The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-17

been elected to satisfy Of that fact He may, and
probably will sustain loss; but that Justify the
House In doing more than permitting release u the
reclamation OF damages to cover the loss already in.
Cured Il should be known TO the House hoe Mr.. Bell
5ssams contractor under what circumstances he bid
the public work al the rate Of which he now 90 bitterly
complaints In fine; whether he innocent purchaser
Of patIonsxe. without knowledge OF consequences to
Iesul ttcn too cheap bid whether be undeIe,d bona
fde bidders al The lettings relying upon the political par
sites oil members Of Congress TO relieve him from ~,
leuima In which he became voluntarily involved Whl
zee win what aim and object hs unfortunate gentleman
intsriered in the Of the public printing certainly
I'm, ire resoutions relate back to the commencement
Of he session. and will authorize payment 10 the
tractor al rate not only not specified by his contract.
but 80 lar beyond that rate that he will be paid Tor what
h now done more profit han would have con,ented
compstenl printer Tor the whole wok be done during
the Year. Tie honorable chairman holds up to your
view the fret part OF the Presidents message. and
claims that the contractor is allowed only twenty
and hall cents per volume Tor thar work He informs
the House that his resolutions viii swell that compensa
ton 10 seventy six and halt cents. The difference
amounts 10 about hundred and s,xfy per add-
focal profit We ordered fifteen thousand extra num-
q ne mssssfe mo scoc% ~, aocumen's. ac
compensation for Ms first part Of that document tere
being three pas will swell the printers bill from ioy-
6ve hundred doila5s, Twelve thousand dollars Is
Il possble this be just to the people we rep
rsseuti II this rate Of increase is to attach 10 the whole
public printing. how enormous the aggregate OF additional
profit 10 the contractor and how stimulating repe
don Ut the practice Of underbidding reservlng reli
ancs upon the machinery OF party TO alter the result OF
What was the difference between the bids Of the pres
emit contractors and those of their competitors may be
permitted suppose that printer Of experiences In his
fortune in the business Of printing for Congress, and
ready devote his time to the prosecution OF the BUSH
g s ~ Ss amer Ss sa
tsct TO realize lair and living profit II the bid
OF such person should TO exceed the actual
thousand dollars is not papabls that this House cannot
be justified in voting sum greater than fifty thou
nd dollars to these contractors for what they have per-
formed releasing them from the remnant of the contract
Mark. sir thai Of S5l 900 suppose the printer
have calculated his profit is it not certain that the point
q which loss commences must be lar below that
The representations Of ruin which have been made
the exaggeaons Of fear, Mr. Speaker of interest
We should look infinitely the facts before these repre-
heard much oa, Of doors on this point but venture 10
say that when the cost OF executing the public printing
compared with the rae OF the contract too per cent
n eover the acuai loss findeed there shall appear any
loss Let not be frightened from our proprlety, but
calmly to the consideration OF this whole subject!
matter OF very great public Importance No branch
Of public expenditure makes much larger gaps the
public treasure than the public printing, and none has
yielded large profits to the successful employees ofgov
eminent when adrolly managed.
But there ID peculiarly about these resolutions
which invites especial SCI utiny No similar instance OF
literally be found Of record among the archives Of
l u
osfed to this side OF the House. for which, no doubt we
should be duly thankful mean the voluntary partition
Of the public printing with Gales Seaion Is the capa-
city Of the Union Office insufficient enable the work
be done there Dot this tact occasion this remarkable
stretch OF generosity magnaamiiy to which par
ties not accustomed. Surely, il designed
body the strength OF both parties in this hall by the pre-
sentaton OF this proposition 10 diuide but respectfully
submit that curious spec men " combination, which
cannot TAIL TO attract ai.enou and which both sides OF
this House ought deliberately, TO examine before
adoption. II the testimony before the special committee
should exhibit willingness among The propre,os Of the
UBon and lnielligenc.r do public printing joint
account or that s0e shocid have moiy and that The
pfoprecrs OF another newspaper should have the print
ING Of the departments, provided IN by Joint efol
induce Congress TO abandon the contact system, what
would the count, hiak Of the passage OF these resou
tons alter the development Of that combination shall
have been made II the is wrong aoan-
dou Is II h right, adhere 10 IT, Ii you nd the proprie
toss of the press in their desire 70 the
Aw Of 1919 standard BY which prices shalt be resu-
lated, ana mud that they propose ~ 3D. 49, as SO per
cant below those prices Is Rates al which they will
eontraci, you have testimony before that the
standard j. very high. and the point At which business
will settle for lair compensation ia
vesusaton than enabled to-day 10 give to this
subject am opposed 10 the sealing aud delivery this
confod at this tme claim Tor the "crait" OF the
cousry another day Tor the hearing OF this clam
fcr The people another nyesugaion before judgment
represent that the SPECIAL committee only de.
ays6 ION pIetsnthB report oy the examination Of ,t.
and a. he is the party benehcIsy interested, ap
pears submit that, while his under hearing be.
tore the Tribunal 10 which proper investigation OF has
been referred by this House. there should be no call
upon the House to pronounce judgment Let come on
the merits
Mr.. PARKER desired 10 ask the gentleman from Ken.
tucky whether the special had moi caused the
delay TO which this now to be subjected by
refusing TO allow Mr. Richie cro-sexanine the vii
nesses as the investigation progressed and whether the
testimony IN cbe' not concluded before the commit
tee allowed Mr. Richie 10 recall any witnessesi
Mr. MARSHALL. IL istrue, Nr Richie was not p,r.
mitted 10 the witnesses the inyestys
ton progressed. Tue committee did not know Mr.
ktchie as the public printer, what be had 10 do with
The nvesgauon Ms. Belt. who gave bond. aud who
bid of the contract, and TO whom the contract was
assigned under the law, has minated a de.
sire 10 come before the committee, or any interest
piled Tor the prviee OF the Witnesses
and we have his memoir al under consideration, re-
guessing that he shall Be released from the contract IN
the lace OF this Dir Richie ayows h,msef 10 be the
pubic printer, and me pariy really interested But, SIR
be only oil the securities, and is known, under
the law, bidder for the contract Why shall
he Be allow ed TO nervenei He makes no allegation that
bis principal is insoven unable execute the under
taking Tor which he became his surety. Mr. Belt is
lournsyman printer, understand, in the Union Office
MT kdchie knows bis means, and kaew them when he
became his security. But, the committee had
several subjects OF general nature referred 70 them
lege Of giving direction to their investigation OF
those general topics, or OF proongng tina, nvesga-
ton BY eross-examinstIon. The committee, al an
early period OF their session. upon the demand OF Mr.
Rtchis 10 be heard, determined that when any matter az
fectnx Mr.. Richie man, in his properly, should
arise, be should be allowed the witness
Altar The committee had heard the witnesses in chief the