The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-05-02
MONDAY, APRIL %, 1850.
SENATE

The joint resolution of the House in relation
TO Sir ohm Franklin was read twice, and laid
upon the table temporarily.
Mr.. Dougas called up bill No %, granting the
right OF way and voting a donation of land to the
State Of Illinois, to aid in the construction of her
Central Railroad. The road is TO extend from
the southern terminus Of the Illinois aud Mich-
gan conal, to a point near the junction Of the
Ohio and Mississippi rivers, a distance of about
400 miles, and the bill proposes to grant right
of way, not exceeding 100 feet on each side the
length thereof and alternate sections of public
lands on each side. The total grant would amount
to 500, 900 acres.
A long discussion arose on this BILL during
which the principle of such grants was consider
ed as well as the application of it proposed now to
be made
The Senate adjourned without coming to q
conclusion.
HOUSE OF REPR EsENTATIvES.
The rules were suspended on motion of Mr.
Wentworth, by vote of l45 to Ii, to allow him
to offer the following resolution
Resolud, That select committee of nine MEM
bers of this House be appointed TO investigate
the present condition Of the public printing, and
the causes Of the delay; whether adequate prices
are paid, and if not, what would be adequate
prices and whether the present prices are the
fault of the law, or of those bidding under it !;
and whether the present printers had, at the time
of their taking the contract or now have, any
type or presses Of their own who are their sure
ties whether those sureies are not the actual
owners Of the contract, and used the names Of two
Of their employees, in order to get the contract,
and then keep back the public printing until they
extorted from Congress higher prices and whether
the printing paper, and binding have been equal
TO that stipulated for in the contract and also
whether there has been difference in the print
Al 4
when laid upon the tables of the members of Con-
gress and when sent to the folding room and
also whether the present printers have taken
more than the prices stipulated for in their con-
tract for any work paid for out Of the contingent
fund Of either House of Congress; whether there
exists any combination among any printers in the
city Of Washington to break up the contract sys-
TEN, and, if 80, whether the present public print
ers or their sureties are a party to it; and also
whether either of the contractors or the sureties
or any one else for them or either Of them, urged
the present delay of the public printing as rea.
son why the prices should be increased and
whether the present public printers or their sure
ties have not ample materials for doing the public
printing more expeditiously than they now do;
whether they run their presses all the time on
Congress printing and whether they employ ali
the workmen that it is in their power to employ
and also what abuses have existed or now exist
III the nunntr ol uOlnR tne puDHC printing! WnaI
profits have been made or losses sustained under
the different prices; and what alterations in the
present law are necessary in order TO secure
greater expedition in doing the printing and to
prevent fraudulent or fictitious bids. And that
they also inquire what establishments in this city
are prepared to do the printing for the present
Congress; who are their prOprirtors, and what
would be their prices and that they also inquire
what would be the nett profits on the number of
copies Of the Patent Office report and other docu-
ments Of which numerous copies have been or
dered nj this session according to price of 20
per cent below the joint resolution of 1919. Aud
that the said committee have power to send for
persons and papers
Mr. Wentworth moved the previous ques-
ton, and under its operation the resolution was
adopted
This day was resolution day but, on motion Of
Mr.. Thompson of Pennsylvania, the House re-
solved itself into Committee Of the Whole on the
state Of the Union, and took up the Census bill
IL was opposed by Messrs Kaufman Of Texas,
Stephens of Georgia, and Woodward Of South
Carolina and supported by Messrs Moore Of
Pennsylvania, Carter Of Ohio J. A. King and
Clarke of New York
The opposition was directed against all that
part Of the bill which proposes anything beyond
the mere enumeration of inhabitants
The Committee rose and the House adjourned