Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-06-08
THE PUBLIC PRINTING.
Ii SENATE, Jusx 1850.

Mr.. MASON. Mr.. President I am cbs,osa ,,;h -.
petition Of m a. be one Of the contractors for the public
printing of the two Houses Of Congress- have resa h
petition, and sets forth in substance the INABILITY of M
tractor to continue the public printing upon the terms o hi
contract Upon conversation with the Senator who 4 At hs
head of the Committee Printing, (M BoRLArn Ilas
from him that the committee have some time since bad ,h;
of the condition Of the public printing before Them
and that their deliberations resulted in the resolutions
D them TO the Senate time since, which an amend
ment was offered by the chairman Of the committee himself
Those resolutions in substance recommend that the con-
tract under which the public printing now executed shoub
oe abfogaed upon terms set forth in the resolutions bu the
mas not yet acted upon those resolutions The object
OF he petitioner in presenting this memorial to Congress-
ne informs to bring to the attention of the Senate for
Its consideration the fact that It will be out of his mower
continue the public printing upon the terms of the present
contract and that with every disposition stated in the De-
ton, to discharge the duties which he has he
VIII be disabled from doing it, in order that the Senate
take such action on the subject the Senate may deem
per- he has in the petition and conversation with
might be considered disrepecul towards The Senate and h
to lay before that body the why he is disabled
from fulfilling his contract and the az
the subject and that proper remedy may be provided
Mr. M then read the material parts of the following pet-
ton:
10 the honorable the Senate and House of Rebrese,aes
ofthe United States
The undersigned begs leave respectfully represent
ha ne became the contractor for certain the public
printing under the of the houses of Congress-
passed the third day OF August, eighteen hundred and
Before entering into the contract he considered the means
which he might command they were materials press
e and other means at the Union Office where the work
Those supposed be fully adequate to the un.
derakng and ne is yet convinced that under ordinary cir
cmsances the would been able to execute the
contract to the entire satisfaction of Congress by PROMPT de-
livery OF all the work which stipulated be performed
He prepared show by unquesonable evidence that
every endeayor made to execute the contract il
fully and that the public work has been executed bet
ter if WE'LL and promptly than during the pre-
to which the work has been subjected Of these he
speaks with undoubng confidence.
He admits that there has been an DELAY in the exc
cuton OF the work but has arisen from altogether
beyond the control Of the With large Office
to execute the public printing; with extensive arange
ments for work. and for obtaining paper thought
the contractor has been prevented from delivering public
documents rapidly anxiousy desired through con-
currence ofcaues which he could control
among these the loss OF more than three
weeks before the manuscripts received owing to the
want Of organization in the House second
~ ne great variety Of the documents thirdly their
length ourhy the unprecedented number of copies
which were ordered be struck volumes Execu-
tive Papers copies; Report
$4,000 filthy the loss Of four Or five weeks in the binding
er they were printed thing which has been done
before sxthy The detention Of engavngs Congress
In the most earnest manner that these the
which have Kept back the work. and any sinister design
as has been nsinuated to effect any selfish object.
1t is most respectfully stated your honorable bodies that
the is losing and almost
thousands Of dollars have already been SUNK and that
work. the contract calculated involve him loss;
therefore, with confidence the of Congress-
appeals to them for relief
Had the of the contract been more liberal the con-
tractor would have been enabled obtain additional orce
material and enable him promptly
even the unprecedented work which
But, as his contract losing one, it in his pow
er make extensive arrangements and he thought
was dschargng swhole Duty under the circumstances
executing his work well and rapidly than had ever
been executed by Others under favorable and
more propltous circumstances. He was forced. besdes
laruen numh of hand for
a considerable period of time, without having any
thing for them do because Of the delay organizing the
House OF Representatives And the contingent fund of both
Houses being exhausted he could
cordng to the spuatons of his for his work it
heavy cost from other order enable him fulfil
his undertaking These facts urged by the undersigned
ample and satisfactory why the contractor did
and could not employ additional means the public
printing with more rapidity.
The undersigned begs leave further state, that when it
that the work ordered Congress greater
than the at his disposal would allow him
with that which the public demanded
when he perceived that the circumstances already detailed
made impossible for him additional force, mate
chairman Of the senates committee on public printing who
had most literally addressed him the ubect Of the tua-
% H., N ~Ga ne was placed and he put G it within the
might be deemed to promote the pub
lie interests.
from time ime by certain made in the Senate
that would be effected by Congress- and
honorable bodies
But definite has been made in either House
Congress- and the him is now becoming
greater and greater he thinks due Congress,
well to HIMSELF give them notice in time to make the
arrangements before he may be compelled
his labor with the public printing on his hands
He therefore, with all respect that Congress would
be pleased to grant inquiry before the joint committee OF
the two Houses the contract is made under joint resou-
to ascertain how the has been fulfilled and how
the work has been done and what relief may be given
and what may be
m The will
ever.
Exclusively Of the large portion Of the public printing which
has been completed there still large quantity on hand and
among these Jobs the 22d volume of the Executive Docu-
ments which is advanced and the Patent Office report,
which is now in the process of being stereotyped.
The contractor leave in the most respectful
remind your honorable bodes that there had been just
complaint against him, in relation to the execution OF
the contract also aege that he would have been
able Obtain until the deficiency bill lately passed. any pay
the several jobs they finished Off agreeaby
10 another stipulation in the contract.
Every part the contract losing except clause
has been done under that causand for the
for that job under the the has
deducted nearly two-thrds. Yet Jour honorable bodies
would grant him reasonable terms than the contract calls
for the immense Of work which has been executed
and is going he would most cheeru throw this job
and scale according the terms which Congress its
wisdom and justice would think fit to allow.
The contractor is perfectly willing to share the large mass
of printing which is hand with other Office which
may be designated by your honorable bodes the terms
which such Office be willing receive this be not
placed the disposal your honorable bodies that such
destination may be given it, without reference to the con-
tract as the public interests may reau1re % n RIFT
WASHINGTON, JUNE !, 1850.
Mr.. MASON. Whatever may be thought Of the reasons