The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-03-17


The Senate having unieg consideration the bill pro-
viding for the taking OF the seventh census the question
pending being upon the following amendment submitted
by Mr. BoRLAND:
.P,osidd, Tina, all the arrangements,
pen iiu ns, aDsac tables AMI other statements, any
Ern or the cions Of ihe cea peparatory taking
same provided for IN THIS ae rspassd under The dlIec'on
printed by The printers OF the gwo houses Of Congress- under
me same rles and on tne ne terms upon when other
printing for Congress doae may be done by any
resolution OF Congess Ia force, which may
b. III force as time ~hsn said printing shall have TO be
Mr.. DAVIS, Of Mississippi wished TO ascertain from
the chairman o the Committee the Census, first.
whether the blanks were not already printed secondly
whether they had made contract for the purpose Of
carrying the printing OF the blanks Immediately, and
whether the Senate would not lose in time, and lose
the character OF the work. by making change in their
MI BORLAND stated that the amendment under con-
slderaion proposed by himself but il was not
his purpose to urge its adoption The amendment pro-
yided that the printing be done should be done under
the direction OF the Secretary OF the Interior This other
printing done BY order Of the Census Board consist
ing OF forms, &c.
The Senate should recolect that they might not adopt
those tables which had been laid upon the senators ia
bles at all. They might take other tables, which had
been formed by the Census Committee in their stead
He would appeal 10 the chairman Of the committee to
state whether that was not true.
Mr. DAVIS. Of Massachusetts, | was unable TO hear
what the senator said his back being turned towards
Mr. BORLAND is supposed to have repeated thc ques-
ton but this lime his back being turnei towards the re-
porter, he could not v0uch Tor II.
Mr. DAVIS, OF Massachusetts. do not know who
laid the tables upon the desks Of the Senate do not
know whether they the with those OF the Gen.
Nh DAWSON suggested that if the chairman OF the
committee would read to the Senate letter addressed TO
him by the Census Board, mightgve some lniormaten
r DAVIS, Of Massachusetts. said that he understood
the question put him 10 be. whether these were the Ia
bes adopted BY the Census Boari lie had tables which
had been delivered him by OF that board but
whether they agreed with those desks or not he
could say, having had no opportunity to compare
them Ait the proper time he would send to the Sece
tary the letter referred to. that ii might be read
Mr.. B0RLAND said that he had in his hand letter,
addressed BY The secretary Of the Census Board 70 e SEN
the matter. He then read the letter, as folows
WASHINGTON. D c., Februaey Z, 1850
sin The undersigned members Of The Census Board,
having been called for report OF the tables and
chednies br them, In Oiled dencc the
ting board and not being required by that act 10 make
any report without being called upon. desire state
TO add that they arrag preparatory
pruning tables aud schedules required by the act
and for this purpose have contracted or the purchase o
several thousand of suitable paper, and have pur
chased and PAID ol one thousand @ q ot fl. said fsams
encs 10 the act, have been stereotyped.
buung 70 the mashals, Che ntev val between
tins and the i. o. jay nsh) - teg espesiay 'a.se ,
change OF the existing arrangements.
We would add that The tables and schedules prepared by
and would At aly time be laid before elmer branch OF T.
or any COMMITTEES OF IL. IL called for.
joHN M. CLAYTON,
tts JACOs COLLAMER. .s
REvERDY JOHNSON.
Hon. J. DAVIS.
Mr. DAVIS. Of Massachusetts, inquired who the letter
was from.
the secretary OF the board
Mr.. DAVIS, OF Massachusetts, requested the senator
10 read II again. as be was unable TO hear u before
Mr. BORLAND said that he would send II TO the Sec
retary's desk, as il read there, all could hear IL
The letter according gy read by the Secretary.
Mr.. DAVIS, OF Massachusetts, inquired II the tables
the desks OF the senators were those referred 10 in the
letter.
Mr. DAVIS. Of Mississippi, replied. that he had re-
ceived them with the letter, this morning.
MIR. BORLAND resumed, and stated that these tables
had already been sereoyped but the Census COMMITTEE
had reported another sci Of tables different from these
and ii the Senate should adopt those tables instead oi
these, then question 10 printing would arise The
object his amendment would not be much affected BY
that however because whether the tables OF the Census
Board, those OF the Census Committee were adopted,
very large amount OF printing would still be
done under the direction oil the Secretary OF the Interior
the bill did comprise all the work 20 be done AT
ter the should be taken the returns would have 10
be printed which printing would be balky aud heavy
expense This 10 be done under the direction OF the
Secretary OF the Interior The object Of his amendment
change the bill In that respect 10 AVOID putting
this immense amount OF work into the hands Of the Sec
retary OF The Interior 10 be disposed OF in hs own way
Mr. UNDERWOOD obtained the hoor, but gave way TO
MI DAflO, OF hld-sdCuucturs WuO y ln
hopes that the honorable for Arkansas MIR Boa
LAsDl would have withdrawn the motion which he has
Submitted, and which is under consideration. The
original intention of the bill was, that the printing should
be done by the Secretary OF the INTERIOR who is charged,
by the law which creates that department, with the man
agemen OF the business OF the superintendent OF the
census The Char will recoect that there Is specific
law regulating The printing OF the department That Law
provides that the Secretary shall advertise for period
o. time specified in the law. for bids for printing which
bids be made IN writing, TO be submitted to HIM on
specific day proposed IN the advertisement TO be opened
and the printing, under all ordinary circumstances. to be
given 10 the lowest bidder That the present law,
the law passed in lsl2 which lies before Now, slf,
there is no discretion reposed in the department at all in
this matter He is required 10 conform to The provisions
OF that act Well SIR in order TO find what the practice
OF the department in this particular, the honorable
gentlemen from Arkansas Mr.. BoRLAsDl submitted a
the Secretary OF the Interior for Information as TO the
manner OF proceeding in disposng OF the printing OF
his department To that reply was made which
was brought into the Senate, aud ordered 10 be pnnt
ed am not aware that II has been printed yet Doc
umenis come to us very slowly. But The answer 49,
understand, that he has contofmed 10 the provisions
OF this act Now, sir, intend that he shall conform
to II, II the motion OF the senator Tor Arkansas - no
adopted that he shall conform TO IT, and abide by IT. and
comply with 1t, in all the printing that ias INTO ms
hands with regard 10 the census III the noon OF tne
senator from Arkansas adopted, which transfers
the printing TO the public printer. instead oil as me law
dects propose that the secretary OF the Interior should
20 accordingly and such printing arises ou
OF this emergency 10 be done with the exception OF the
blank tables, for which paper. 10 certain extent, has
been purchased and certain ovisionsade BY The Gen.
sus Board and, therefore, il TO me proper
that they should 60 and take charge OF the printing o