The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-09-18

to the chairman Of the Comtnittcs on Printing.
Mr.. JOHNSON. VIII you renew the mo-
ton ii withdraw II!
Mr. TAYLOR. will do 30.
Mr.. JOHNSON. withdraw the motion.
So the demand for the previous question was
withdrawn.
Mr.. TAYLOR said he desired merely to in
quire Of the chairman OF the Committee on
Printing, whether they were likely TO get the
second part OF the Patent Office report within
the present year and also at what time the
select committee would probably make their
report?
Mr.. McWILLIE stated that the second por-
ton Of the Patent Ofiics report was now going
through the press. This was the part which re-
lated to the mechanic arts. The agricultural
portion would also in a few days be ready for
the press. And II. all the presses OF the city
were set upon the work, it could be done rapidly,
but ii il had to be done solely by the Office now
engaged with the public printing, it could not
possibly be completed before next January.
Mr.. TAYLOR, who was very indistinctly
heard on the right Of the Chair, was understood
to remark, that it was highly necessary that the
printing OF that report, us well all the rest OF
early day as possibly.
Mr.. WENTWORTH (the floor being yielded
to HIM said, his impression was that the very
anxiety of the House to get the public printing
done promptly had been the chief cause of the
delay. The contractors had only to say that
they could not do the work more expedtiousy
unless they got better prices AS to when the
select committee would be prepared to report,
he could only say that it was matter OF some
difficulty to get the committee together. They
were now engaged in the examination OF wit
nesses, and two or three days would probably
complete the testimony; perhaps by Monday
next, they would be prepared to make their re-
port.
Mr.. McWIILIE (the floor being still yielded
by the gentleman from Ohio) said he had been
awaiting the action OF the select committee for
some months, in the expectation that they would
report, 30 that the House might have before it
the information which that report would furnish
He had withheld ms long as he had felt at liberty
to do so, the report ofthe Committee on Printing
tee would recommend Il plan by which the work
should be done hereafter; and he did not think
there could be much objection to the proposition
which the Committee on Printing had submitted
If the House was to be governed by precedent,
they could find thousand precedents, and most
ones too; but the course proposed by
the Committee on Printing was one by which
Justice would be done, and that justice would be
tempered with mercy.
Mr. ORR (the floor being vie ded to hnl)
said he desired to inquire of the chairman of the
Committee on Printing whether This House had
ever released Wendall and Van Benthuysen from
their contract!
Mr.. McWlLLIE, in reply to the gentleman
from South Carolina, said, no such case had been
presented to the committee, and lie knew moth
ing about it.
Mr.. ORR Well, sir, / know they have not
Mr.. McWIILIE (contnuing) said, he was
willing that the resolution should be referred to
the select committee; or, that any other dispo-
sition should be made Of it, which the House
might think proper to maze
Mr.. TAYLOR said, he thought the House
ought to come to some conclusion upon the
subject of the public printing. They had been
in session now nearly ten months, and had
absolutely not yet been enabled to procure
from the public printers work which should
have been done ut an early period of the ses-
sion. They were only now receiving the third
portion OF the Presidents annual message to
Congress, together with portion of the dccu-
ments accompanying it. A select committee
had been for the last three months investigating
the subject aud no report had yet been made
by them and it was not until this morning that
report had been made by the Committee on
Printing. 1t appeared very singular, indeed,
that the House could not devise some mode by
which the public printing could be executed
promptly, and not have the work delayed for
nearly ten months to accommodate few con-
tractors. 1t was a very great outrage, and one
which, if it were within his power to do it, he
would correct instantly. The standing CON-
mttec on printing had submitted proposition
to the House, which, it appeared to him, was
calculated to advance the public interest by
having the printing done promptly, even if a
higher price had to be paid for it. He for one
had always been willing to vote liberal remu-
neration to the printer who was authorized to
do the work of the House. The Senate was
paying the Union and Inteltigencer literally for
reporting and publishing their debates and pro-
cecdings and they We're given in such manner
as to present to the country full and accurate
view of the proceedings of that body, and pub
lshed without delay but so far as the publish
ing of public documents by the public printers
was concerned, the work was grossly neglected.
What he should propose, would be to absolve
these printers from doing any more work under
the contract, and give the work to Others.
He was informed, and he believed the infor-
nation rested upon good authority, that the agri-
cultural portion of the Patent Office report would
be finished in about four weeks from this time,
but if they were to wait for the printing of
it by the present contractors they would not get
it this year. He hoped the House would, so far
as the remainder of the printing was concerned,
authorize the Clerk to have it done by other
printers. He had an amendment drawn up to
that effect and if in order he would offer it now
The SPEAKER said, the amendment was not
now in order
Mr.. TAYLOR said. that he should protest
against any further delay, and if the evil were
not promptly remedied by the present contrac-
tors, he should insist upon the work being taken
out OF their hands. He renewed the demand
for the previous question,
And there was second
And the main question was ordered to be now
taken, (being first, on the reference of the bill
to the select committee on printing!
z Mr.. CARTIER asked the yeas and nays but
withdrew the demand.
The question was then taken, and decided in
the Affirmative
So the joint resolution was referred to the
select committee on printing.
Mr.. WENTWORTH moved n reconsidera-