The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-04-11

with Messrs Little aud Browa ior twelve hun
direction Of the Senate and 10 embrace ia addition az
laws OF the essoa OF Congress- price not ex-
style q the a. Is abhea s under S0a hs - as
ity Of Congress byfsaid Little andsisrown.
SEVENTH CENSUS.
On motion by Mr. DAVIS, the Senate then "a in
committee Of the whole. resumed the consideration OF
the bill providing for taking the seventh census
The VICE PRESIDENT stated that the motion was
pending in committee OF the whole on the amendment
the bill, moved by the senator from Indiana, Mr.
WmrcoMB,l which was TO make an additional section
the substitute pending providing that the preparatory
printing OF the not already done be given by
tract to the lowest bidder after fifteen days notice
Mr.. SMITH. desire 10 make suggestion or two
Tor the consideration Of The honorable gentleman who
withdraw his proposition TO amend the bill My friend
from ArkansaF, MIR BoRLAND,l when the original bill
similar proposition to the Senate and after some expa-
nation which made al that lime, he saw fit 10 with
draw it,
Mr.. BORLAND was understood to say that the gentle
man labored under mistake.
Mr.. SMITH. ! think | am right in my statement
Now sir, if this amendment is adopted suggested
BY the honorable member from Indiana, il will involve
this entire subject IN inextricable difficulty Indeed my
opinion is that il will be totally impossible execute the
law at all particularly at this late day understand that
the Census Board have already made for the
paper, and the preliminary printing that is required in
order to carry this law into effect Whether il was
derstood or not, DO not know. My honorable friend
from Arkansas has looked into the matter But | will
state Tor the information OF the Senate that
sary IN order to enable the takers, the maTshas
and deputies % az this business properly that there
should be put into their hands very peculiar kind Of
paper-paper OF very line quality. The paper must be
made entirely Of linen, and il can be made only BY hand
and not by machinery. Now, If at this late day this
printing to be put Out at contract to the lowest bid
der, II will be totally impossible TO procure this paper
within any practicable time for the execution Of this
contract say It is entirely certain cannot be done
in proper season. The paper has already been pur
chased by printing establishment in this city. They
had to do at very great expense Therefore, after
what has been done by the Census Board, (and sup
pose properly done under the law passed last session oil
Congress,) this is all to be set aside, and the whole
Thing is to be put into the hands OF new contractors
paper already contracted for and is made in the
ner have indicated | undertake to say that such pa
per could not be procured in the space Of three months
In addition 10 this, remark, that II this difficulty
did not exist should adopt no such measure this
do not believe that any contract make, upon the
pnelpe q GIVING \ q Inc lowest bidder would DC exc
not what may be the slpulatons Of the contract care
not what guarantees you may demand of the public print
OF any contractor that may take the printing at the
lowest bdyou get that contract executed in
satisfactory manner You would get an inferior kind oil
paper The paper which is in the hands OF the con
tractor with the Census Board is OF very superior quail
ity believe specimens of it have been placed on the
tables OF senators. Now you may spulate by contract
that they shall furnish paper that is Of the strength Of
that paper and insist the contract will not be full,
filed The paper will be of inferior quality. 1t will
60 into the hands OF the takers, and what will be
the consequence It will all fall 10 pieces in their hands
and when the returns come TO be made by the mar
shas to The city OF Washington, the documents will
be in such condition rs TO be unlnteigibe; they
will be iegble and cannot be made use OF for the
purpose of making up the ultimate abstracts. hope,
therefore, that upon further consideration OF the subject
my honorable friend from Indiana will not persist in
his notion II he does persist trust that the Senate
will not agree TO it a, this late hour. When is this
bill to be passed Probably carried through the Senate
day, and TO the House of Representatives, and
finished this month"; perhaps and then fifteen days notice
ment and this will bring to the middle oil May and then
the printing is 10 be LEI out to the lowest bidder This
printing is to be done time towards the
end Of SUMNER and then really TO enter upon the
business OF issuing these blanks the thirty States
and do not know how many Territoresover the whole
OF this country, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Now
say, that il this amendment is TO be made part OF the
law, may well come 10 determination that we
will pass no law. would not give straw for law
other TO enter into contract with at the lowest
price known They may take it as the public printers
have al this Congress, at rates at which they cannot
possibly afford TO do it, Then follows effort cheat
the government in the quality of paper repeat there
FORE that you may as well come TO determination to
take at all, to adopt the amendment pro-
posed by nv friend from Indiana
Mr. WHITCOMB. Before replying to the honora BILE
senator, wish TO modify my amendment before vote is
read in ten days instead OF fifteen days have right
TO modify il, believe, under the rules OF the Senate
do it because suppose there will really be no COMPETE
ton except in this city, and perhaps two here
and desire 10 have the printing done as possible
am far from satisfied with the reasons assigned by the
honorable senator from Connecticut The principal OBJ
lection taken by that senator this that paper must
be OF very ne quality, prepared BY hand and it will be-
mpractca lie for all paper manufacturers to make
this paper by the time that il is wanted for printing
Well, sir suppose that is the case, (of which, however
| am rather ncreduous y the very persons who have
this large amount OF fine linen paper will have the ad
vantage OF selling II out at their prices do not
therefore, any great TO be derived by keeping the
matter il now IS am quite confident that there will
be sufcency of this paper furnished to enable 10
getthe printing done in ample for the requirements
OF this act Now, s.r. we are all well advised-l hope
that my friend from Connecticut is well advised-tha
there has been belief prevalent in quarters that
| do not know anything OF the matter But will say
that that aator himself ought to be OF the first per
sons 10 exclude every possible suspicion OF this kndto
desire that different direction be taken in having this
printing done than is contemplated in this bill.
Now, we not informed OF the character OF this con-
tract although a similar motion made the other day
ii the amount to be paid is reasonable amount, we
should be informed Of il, for the purpose OF disarm
ing these suspicious Why are we not, then, informed
is right my amendment is adopted am now the more
anxious tina, this amendment should be adopted because
this objection has been made do not suppose that any
great loss OF time service will arise from doing
apprehend that, II an ntmaton made al this early peri
cd by the Senate by vote, that this will be tie policy
pursued hereafter every preparation will be made so that
all who are desrous OF supplying this paper will have
their attention drawn TO the fact OF proposals being about
TO be made and they easily make their bids think
II will have salulary eect-the effect OF economzing
the expenditure OF the country, which is already large.
have heard great deal said about the ELIGIBILITY OF
this printing, should II be done Why, sir Is II because
the price too low think not Ii because the