The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-04-26

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with every degree OF dehniteness 10 avoid any such
charges Such claims were looked into time and again,
and finally passed IN some cases, where there the
acier, alter the claimants had been dun-dun-dunnng
for months or years. and urging the extreme lowness OF
the rates al which they had executed their contracts
You can never get rid OF them and repeat what said
before the contractors for the printing Of this Congress
either did or they did not know when they made their
tracts what they doing II they did know that they
could not afford 10 do the printing at those rates. and did
MOI intend 10 do H. then il was fraud upon the Senate OF
The United States and ought 10 be punished as such II
they did not know, and they wish TO take advantage OF
their own Ignorance for the purpose OF getting better
nriee or their work il seems 10 me thai they guilty
OF what amounts little less than fraud 90 mol charge
this do not know what the facts are IN this particular
Now, sir. there Is suppose no doubt that the printing
will have to be relet bu when we must relet IL does II
follow that we release from their contracts INTO
which they have solemnly and deliberately en'sfea ana
not only do that but contract with them that they shall
bring claim against US Tor damages Tor their failure
to comply with their own contracts would ask the
honorable senator. from Arkansas INIT boaLAsDl
whether he is willing sanction such specuatons upon
the Senate OF the country In my opinion, SIR we ought
10 make an example Of such cases; and, unless we do
this shall be peculaed upon continually IN this way
| am willing 10 release them; that is, am willing
to relet the printing and rid them oil doing what they
say they not able to do and, as IN all other cases
Of contract, lei them pay the forfeit And will venture
say that shall not have another contract Of The
sort after contractors once become satisfied that the
maeabity of Congress has been thoroughly tested and
tried repeat, thai do not know who these gentlemen
are who have taken this contract i see documents
marked as being printed at such and such Office, but
who the real printers do not know. Whoever they
may be, they either made bid Tor which they knew
they could execute the work, they made bid tor
which they knew al the time they could execute the
work. or which has since turned out 70 be mistake on
their part was in hopes, under these circumstances,
10 have heard explanation from the senator from
Arkansas mr. BoRLASDl 10 show that circumstances
have interviewed which have rendered il impossible 10
execute the contract-eher great rise IN me pce q
the paper, rise in the price OF labor in the printing
Office Or that the government itself has thrown mped
ments the way Of the execution OF the contract but
Ihear no explanation of the kind It was to this point
Of asking the contractors 70 release US IRON any clam
upon vote Of the Senate directly upon the propo
sion have offered, something to the same effect in
order that i may BE- decided whether hs Senate + 2 Gs
be established, printers have only to come forward
and bid down to the very lowest price-as was done
lately the State Of Wisconsin, where the printers bid
as low halt cent for thousand cmsand then, alter
getting all the printing into their hands, take rough
and tumble fight with the Senate and see which is the
strongest, and whether at last they are not able to over
us to prevent in the future any honest man
from competing with them in a fair race
Mr.. B0RLAND. The senator from Wisconsin pro-
poses to introduce, in connexon with the printing bust
ness, practice from his own State, which he calls
rough and tumble fight For my part am not willing
to get into any such contest or melee with the printers
of Congress, with anybody else He thinks that this
contract was proposition OF the public printers, who
had come forward and made the first proposal to us
This, sir, is a mistake resolution adopted By the
Senate and House Of Representatives directing the Com
mitiee on Printing consider this matter, and make
port what they thought the Senate had better do 10
accomplish object, which was thought exceedingly de-
srable Of having the printing done IN Popcr manner
aud proper time. That was the result OF the deiib-
eraons OF the committee; and the public printers have
nothing to do with it. How it be considered as a
proposition emanatng from the public printers, cannot
imagine.
The senator insists that an example should be SET IN
regard TO these men and because forsooih II Is so de-
nominated in the bond he would have the spirit OF Shy
lock acted out here and have US claim our pound OF csh
Sir, cannot agree TO legisate with any such spirit
agree TO execute any legislative vengeance here
II these men have done wrong, they certainly deserve
censure for il il they have acted crlmnay they deserve
punishment for it, but believing. do, that they have
only been unfortunate, l am not willing either to
censure to punish them. am perfectly willing to take
the full share of responsibility that would attach TO one
humble myself TO say that release them from any
penalties that may have been incurred under the law or
bond and proceed they had nothing to do with the
subect-poceed to have the printing executed IN apoper
Mi. WHITCOMB | understand the original PROPOSE
ton OF the committee to be that we are to absove the
printers from their contract upon condition that they
hnquish all claim for damages against the government
SENATOR. II is to be mutual REIMBURSEMENT.
Mr.. WHITC0MB. II that amendment passes, SIR, we
lose all benefit OF the law for damages Tor the
Torrance Of the contract am not disposed. for one 10
sustain such proposition do not feel impressed with
The argument OF the honorable senator from Arkansas,
that we should resort TO remedy in this case,
which he chooses to call exactng the pound OF flesh II
that is tenabe Argument, ought 10 do away with
the system OF requiring bond altogether. shall vote
for the amendment OF the senator from Wisconsin; and
not sure but shall vote against the original as thus
amended afterwards II this contract has been unadv-
sedly taken and il there is much compensation al
lowed as they ought to have, willing TO pass pro-
vision absoving them from their contract, on condition
that they renQush all claim for damages against the
government, and then 10 relet the printing! and am
willing TO undergo the still further damages which We
have sustained by the want OF these documents until suit
able time afforded for releng the contract once more,
upon the system we have heretofore adopted OF letting
the printing out 10 the lowest bidder. ! know OF no
other plan which, 10 my mind, is free from objection.
think il do that, sir shall get along very we'll
only let be clearly understood that for the non-per-
Torrance OF this work, in regard to the time and manner
OF its execution the contractors will be visited with suit
able punishment by law | say know OF no other plan
that Is as free from objection as this
Mr. FO0TE called for the reading OF the amendment oil
the senator from Wisconsin.
1.-THE amendment was read.l.
MIR F0OTE. 1 DO not pretend 10 understand this
matter very thoroughly not being practical printer my
in the from the members OF the committee; and
should very much dstrust my judgment as 10 any
part OF the subject under consideration; but IL
strikes that the amendment proposed is improper
one. do not understand IL. in the first place. 10 be
based upon the dscrfaned facial least ndciay
dcia certainyhat this contract has been actually
lated in the manner that the amendment itself presimes
that such violation OF IL, compliance with its
TERMS has occurred In the absence OF the asceranment
OF this fact in some satisfactory mode surely must be
obvious, 10 the honorable mover himself. that his
upon the assumption that violation of the existing con-
tract has already occurred The language OF the amend
ment is "and that proper steps be Immediately taken TO
proper penalty for the non-perormance OF the