The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-12-01

70 the subject at this time, In the hope that IL viii
receive some attention during the session of Con-
Press about 10 commence. II is admitted on all |
hands that the system under which the public |
printing is at present conducted 10 rotten, corrupt
wasteful, extravsgant, and is attended with NO
benefit or advantage to the country, or to the
government, but "a ther the reverse. 1t is merely
me ans Of protracting the existence Of party jour
mails in Washington, which would expire in q week
deprived of the sustenance which they receive in
this way Year after year, we see the proprietors
of those journals undertaking each other in price,
and using all sorts Of intrigue deception and ricke-
~, to obtain the public printing; and in cases where
they bid too low, it has been the invariable
custom TO petition for extra compensation,
which has generally been allowed. There il
no good reason why the treasury of the general
government should be made to contribute TO the
support Of political and.party journals at the capt.
tai. If they had merit, and were conducted with
talent and ability, they would not need any assis
lance in this way. but would be able to exist en-
the patronage of the public, and be profitable
to their proprietors, besides. But the journals
in Washington are not managed in this way; and
hence their very existence depends on the 81 ms
they receive from the general government in the
way of printing contracts. Ii wonld not be of so
much matter, if the public printing was properly
done-but il is not; for seldom is a document ready
for the members, or for distribution, when il is
wanted, and almost always not for weeks, and in
some cases, months afterwards. This has been a
subject of complaint for years, and it will remain
until the present system is abolished, and new
one substituted
In lieu Of the present corrupt and worthless sys-
tenn Of public printing, there Dug to be established
at once printing bureau Of the Department of the
Interior The government ought to have its own
types presses, printers, editors and reporters. 1t
should publish its own newspaper organ, and give
full and complete reports of the proceedings of both
houses of Congress. Such newspaper should be
sent every public journal throughout the country,
so that the people Of the whole country might have
acknowledge OF what is going on in Washington, and
what the government are doing and intend 10 do
II is essential in country like this that the mass
of the community should be well acquainted with
what the government is doing, and with its
foreign and domestic policy, in order that they
should be able, when the periods of election come
around TO vote discrminatIngiy and judicously,
either in appreciation or disapprobation of the con-
duct Of their public servants. The benefits wtach
would flow from such en- establishment are appa-
rent, and therefore need not be adverted to. On
the score Of expense, We are satisfied that such a
bureau would not cost any more than the present
system ofpublic printing does; but even if il cost
more, or even twice as much, it should be estab-
lsbed, and the sooner the better. The govern
ment of France has institution Of this kind, and
prints its own organ-the Montteur. II gives ge-
neral satisfaction, and is attended with the best
suits Ii would be an easy matter to org anize a
corps Of competent reporters, and procure the
vices Of able editors and assistants if liberal emo
hments were offered to them. The pay should be
liberal, in order TO get the best talent in the coun
try. The government squanders millions of dol
lars every year, without comforting any benefit on
the country. Look, for instance, at the army and
navy, which will cost, this year, the enormous
sum Of seventeen millions of dollars. OF what use
are these expensive establishments, in time Of
peace, although, perhaps, it may be necessary TO
have them? They only support and encourage
idleness, anticipation Of with foreign
power-sn anticipation not likely to be realized
during the present generation, for no foreign ma
ton would dare 10 encounter our hostility. Such
Establishments may be needed in Europe, TO keep
the people from overturning their governments; but
in this country, where the people make aud I'M
make their laws, and elect their rulers, they are,
in time ofpeece, comparatively speaking,
sary. The public mind is becoming more and more |
averse 10 the continuance of an expensive Rivy for |
the mere purposes of war; but no objection is |
made towards increasing, TO any extent, the num-
Der OF ocean steamships, to be commanded by naval
officers, and to be used in time of peace for the
transportation Of the government mails, a well as
freight and passengers. This country ought to own
hundred Of such vessels, capable of being con-
vertsd into war steamships in a short time when
necessary. Now, what benefits do the army and
navy confer the country in time of peace, at an
expense Of seventeen millions of dollars year,
compared TO those Of government printing estab.
lshment at an expense Say Of two millions of dol
lars annually None.
We therefore hope that this important subject
will occupy the attention OF both houses Of Congress
during the coming short session. II is full time TO
put TN end TO the abominably corrupt, imperfect,
unsatisfactory and inefficient system under which
the public printing has been done for 70 many
yesrs Let printing bureau be established; let
the government publish its own organ of commu-
nicttion with the people, employ its editors and
reporters and have the public printing executed by
its own Ggents, aHd under its own supervision
Such an esiablis hmt nj, satisfied would give
general satisfaction, aud would be hailed with
pleasure by the whole country.
CONDITION AND PRosrEcTs OF Ct-BA-By every
arrival from Cuba learn that the authorities are
under continual alarm aud fesr Of another