The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-05-02
WHOLE NO. ia.

/ pretty much in their own power. The result is,
/ the work has been delayed beyond all precedent
dead loss or one thousand dollars week Is said
to be incurred upon il; and Congress is reduced
to the necessity Of adopting some new mode Of
having the printing done and the effort now is,
to release the contractors pay them large adj.
vance on the rates they agreed to do the work for
and then appoint the MeihgeNcq and Uaioa print
ers to do the work, at such rates as union Of the
friends of both in Congress may determine
MIR. Walker Of Wisconsin said
Ii | understand the proposition Of the Senator
from Arkansas, it does not seem 10 me to be a very
modest IL is TO this effect, belieye-that the
contractors be released from their contract, upon
| their REIMBURSEMENT OF all cllims which they
might have for indemnity for their non-perform-
ance Of this contract. / know not, nor do care
&c saow -ery G:is..ely, =hst -eesoas are allesai
for their failure to perform this contract lift be
that the printers were mistaken when they entered
into this contract, there is something very singular
in the matter for il occurs 10 me that men makins
bid for this work, men acquainted with the bust
ness, in contracting with Congress ought to have
known at what rate they could do the work 1t
seems to me that they must have known this when
they took the contract Now, they must have made
this bid either with the view of executing this
work at what they supposed to be fair rates and
deriving therefrom fair profit, or they must have
made il with view TO keep ii for the time being
out of the hands Of others, aud with the ultimate
design Of throwing up the contract AS to obtain
a higher price. | do not know that this has been
the design do not charge it as such but will
say this much that if that has been the design, it
is treating Congress very improperly The way
that | look at the matter, think the proposition
needs amendment, and would submit the follow
ing amendment to the joint resolution re
ported by the Committee
THAT proper legal steps he immedi ltely taken
to recover the proper penalties for the non.per-
formance of any contract or contracts for doing
the public printing Of the present Congress
The subject gave rise 10 long discussion,
= mir. Clemens OF Alabama, speaking'of fhs soog
stitute of Mr.. Borland, said
Do we not know that we have not been SUP
piled with a single public document at the time
we wanted it AT the commencement of the SEES
sion called for information with regard TO Cal
ifornia, and sent it TO the printers We are nearly
done legislating for California and it is not here
yet Has there been misconduct here By
whom the contract taken Not by iuexperi-
enced men, who did not know what they were do
ing There is no pretence that they were taken
in There IL no pretence of misfortune. They
took it, knowing that they could not execute it
upon The terms and within the time. They took
IT, as have no doubt, relying upon the generos-
ity of Congress. The Senator from Mississippi
says ii would be ungenerous to enorcea contract of
this sort. Sir we have other duties than to these
contractors We owe duty to our constituents,
to watch the public treasury, and to see that
the money goes from it for honest purposes, By
the amendment, they will get not less than $4,000
In addition to the amount agreed for. md for
what It does not speak of releasing us from
their contract but IL goes and pays them this
sum and for what 7 For not having their work
done 10 time Ror Gall work not yet delivered
and paid for,n they are TO receive the same com
pensation as shall be awarded to the contractors
who shall execute II for the remainder Of the
sion. Why, sir, they have been paid for none of
hyet They would make not less than $4,000
by the operation Of this single amendment and
Whist are we called upon to give ID to them for q
Because they have kept MS out Of information ne
csssary for correct and proper Legislation. am
IN favor of the amendment of the Senator from
Wisconsin, Mr.. Walker. We DO not want evil
dence or proof Of misconduct. We have got II
| all around MS. The Senate is full oft and il is
increasing upon ne every day
Mr.. Butler Of South Carolina said
In regard TO enforcing these penalties, which
| the Senator from Wisconsin seems disposed to do
In his resolution, I think that lawsuit would be
mere litigation without any profit, except to have
litigation. II might he servicesble as | have no
doubt be intends II, TO be held IN ierrorem rs an
inducement to the regard Of other contracts and
In that point of view do not disapprove of it,
But 80 far a. the actual result Is concerned, |
think we would get no profit from 1t. think
therefore, the shortest way to be the best though
I am reluctant TO relieve contractors in this way
In any case except where II is necessarily imposed
on ns The real question is, whether the work
shall be given out by contract, whore all may
pete or whether II shall be given to Gales 4
Seaton and the Union Office. That Is the secret
Of the whole matter and the common understand.
ing My friend from Arkansas has told us why
this Is necessary and 10 only from the fact that
any other course will afford no immediate relief
that give my vote. was prepared to abrogate
the contract, and allow others to do the work upon
such rates as the chairman Of the Printing Com.
mittee and the persons inclined to contract for
for the work should agree and was about to offer
an amendment carrying out that idea ! will not
do 1t, however, and hope the vote may at once be
taken.
Mr.. Mangum Of North Carolina said
should be willing to he very liberal in the
compensation that | would give for the work,
which is now 30 much behindhand, and would ar
range this contract In almost any way that does not
tend to bankrupt the treasury. | see, however,
that 10 one Of these amendments IL IL proposed
that all the printing that haS'been delivered out,
aud that has not been returned and paid for, Is
TO he paid for Mt the rate Of the resolutions OF
1919. IL this amendment should prevail, | esti-
mate that the abrogation of this ruinous contract,
which understand causes weekly loss 10 the
contractor Of s., 900, would increase the cost Of
the printing already ordered to not less than
thirty or fifty thousand dollars That would be
a very beneficial way Of getting rid Of q bad con
tract However, sir for mere temporary ar
rangement, ! am willing TO agree to almost any
plan which shall be suggested by the experience
OF the committee.
lie proceeded to say that permanent system
may be established, and he contemplated the es-
tablishment Of Government printing press to do
the work of Congress and the Departments
There IL but one single objection to the plan, and
that 10, that II would be almost impossible to main
tain any political presses here There Is very
little food for the press here Il fuds better sup
port In the large citss--ln Philadelphia, New
York, and Boston and IL you distracted from the
political presses In the District the patronage
derived from the Executive Departments and
from Congress, It will be very difficult for them
to get along at AL. Well, cir, ! have no doubt
the committee will take that into consideration,
aud esiimate the value Of the various presses
here. shall not express any opinion upon that
point AZ do not desire to raise feelings which
are not germane TO this subject, and which are
not required In the consideration Of this question.
The Senate will, however, have TO resort to
some temporary plan. would agree to almost
anything that might be proposed And In rela-
tion TO those gentlemen who have made this very
ruinous contract, am willing TO deal with them
In the most liberal spirit; for, though they may
be liable to some censurs, and may, In their anx-
iety to get possession Of this work, have bid at
lower rate than they could possibly do the work
at -elying on the nsvsr-fsiliuR generosity Of the
Senate when using other peoples money, slaugh,l
yet would set aside ell that, and deal with them
In most liberal spirit; for do think that IL Is
totally unworthy Of this body either 70 exact the
EXTREMIST penalty for any failure In the discharge
NJ tha Ot N IAut IN a. anv ma la