The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-01-28
NEW ORLEANS, MONDAY MORNING, JANUARY 49, 1850

extra Of the report from the Treasury Department
of the statistics of commerce and navigation and
also recommending the halfbinding Of the same in
morocco.
Mr. EUdns, of Nd, rose and made some remarks
in regard 10 the manner in which the public print
ing had been done under the contract system. He
said that the printing, and the paper upon which it
was executed, was a disgrace TO the nation. We
supplied, he said, England with our public docu-
ments, and received hers in Exchange. The con-
trast between those we sent and those we received
from that nation, was ipdescribably great The
printing executed by Congress was inferior to the
printing executed for the Legislature of any Slate
In Tie Union. He trusted for the credit of the
tlon, the committee would look into the matter. II
they did not, he would be under the necessity of
introducing a resolution Of instruction upon the
Mr. Melville said the committee had had no
specimen, under the present contract, by which to
determine how the printing would be executed.
b1r. McCterndnd said it occurred to him that this
document on commerce was not of such general
interest as to justify the printing Of SO large
large quantity. He was well aware that with
some this subject was made political hobby in
stead OF matter to advance the general interests
OIL the country. With such, no doubt, the largest
quantity was desirable. This did not, however,
establish the necessity for it, He then referred to
the manner in which the public printing had been
Always executed under the contract system. The
prlniIDg had been most wretchedly executed under
IL. so much so, thatit was the duty of the House
to repudlate it, for the printing under it was repu
dated by the public taste. Il was true that it had
Deen deiectvely and worhessly executed under il
lie had been informed by gentleman we'll versed
Ill this subject, that Congress will have TO order
reprint OF all the public documents executed for
the last Congress under the contract system He
was himself satisfied that it was a waste of the
public money to print documents in the way the
printing had been DONE
Mr.. Thompson, Of Ky, defended the action of
tha Nrn1Ntn Il L -
mittee had not passed upon printing such as was
described. But if Congress was dissatisfied with
the printing under the present system, let them re-
cur to the law of 1S19-establish the rates of that
law, and elect printer. Then the printing would
be well executed.
MT. Conger moved to amend the resolution of
the committee so to restrict the price of the bind
ing per volume to 12t cents.
The amendment was adopted
mr.. ncCIer1aand moved to strike out 10000
and insert 5000 copies
Nessrs. Fuller and Phantr remarked that to
their constituents the document was the most val
uabe that could be printed; and that the quantity
should be increased instead of diminished, -
1lr' thompson, Of Mississippi argued that the
document was OF no interest only to the seaboard
and not to the interior of the country and that 5000
copies were amply sufficient. He expressed the
belief that by commencing the system of binding
they were commencing great book business. He
thought Congress should commence a system of
economy instead of increased expenditure.
Mr. Garter said he agreed with the gentleman
from Mississippi, (Alr. hompson,) the subject
oil economy. He advocated the printing Of the docu-
Inent as measure of economy. The true course
OF economy was to publish to the people what tran
sPred here. The economy should not be commen-
ced by restricting information to the people. That
was false economy. True economy was to cut off
the moneys wasted by the loafers that hang on the
Government The gentleman has mistaken the
ways and means OF economy. He should CON-
mence by cutting of the paupers that hang upon
the naval establishment.
Mr.. Houston, of Del, said the document was an
important He advocated the printing OF the
largest quantity.
M. Stanton Of Tenn, was in favor of econo-
my, but if there any document that should be
Published 1t was this. 1t furnished facts, upon
which was based the taxation, revenue, and all
matters connected with the support of Government.
He was aware that in our naval establishment there
were some abuses which ought to be got rid of. If
the gentleman from Ohio would point out such abu-
| ses as had been described, and the mode by which
they could be removed, he would find that he (Mr.
| - had every disposition to correct them. He
trusted, however, that the gentleman not dis
posed to cast off those who had served their coun-
try, and who had grown old in its service He
could not believe that he had reference to that class
In applying his epithets to the naval establishment
IHr. Garter said 1t was not an abuse of old age
or infrmity to which he had reference. 1t was the
premature old age he intended his remarks to ap-
ply He meant them to apply to those who, when
introduced into the public crib, become suddenly
lnhrm' That was the class he alluded to. Ii the
chairman OF the naval committee needed aid to find
who they were, he (Mr. c. was confident he could
M Stanton expressed his willingness to 90
with the gentleman in the adjustment Of all abuses
mr. BTeek moved the previous question, which
was seconded.
The question was first put on substituting 5000
for 10000 copies, and decided in the negative
The resolution as amended was then agreed to-
The House then proceeded to the election for
Door keeper The following was the result of the