The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-17

me present rates OF and In the runous char
acer OF the contract which but private fortunes could
bear La this state Of the relation the public print
should be made even II the present. Contractor WAS 70
continue 70 struggle on with the printing. thar which 10 al
sion Of Congress. Your committee therefore with 4 view
the ends Of Justice and that the public printing may DO
panying Joint resolution.
Chairman OF the COMMITTEES on Printing
Joint resolution in relation TO the public printing
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representation Of the
United States Of America Congress asssmbd That VIM
Belt for Glasses Of the public printing
be his under the provisions Of the
oln resolution August 1886 for the printing Of the sst
Congress- and that he % paid a. The rate Of 20 per cent re-
q March 8. 1872 for all the work which has been de-
SIC O. dad belt further rss0fpsd. That Thomas Richie
| and Messrs. Gales Seaton be appointed BY the two
William Belt for the reminder Of The sist Consrsssa
the price O 50 per cent reduction Tor short nnmbers and
ID If March isis and that Thomas Richie and
Of The Senate ana the Clerk Of tho Houss 81 Represents
fo by The said William NJ Belt a,the Is,s aors
said and IN case any ncoave9isnt delay should DO, e
work. The said Secretary and Clerk, respectively shall DO
e s q me !? s sa
the there be, to the said Thomas Kitche and
SEC Had be Il h4rhs, resoped That all laws and parts
Of laws now In force not In conformity with the provs-
ions q this joint resolution be- and the same are hereby
Mr. McWILLIE said Mr. Speaker, the Committee
on Printing, in submitting the report and resolutions
which have been just read at the Clerks DESK have en-
deavored to confne themselves to the simple object Of
obtaining prompt and economical execution Of the pub
lie printing and the resolutions submitted the commit
tee believe will accomplish this object The COMMITTEES
satisfied that the present contractor will not be able to
execute the work ordered before the next session OF
Congress- There have been ordered by this Congress- Of
extra numbers which are be bound, 34l 900 volumes
Of haso been prInted. and the
hands the bnders have been delivered TO members
for distribution This leaves l52550 volumes yet to be
lion, and makes it apparent that If new system Ii
adopted the printing for the next session Of Congress
cannot and will not be executed BY the present contract
ors in time that will be satisfactory TO Congress There
has been great complaint made against the present con-
tractors for not having executed the work ordered BY
Congress but the objection is but apparent and not real
There has already been more printing done than has usu
ally been ordered by previous Congresses Heretofore
the Presidents message and accompanying documents
have made but moderate sized volume. This session
they make three large volumes Also the California
sage and accompanying documents which could not have
been anticipated, make volume Of 952 pages. The pres
contractors have printed daily at the rate OF 1000
volumes Of over 700 pages EACH counting from the Of
January the Let Of September at the rate OF twenysx
working days to each month. This would not indicate
ldchss on the part of the contractor for the public
printing One thousand volumes per day is great dss-
patch. t1.
by the House, because the change proposed adds
the price be paid for the public printing The
tract price for printing the first volume of the Presdents
pages, Is about thirty cents per volume The proposed
price about seventy six cents per volume The pres
en price for printing the report the finances s about
thirty cents per volume the price proposed is about
eighty seven cents per volume OF 900 pages Here
Mr. New held up and exhbited to the House the
volumes to which he refered:l Now Mr., Speaker,
submit TO the House il be possible for the work to be
executed at the present contract prices These prices viii
not much any more than pay for the paper on which
the printing done In this view Of matter the
has nm a rata N e0m
under the prices heretofore paid The lowest prices
heretofore paid twenty per cent reduction
on the prices OF $780, (unless for the hirieh Con-
gress) The committee now recommend a reduction
OF forty five per cent the prices OF 1872 And one OF
two things is certain either that this 10 low price, or
the prices heretofore paid have been most extavaganty
high. As this is oryhye per cent less than has been
usually paid, and twenty per cent less than was ever
heretofore paid. unless for the last Congress;
! Mr.. Speaker, the committee have looked to this AZ
practical question 10 how the printing can be done
promptly, and at reasonable rate OF compensation and
esy se now No member he
committee OF this House is practical printer and conse
quenly have had TO rely the calculations Of others
resolution proposes 10 discharge William NJ Belt from
his contract, and 10 allow him a compensation ut the
OF IS per cent the prices OF which they be-
Mr. Speaker, it would not be worthy Of this govern
ment, il TO take the work OF citizen a less than
hall its cost or value As an individual would not do
liz; consequently, member OF this House, cannot
vote to dot Strict justice Tin sense) might say, bold
the memorast to his contract; but justice should
be tempered with mercy and the aborer should be paid
the value OF the labor done. Much has been said about
the neglect and delay OF the public printing but that no
Improper delay has occurred will be spparen, By The
statement OF the work which has been done, (which viii
| be found al the close OF the debate tt fAt.
! Mr. Speaker, something has been said about q pur-
pose to break down the contract system and that the
contract OF the memoras made with view to this
object. Upon this subject have nothing TO say II h
enough for deal with the actions OF and leave
il 10 others 10 Judge OF their motives have taken up this
matter where found it, and have recommended 70 the
House TO vide the public printing between the Union
and lnielligencer Office because believed the prices are
low enough, and because know that the work ordered
could then be done Tor the OF Congress II brings 70
execution OF the work two presses, instead OF one ana
further authorizes the Clerk Of the House and the Ssc
rotary oahe Senate The event Of any neglect or delay
MIR SPEAKER Il The resolutions under consideration are
adopted the public prntsg, have no doubt, VIII oe
i promptly executed AT all events, the Comm,uee on
Printing will have discharged iis duly ana VIII % ,e-
LEASED from further responsibility IN the matter o. the
public printing The House GOV has possession Of the
subject and can adoprhe resolutions, or make any other
Disposition Of them that il may think proper
i. Mr. MARSHALL | move 70 refer the joint resolu-
A.. a.. Ia rkar An oxklir