The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-09-21
The Public Printing.

The Public Printing.
| Since the attention of Congress and the press
has been very generally directed to the subject
| of the public printing, we deem 1t not improper
| to make few suggestions in the premises, that
may pass for what they are worth. 1t is not
our purpose to intermeddle with the interesting
controversy now in progress between our Loco
foco neighbors of the Globe and the Union in
regard to the three-hsaded dog. That belongs
| TO department of natural history which does
not concern the public.
The theory of our Government supposes that
| it is conducted by the people through agents
| whom they select with reference to their opin-
ions on constitutional points and public mea-
sures 1t is important, therefore, that the peo-
| pie should be promptly furnished with the in
| formation necessary to enable them to form In
! telgent opinions IN regard to the policy and
| the measures of Government. They must have
the facts placed before them on which legsla-
| ton is to be based Under different system,
where the peop.e have little or no influence in
| Government, this is comparatively unimport-
| ant. Where they cannot direct affairs, it is Of
| little moment that they should know any thing
| beyond results. The law alone is of import
ance to them; the reasons for it are of no conse-
quence. With the American people, all this is
different. They are Legislators by representa-
| ton, and they must not only be kept advised
of what their representatives are doing, but
they must be furnished with the means of judg-
| ing whether or not they are doing right.
The only mode in which this can be effected is
by the circulation among them, at the public ex
pense, of printed statements embodying such
information as may be necessary TO enable them
to form an intelligent judgment on public af
fairs. This, we presume, is the theory of our
public documents.
In this view of the question, it is indispensa-
BILE that these documents should be promptly
furnished-br they are of no value to this end
when they are distributed only after the ad-
justment Of the question which they are de-
signed to illustrate. That the object should be
fully answered, it is desirable also that they
should be neatly executed, on good paper,
and in legible type-that they may be pre-
served in State and other public libraries, and
in the hands of private individuals, for the pur-
pose of consultation and reference.
One would suppose that there need be no
difficulty in securing these results. The State
Legislatures find no difficulty. The public
documents Of Arkansas are as neatly executed
as those Of New York and Massachusetts, if
we may Judge by specimens that have occa-
sionally fallen under our observation. They
are printed on white paper Of good texture
and substance, and present page that is agree
able to the eye, and that may be read one hun
dred years hence as well as at the present
day.
But, while these objects are Of easy attain
ment, there is no denying that Congress have
failed to obtain them. The debate on the
admission Of California went on in both Houses
for several months, before even their members
were furnished with the documents indispen-
sable to intelligent and satisfactory discus
sion. Months more elapsed before they were
circulated in the country. These documents
.mbody vast deal Of valuable information.
They are Of interest now, and will continue to
be Of interest 10 all who concern themselves
with the history Of their country, and are dis
posed to keep up reasonable familiarity with
public questions.
We are Of opinion that proper regard to the
people of the United States, and a just obedi-
ence to the demands OF our institutions, require
that some plan should be adopted by which de
.patch Of the public printing aud its proper
execution should be secured. A penny-wis'
policy. it is found, defeats all the objects which
are contemplated by the system. Men who
underbid all competitors to the extent Of offer
ing to do the work for nothing, and to pay
something liberal for the privilege, will always
manage some how OF other to make up their Dc
fcits by tardy delivery or inferior execution, or
must contemplate ulterior party relief. II is
the universal law Of trade that fair price alone
will secure a fair article. The Jockey who I'M
derbids all Tattersalls, means to palm of an I'M
sound horse on his customer.
1t may be good economy to save few thou
sand dollars a year by policy which permits
the public printing to fall so much in arrears
that cords Of documents become yalueless for
any practical purpose--but we doubtit. There
may be good sense in keeping Congress con-
tinually behindhand in its materials for legis-
lation, as it has been kept for the last few
years, under a sensitive apprehension that
somebody or other may do the printing at a
fair compensation; but we cannot help think
ing that it is all wrong. We do not pretend
to advise as "to the mode or measure Of re-
lief''--but the present system is at all events
bad one, because it deprives the people Of
the information which they pay for without
receiving
| Loss or sTrAssoAf.-Ths steamer Julia struck
| mag on the Missssippi river eight mile above