The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-05-07


next session OF Congress repeat sir, thai the amount
Of printing already ordered exceeds. or, n all events
squalls an average OF 10000 volumes week, from this
now to add 10000 more, in publishing work Of which
100000 copies have been ordered by the House OF Rep
lesentaiyes Now, sir, this topic OF printing books has
been often spoken upon, that all efforts TO arrest II
seem TO be entirely unavailng, that will not occupy
the attention OF the Senate with motion though hye
thought proper to bring TO the notice OF the Senate the
important fact which have stated.
Mr. DAVIS, OF Mississippi, inquired OF the chairman
OF the Committee Printing. whether this part OF the
Patent Office report had been examined and, IL 80, wnat
was its character and what subjects were embraced IN
Mr. BORLAND. In reply to the inquiry OF the sena..
tor from Mississippi. will say that have undetermined
swer his question II is what is called the agricultural
portion oil the report As TO the competency OF the pres
ent Commissioner Of Patents to make report upon thar
subject and as 10 the value OF the information he has
collected from other sources am not prepared to decide
and would require time, in fact, than the Commit
tee had bestow upon it. have supposed that N val
ne i was about equal to IT, predecessor Wl n say
ing large number OF public documents but have con-
formed. in the report TO the practice OF the Senate ana
have recommended the printing OF the same number a.
last year The Senate Judge whether a document,
probably equal in value to the printed Tor the ast
Congress, shall now be printed to the same extent VIII
add that OF the first part which relates TO inventions, anu
mechanic arls ordered the printing OF $1,000 copies
The House OF Representatives have ordered the pruning
of $4,000 of the first part and 900 OF the second part
confirm the statement OF the senator from Florida
Mr YULEE that TO furnish the printing already ordered
Tor the two Houses Of Congress. the public printers Will
have to send out copies per week IRON inns me 70
the commencement Of the next session OF Congress.
submit these facts without saying one word IN support OF
Mr.. YULEE. wish SIMPLY to make an inquiry as to
the original cost Of each OF these volumes should es-
innate the probable original cost OF them as amounting TO
IS per volume which would be cost 81 100000 per
week for extra printing. from this time until the COM
meacement Of the next session Of Congress
Mr.. BORLAND will say to my frleni from Florida
that think he has placed his estimate very largely above
the Idoubt whether the cost will exceed one fifth
certainly not one-fourth, of the estimate. may be
wrong, but that is my impression.
Mr. DAVIS, of Mississippi did not intend by my
inquiry, of course to ask the chairman of the Committee
Printing as to the competency OF the present Commits
subject orupon any other subject at least upon any
other connected with the duties OF his Office. We have
extended this agricultural bureau in the Patent Office
to cover great many Questions, certainly originally
designed by law be included in that department; SO
that there is proposition in the minds OF many
to separate from the duties OF the Commissioner OF Patents
part OF this functions Of the government hold that iii
part OF the duty OF Congress TO publish works OF specua
tive philosophy or compilations OF agricultural or OF
any other character disconnected with the immediate du
ties OF the Patent Office proper wish that this may be
restricted, at least 10 what termed the ordinary numbers
OF an executive report and may not be extended 10 the
extraordinary number that Congress- has heretofore print,
ed account of the demand for it in the country We
must have limit somewhere. We have passed rea
sonable limit long since. We becoming the great
OF the country and unless this is arrested
it viii soon become Of the heaviest drains upon the
treasury doubt the proprety, and have always doubted
the propeiy OF having any other report from that depart
ment than that which is strictly connected with the in
venting OF inventions. l. therefore, upon this
sion, object to the printing OF any than the ordinary
number OF public documents, and | therefore TO
amend the report OF the committee BY striking out
that portion which relates to printing extraordinary
number of copies OF this document.
Upon this occasion, as upon many occasions, have
gone print documents OF the character OF which
we have had no opportunity to Judge The report OF the
ator is interested; but the chairman of the committee
does not give that information to the value OF the
work which ought to have before printing such large
numbers But, however valuable IL may be, we ought
not 10 make Congress pay for the publication and The
OF such information throughout the country
Mr.. YULEE. In respect TO the cost Of this book. OF
which made an inquiry just now, may have over.es-
from Arkansas mr. BoRIASDl that il simply the
expense of printing which is involved in this matter
include the expense OF printing the expense OF folding
binding DESTRUCTION, and transportation, and very many
items, all OF which, inclined 10 think, when CON-
bined will not fall short OF s. per volume.
Mr. TURNEY. hope that The Senate will not adopt
that motion to amend, The increase OF which the
tor from Mississippi Mr. DAvIsl complains in the num-
Der OF volumes already ordered to be printed of public
which seems TO have become such an evil
does not extend to this document but TO other documents
perhaps lar less important, and OF them certainly
much less important This Is document OF more value
perhaps than any other printed during the present session
OF Congress The number reported by the committee
000-is precisely the number printed al the last session
OF Congress- and there is therefore, evil growing up
in the printing of this document The sole OF CON-
plant rs IN relation 10 other documents, OF which large
number has already been ordered TO be printed. But
the Senate has acted wrong hastily ordering these doc
umens 10 be printed, II Is reason why should re-
duce the number OF the Patent Office report | am op-
posed TO this notion am in favor OF the reform; but
let the reform fall upon other documents. and not upon
the called for by all classes Of the people hope
that the amendment will not prevail.
Mr.. RUSK. viii say but word, sir admit fully
the ioce OF the observation made that printing
great many public documents have no sort OF doubt
that there ought TO be reform. We print apprehend,
too many Presidents messages with the accompanying
documents which are temporary and political In their
IL Is the same with great many other documents We
PRINT documents called for by the various interests OF the
country commercial, manufacturing other interests
and print them in large numbers This is the only docu.
ment issued BY the government sought for by that large
class ~ the community. the agricultural class and so
called upon four times often by individuals OF my con-
suuents IN various parts OF the United States for these
for any other documents published BY Con-
gress seems TO me that il we begin reform we should
begin in those documents which are temporary and po
litcai rather than In this, which Is permanent aud ag
upon frequently for this document but have been in
formed by intelligent agricultural men, that il is vastly
the best document printed by Congress- While in the
way Of reform, hope we shall begin upon others and
not upon The best document printed BY Congress.
Mr.. DAVIS. II must begin somew where; and the OBJ
lection 10 beginning with the Patent Office report that IL
u OF an attractive character me OF little weight
because II Congress will publish any other book with
plates and bind IT, and send il free OF expense have no
doubt that every senator will have calls for IL Il is