The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-26

ment of the Senator from Arkansas proposes TO
give them bonus Of fifty thousand dollars.
The amendment of the Senator from Arkansas
proposes a mutual REIMBURSEMENT OF the contract,
and that " for all work not yet delivered and paid
for they shall receive the same compensation as
shall be awarded to the printers who may be Sc
lectcd," &c. None of the Senate work has yet
been delivered, and this amendment proposes TO
give them large sum of money over and above
what they entitled TO receive by their contracts
And for what were they to receive this advance !!
For nothing else but for the non performance Of
their duty.
Mr.. FooTE briefly explained his former re-
marks.
Mr.. BORLAND defended his amendment. The
result Of the inquiries by the committee was, that
no one office in the city of Washington, however
extensive, could perform the printing Of Congress
II was also ascertained that no two offices could
perform the work except by cooperation between
them. In this he thought that the best course
to adopt was to appoint two persons public print
ers, and thus have the work DONE The contract
system he considered wholly useless.
MIR. BUTLER said that he desired TO have this
subject brought to n vote. The matter was sim
pie one. The whole question, it appeared to him,
was, whether the Senate would break up their con-
tract with the present printers, and have the work
done by Others and the printers their bond or
by mutual consent abrogate the contract, and ap-
point Gales Seaton, and Richie Burke the print
ers to Congress at the rates proposed de thought
that any arrangement whereby the present con-
tract could by mutual consent be set aside, was the
best TO adopt and then let the Senate decide
whether the editors of the Inteliigencer and Union
should be named as the public printers, or whether
the doors should be left open to competition, and
Blair Rives and others have an opportunity of
bidding for the work. He thought the matter 30
simple that he hoped the Senate would vote upon it.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD said that he agreed with the
Senator from Arkansas, that the contract system
had proved to be the worst possible mode OF hav-
ing the public work done properly He thought
that in any plan which might be adopted difficulties
would exist. He believed that the public printing
would never be done properly till the Government
took the thing in its own hands, and established
press of its own, under the direction OF officers re-
sponsbe to the Government.
Mr.. MANGUM alluded to the inconvenience ex-
isting, and the delays consequent upon the failure
of the public printer to perform his duty The con-
tract system had been now twice condemned by Its
own operations. He referred to the labors OF COM
mittee appointed on the subject of the public print
ing in 1912, and to report then made, In which
the establishment of public press, under the con
troll of the Government, was shown and proved to
be the only practical and safe mode OF having the
public printing done well, speedily, and economi-
cally. He was prepared now to adopt almost any
temporary measure, but earnestly hoped that some
permanent plan would be adopted With that view
he moved the subject be recommitted to the Com
mttee Printing, with instructions to report some
permanent plan Of having the public printing exc
cuted.
Mr. BORLAND said that he hoped the subject
would not be recommitted. The measure now re-
ported was only temporary measure, and some
thing immediate was absolutely necessary. He was
the only member of the committee now in the city,
and if the subject be recommittcd the matter
would be delayed for weeks.
Mr.. MANGUM withdrew his motion to recon-
nit, and the subject was passed over.
Mr.. ATCHISON moved, and it was ordered, that
when the Senate adjourn il adjourn till Monday.
And then, motion of Mr.. BUTLER, the Sen
ate proceeded to the consideration of Executive
business, and shortly afterwards adjourned