The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-06-13
CONGRESS-.
THIRTY.FIRST CONGRESS- FIRST SESSION
SENATE.
WEDNESDAY. JUNE 8 1850.

SENATE.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE s, 1850.
Mr.. Borland, from the Committee on Printing,
to which had been referred the question Of print
ing several documents, made report in favor of
| printing certain number of each.
Mr.. Hale, ascertaining on inquiry that the
committee did not know what the printing would
cost called the attention of Senators TO the facts
hold in my hand the contract for printing, and
Senators will see that there are certain kinds of
printing-bills, reports, &c.-which are classed,
and there are FIVE of these classes. Then there is
general provision that all other printing, which
is not included in these classes shall be paid at
| certain rate. The construction which has been
0jypp 10 that nrov;s;nn bvh he nntlp ,ript ArS 10
7 that this pamphlet, which hold IN my hand did
not come under any of these FIVE classes and they
made the price amount to some thirty eight thou
sand dollars for printing ten thousand copies.
Mr. Whitcomb, How much?
Mr.. Hale. Thirty-eight thousand dollars that
was the contract price, as the printers construed
it But some Of those who were interested thought
it wss rather high - laughter perhaps rather
higher than the Senate would be willing to give,
and they said they we're not willing TO accept
more than twelve thousand FIVE hundred dollars
Renewed laughter And that sum was paid.
Now, if these papers are printed in the same way
they will fall under the same denomination of
printing with this pamphlet and the printing will
cost more than one hundred thousand dollars |
submitted some time ago a resolution, which passed
the Senate, inquiring from the printing committee
how much Of the printing came under the rule
which allowed such prices and think it will be
prudent not to order any more printing which
does not come under one of the five or six classes
until We have received report from that CON-
mittee, and we know what we are to pay for what
we order.
Mr.. B0rland The statement made by the Sena-
tor from New Hampshire is correct, as | under.
stand it, as the committee have ascertained while
making inquiries for the purpose of preparing an
answer to the resolution Of the Senator from New
Hampshire That report is nearly ready, and
will be made to the Senate within a few days en-
bracing all the facts. 1t is proper that should
say that this large sum Of thirty-seven or eight
thousand dollars, which was reduced to twelve
thousand FIVE hundred dollars, was not charge
which came before the Committee on Printing II
was done before the present Committee on Print
ing was raised but the committee, having inquired
inta tha matter will make n rapport within faas
Considerable discussion arose. In reply TO n
remark by Mr. Borland, concerning one Of the
documents recommended to be printed
! Mr.. Hale said Il did, not undertake to say
whether it came under this class or not | simply
| said it became US TO know whether it was or was
not within one of these five classes or whether it
was Of class for which they might charge at the
rate of thirty thousand dollars for printing
ten thousand copies. That was done under the
fifth class.
A Senator. Oh, no.
Mr. Hale. Somebody says ooh, noo say it
WAS 80. You will find stated on the twenty fifth
page of the pamphlet the various kinds of printing
to be done, and then comes this general clause,
under which this charge was made, for all other
matter not above enumerated Under that clause
construction was put upon this work instead of
two dollars per hundred copies, they construed it
to mean two dollars per page for one hundred
copies; that was done under the fifth class of the
printing for the Senate.
A Senator. Did they establish the rule2
Mr.. Hale. | am asked if they established the
rule for themselves They did establish it for
themselves, and under it charged thirty-seve
thousand dollars; but one of the individuals inter-
ested addressed letter to the Secretary of the
Senate, and objected to receiving so large a sum,
and consented TO receive only twelve thousand
FIVE hundred dollars My impression is that
fair price for the work, as ! read the contract
would have been about four hundred dollars
On motion Of Mr.. Foote, the whole subject was
laid upon the table
The resolution introduced by Mr.. Yulee, re.
specting the Cuban expedition, and that relating
to removals from office, were taken up in success
sion and laid upon the table
The Senate then resumed the consideration of
the Omnibus bill.
Mr.. Turney spoke for nearly an hour. making
! severe structures on the course of the Washing
ton Union, which had classed him and some other
Southern Senator's with Messrs Hale, Chase, and
| Seward tie asked in what company was the
| Union found In that of the Senator from Ken
| tuoky and the Senator from Massachusetts," no.
not in their company, for they would not tolerate
that-but, swinging on to their coat .talsD Mr..
Turney indicated his purpose to vote for the bill,
| provided certain important amendments could be
obtained.
Mr. Whitcomb ofJndiana spoke for more than
an hour, in reply to an editorial in the National
Era. His remarks will appear hereafter
The Senate then proceeded to vote on amend
ments offered to the bill, Mr. Benton having
signifed his intention to move on Monday next
its indefinite postponement.
The question w. taken fret on Mr.. Chase's
amendment, which was not agreed to- as follows:
YEAs-Messrs. Baldwin, Bradbury, Bright,
Chase, Clarke, Cooper, Corwip, Davis Of Massa.
chusetts, Dayton, Dodge Of Wisconsin, Douglas,
Felch, Greene, Hale, Hamlin, Miller, Norris,
Seward, Shields Smith, Spruance, Upham,
Walker, Webster, and Whitcomb-25.
| NAys-Messrs Atchison, Badger, Bell, Ben
ton, Berrien Butler, Cas- Clay, Clemens, Davis
of Mississippi, Dawson, Dickinson, Dodge of
| Iowa, Downs, Foote, Houston, Hunter, Jones,
King Mangum, Mason Morton, Pearce, Pratt.
Rusk Sebastian, Soule, Sturgeon, Turney and
| Underwood-30.
The question was then taken on the amend
ment of Mr.. Davis Of Mississippi, which was not
agreed to;
YKAs-Messrs Atchison Badger, Bell Ber-
rien, Butler, Clay, Clemens, Davis of Mississippi,
Dawson, Dickinson, Downs Foote, Houston,
Hunter, King, Mangum, Morton, Pearce, Pratt,
Rusk, Sebastian, Soule, Turney, and Under
wood-25.
NAYs-Messrs Baldwin, Benton, Bradbury,
Bright Cas-, Chase, Clarke, Cooper, Corwin,
Davis Of Massachusetts,, Dayton, Dodge of Wis
consin Dodge Of Iowa, Douglas, Felch, Greene
Hale Hamlin, Jones, Miller Norris, Seward,
Shields, Smith, Spruance, Sturgeon, Upham,
Walker, Webster, and Whitcomb-3O
Absent, Phelps Of Vermont, Wales of Della
ware, Yulee Of Florida, Borland of Arkansas--one
vacancy in the South Carolina delegation
Mr. Seward moved to insert at the 3sth section
the following:
Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude
otherwise than BY conviction for crime, shall ever
be allowed in either Of the said Territories Of
Utah and New Mexioon
YEm-Messrs Baldwin, Bradbury, Bright,
Chase, Clarke, Cooper, Corwin, Davis Of Massa-
chusetts, Dayton, Dodge Of Wisconsin, Douglas,
Felch, Greene, Hale Hamlin, Miller, Norris,
Seward, Shields Smith, UphAm, Whitcomb and
Walker-23
Nsys-Messrs Atchison, Badger, Bell, Benton,