The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-01-19
In CONGRESS- OF THE U. STATES
Tnlrsy-yir.t Consrs--F,r., Session.
THURSDAY, JANUARY II. 1850.
HOUSE OF REPaEsENTATIvEs.
the reading ~ The ;onrnal


HOUSE OF REPaEsENTATIvEs.
After the reading OF the journal,
that, having been reported in some Of the Washington
papers voting for E. B Robinson for Doorkeeper he
desired to say this was an error On the vote TO which
this report had reference, he voted for Mr. Henry Rob
nson, citizen OF Vermont, now resident of Washing
ton.
Mr.. McWILLIE. from the Committee on Printing, re-
ported two resolutions and stated that the estimated
pense of carrying out the first was ~ ,530
The first resolution was reported to the House as fol-
lows 8-
The Committee on Printing recommends the adoption
of the following resolution
RESOLVED, That the Committee Printing lie directed 10
contract for The printing of the maps the re-
port The superintendent Of the coast survey, deineatng
the progress Of the work during the year 1919
The question on this resolution being put, it was
agreed 10.
the report OF the Secretary Of the Treasury commerce
and navigation, also report that they have had the
under consideration, and recommend that 10000 extra
copies thereof be printed, the cost OF which is es
mated at $l,l47 The committee also recommend that
the same be bound in what is known as hall bound mo-
rocco which would cost l2 cents per volume or less,
not be able to make better contract. The committee
recommend the adoption Of the following resolution
Resolved That 10000 copies Of The report Of The
hs e On Pg s
to contract for the binding OF the same IN hall morocco
binding
Committee on Printing, stated that he had in his hand
la specimen OF the kind of binding which the committee
had agreed to recommend to the House for its adoption
II is what called morocco half binding, and would
not more than IL cents per volume This the com
mitee considered the cheapest form OF binding which
would properly preserve the document and i i was
proper 10 bind at all it ought 70 be done we'll The
number OF 10000 copies, which was recommended,
would give only about forty TO each congressional dis
rct which he did not consider too large nnnber Tor
he considered this among the most important documents
published by the authority of this House II contained
the statistics Of whole commerce and navigation and
was to the Yt h o. the amelia
| Mr. EVANS. of Maryland, thought that there
cost or style of binding, which the gentleman from
Mississippi [Mr. McWILLEl had not touched upon.
This was the and style OF printing all the House
are 10 be printed The wretched execution Of the print
Ing under the contract system required prompt remedy
The paper used such that used for
with ths paper Had the gentleman from Mississippi Mr.
McWMLIEl ever examined the printing for the various
State Legislatures that for the legislatures OF virginia
comparing the execution Of that printing with that done
oy order Of Congress, the immeasurabe difference will
be apparent at glance Yesterday he lMr EvANsl had
looked at documents printed by Massachusetts at very
little Cost, he understood, than that for Congress
work of like kind In all respects, the former was i'm
measurably superior II was dsgracefu in Congress to
have its printing poorly executed, involving as did
material OF the greatest importance 10 the future history
Of the country As printed, the documents Of Con-
gress unworthy OF preservation as they cannot
Be prevented rom lling to pieces in very lew years
The reports printed BY order OF the English House OF
Commons the library OF Congress, sufficient TO in
duee Congress 10 blusn On rejecting upon me descaTp
ence in cost but rhe. he understood Il did not
become this government TO submit longer to the present
one he haa 10 @
subject As he understood the law, il the duty OF
the printers furnish samples OF the manner in which
they would execute for the price named He wished to
compel the execution OF just contracts in accordance
with these samples, and TO furnish much superior
quality OF paper and work for the future. Docking the
printer few dollars for inferior work no remedy
in his opinion, leaving the printing itself wretched
the PRIMER chooses to make It, The House desired rather
the proper style OF work than the saving OF lew dol
lars Such documents printed for Congress should be at
east we'll executed for Stale legislatures, and such
as we should not be ashamed to offer to foreign govera
ments II reform in this particular be not soon
proposed from another quarter be himself would oer
resolution compel the proper execution OF the work.
Mr. T. further inquired If the committee had not IN
their possession samples OF the style in which, according
the contract the printing TO be executed! And have
they not power that this style is complied with
And have the committee received proof sheets showing the
in which this and other documents TO be ordered this
Mr. McWiLLlE lin reply) remarked that the estimates
and propositions received Tor this printing were based
on the terms Of the existing contract The Committee on
Printing would that the work was executed strictly
according to the contract.
Mr. McCLERNAND inquired whether the number re-
ported by the Committee on Printing was tho usual num-
Der
Mr. McwILLlE said he did not know certainly, but
believed II was
Mr. McCLERNAND was unwilling to cay that he
would not vote for extra number OF the document,
tsay 5o00) but he decidedly opposed to the large
number proposed by the Committee on Printing The re-
port commerce and nav cation was probably yalu-
able docunent; but, OF practical information,
was valuable chiefly in the hands OF navgators, mer-
chants, and boards OF trade II was such document as
the mass of the people would neither have leisure nor
taste to trace into its arthpeic details They would
rather refer to the annual report OF the Secretary o the
statement OF commerce and navigation, and OF the
amounts OF our exports and imports There would be
found summary statement equally reliable, and certain.
~ more easy OF comprehension. The number he had
proposed Is 000) with the number already ordered for
The use OF the House, would afford sufficient number to
satisfy any useful demand of the country IL true
that sort OF fictitious consequences had been given to
this document senator had lately moved the printing
OF some 10000 or 1900 extra copies OF this docu.
mcnt upon endorsement by him Of its great merits,
and that endorsement had been responded here by gen.
be the peculiar patrons OF and internal inn
povements but who have furnished qsite strong ev
dence that they favor these objects much Tor tue al
vancemen Of political and partisan schemes for the
nd vsncement and development OF the interests Of the
country.
There was another reason upon which Mr.. McC. OPP
posed the report OF the committee il this, that under
the system the cost OF public printing was almost
waste OF public money The history Of public printers
was instructive upon the point OF economy in that con.
nexion Upon the removal Of the government from
Philadelphia to Washington, Mr.. Duane was elected
public printer The system established by that elecuon
ned upti about ISL T. when il substituted by