The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-02-05

~s1 -; vsis vossi printing and soiss 1spsT have
1 fi6Ini ~ Honorable chairman will ss,ss Win ~.
WehAve ~ but one or two documents printed a. this
sesph 1T th65 done better, CONSIDERABLE beitt,
and am fkd To- see IL Bot declare that am opposed
9 the Rlsa q Syns 70 these ssn anni w have bad
atone for tie printing Of the last session. which was 81
the very worst description which can come from any
source Therefore. am opposed to any plan Of that
= Mr. BokLAkb do not differ a, ali from he sena.
tor from New Hampshire Nh HAIL in regard 10 the
Oh !. q s nSs sS
ecued for at the present session pf Congress Of
proper kind. and is Of quality sufficiently good in all
respects TO answer The purposes for which our printing !.
the last Congress under that contract Tor the printing
then bad il has been represented TO be- SO far
as the design Of the printing is concerned permanent
record OF The transactions and business OF Congress-, the
execution OF il at this session has been % far hinder the
p the printing committee IS concerned, il win continue to
This question is not at all affected by that II is sim
pie provision that shall be printed BY authority Of Con-
gess instead Of The authority Of the Secretary OF the IN
terms Of he amendment. 4 does moi affect the terms
prices which shall be paid for printing, but leaves all
that open TO any arrangement which Congress may make
quality Of the printing under the present arrangement,
Be moi OF proper kind il will be free Tor alteration %
be made. stated that II was my intention TO submit 70
II the contractors not able TO do the printing upon me
terms agreed upon without loss would abandon the
existing arrangement and make another q different Kind
This however does not q all Affect the question pre-
MIR. BkiGHT. idesire 10 inquire of the honorable
senator from MASSACHUSETTS, having charge Of thus bull
whether he can give probable estimate OF the cost Of
all the printing required to be done in taking the seventh
census a8
MT. DAVIS. No, sir / cannot. ! have not made a
Mr. BRIGHT. MI. President. the reasoning Of the
senator from New Hampshire against the proposed amend
ment Of the senator from Arkansas is very unsatisfactory
to my mind The amendment oil the latter gentleman pro-
poses require the present printers to Congress to
form all the printing necessary 10 be done under the bill
before us. The senator from New Hampshire objects,
which the public printing IS al present performed The be
correct in this the fault Is much ours the officer we
employ tits In our power to remedy the evil II the evil
exist and il is duty to do believe myself the
present low prices paid our printer forbs the performance
Of his work in that neat and workmanlke it ought
TO and would be performed in, if more liberal table Of
prices established Let us not, because OF this evil
an evil in our power, and which we can correct and
hope will be correced-be guilty OF the still greater
Of transferring 10 the Secretary Of the Interior unit-
81 the and tens /. q
As general principle, am opposed to veslng IN any
officer discretionary power 10 exercise patronage and ex
pend money without Limitation. and ] am particularly
and specially opposed TO giving the Secretary Of The In
terror any such authority Here is branch OF the public
service to be performed during the present year. calling
for the expenditure OF hundreds Of thousands Of dollars
the item oil printing alone will have doubt looking
TO the OUTLAWS for taking the sixth census in ls40 fur
shng in part precedent amount to from two to three
hundred thousand dollars. Now, shall this sum (saying
authority contained in this billy be given the Secretary Of
the Interior TO be expended when, how, and as his will
dictates or shall we the proper and legitimate guardians
OF horeasury provide direct Tor the expend-
ure, with such restrictions will insure the completion
OF the work in the time required, and upon economi
cal and safe PLAN Our duty is PLAN and obvious one
Congress at the established rates. or provide for the let
ting it out by contract the lowest bidder thus giving
every citizen opportunity OF participating in the advan-
tages OF government expenditures
Mr.. HAMLIN. Mr.. President il seems to me thai
there is great propety in adopting the amendment OF the
senator from Arkansas understand The scope of this
bill there can be no reasonable doubt that the Secretary
stated in the section specified by the amendment Of the
senator from Arkansas done at the earliest possible day
and that i gives him an unlimited discretion as to the
ence draw from that section Of the bill II wrong
in the scope which attribute the section question
il the committee who reported the bill do ao desire OF
ing. far relates TO this particular matter, and to
place unlimited discretionary power in the hands Of the
Secretary Of the Department Of the Interior, then am
mistaken. | will state what believe to be the true
scope Of tina, sections and apprehend that the committee
who have reported this bill have precisely the view
Of the There are several matters connected with
tns Wnole suDect ana IN ORDER mat Wnen vote upon
this BILL may vote understandngly hope that the in
terogaores put by the honorable senator before me will
be duly considered and replied TO. What the printing
TO cost i see total sum stated OF one million one
hundred and twenty six thousand dollars.
Mr.. DAVIS, Of Massachusetts,, (interposing) Not the
printing That sum covers the whole expense OF taking
the census.
Mr.. HAMLIN. mean the whole expense connected
with taking the The expense Of printing exclusive
y as understand it, put down at two hundred and elev
thousand dollars said that invited the attention Of
the chairman the subject in order that might be able
TO vote iniegiby and undersandingy upoh this matter
when shall be called upon to vote on it. said that the
OF total expense estimated one million one hun.
dred and twenty-six thousand dollars Now, sir find
one item OF one hundred and fifty thousand dollars speci-
fed as being for statistical information desire know
whether this bill s designed TO cover that item and SO,
what is that statistical information TO consist of, by
whom is il to be furnished and whence IL II to be obtain
ed Are the marshas OF the several districts 10 be the
medium Of procuring H. or s some other class OF OH
Gals to be constituted for the purpose OF obtain
ing and imbodyng and presenting statistical infor-
nation directly connected with the Of the
country II not mistaken, the appropriated for
printing al the last censusthe OF lS40was
hundred and thirty dollars and have been
nformed-and presume the printer on that occasion,
whom present, will tell with all frankness-
that more than half OF that went profit 10 the
printers I desire now to know, therefore, upon what
l.. h.ss