil tendency VIII Dc Ao'
ished do not intend 10 argue the contract ,s0'.
AZ al but hope may never be found sdNooS1uS ~
,vs,em OF policy which shall encourage UoNerhineh'
psttng the hard earnings Of the Mechanic mo Us Hu
pocket under the cloak Of justice Snd eoh'4uoe Q.
iterstnr my opinion as before, that Government oeS
70 paw reasonably and even literally for al rs woI
soysSsrS AsNopEVS.
II Why this bAbbement about paying NJ
chsnics a fair compensation The men who q
the work have received every penny they wall g
even il Congress should pay $4,000 extra II
contractors. who know what work is worth, rs
got all they asked. Why give them more IT
Contract System has already saved the Peep
many many thousands of dollars. Will not t
People stand by it I'd. Trs6'