The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-10-17
" Richie e. Heiss, printers.

1t will be seen that the annual expenditure for
printing was swelled from $4,000 in 1880, to
ssOo.O in 1916. To remedy this growing abuse,
Congress, by ajoint resolution passed in August,
lS46, established the contract system. BY this
resolution, the public printing Of the two Houses
Of Congress was to be executed by the lowest bid
der. The contract for the Thirtieth Congress was
assigned to Wendell & Van Benthuysen, and for
assigned to John Trenholm, three classes to
William M. Belt, and one class to John T. Towers.
The contracts of Trenholm and Belt have been
transferred to Thomas Richie, it is alleged for his
protection, he being one Of the sureties to the
bonds Of these contractors, respectively, for the
faithful and prompt execution of the work. At
this point, wish to correct mistake into which
the gentleman from Maryland, [Mr McLANE] has
fallen. He appealed eloquenty TO the sympathy
Of the House, to relieve Mr. Richie of the losses
he has sustained as surety. But it is fact which
cannot be denied, that the contracts were taken
originally with the assent and for tie benefit of
MIR. Richie. BY referring to the memorial which
the contractors had printed and laid upon ia
bles some months past, praying relief, letter from
Mr.. Richie, dated March, lS49, addressed to Mr..
Dickins, may be seen, written only few days
after the contracts were declared in which he ac-
knowledges that he is prime pally inter ested in
the contracts. Mr.. Richie 8 friends cannot, there
fore, claim that sympathy which the world is
ally ready to extend to surety suffering loss by
the failure Of his principal. He acknowledged
work was commenced, or could be commenced
He has proceeded in the execution Of the contract,
and now comes, in the names OF Trenholm and
Belt, to Congress- and asks to be relieved from it,
Nay, more, sir: not satisfied with relief without
loss, his friends demand for him a net profit Of
ten per cent. on the whole Of the investment, as
gratuity, presume, for the non-performance of
his contract.
The gentleman from Illinois Mr.. McCLER-
NAND bases the application for relief and COM
pensation on another and very different ground.
He assumes that Congress has violated the writ
ten contract by taking the printing of the census
returns from Mr.. Richie, and for that reason Mr..
r. in entitled, as matter Of justice, to be re-
lieved. think the gentleman from Illinois is in
here. The printing Of the census returns
does not constitute part Of the printing of the
two Houses of Congress. It falls under the head
Of department printing. In 1889 Congress di-
rected the then Secretary Of State to contract with
the printers to the next Congress for the printing
Of these returns, and in conformity with that act
the census printing was executed by the printer to
Congress, and not er Qficio. So much, then, for
his right to claim the census printing er e6fcio.
But, sir, have examined the proposals and con-
tracts Of Trenholm & Belt, and il the work al
ready executed has subjected Mr.. R. to loss,
have no hesitation in giving the opinion that
just and fair construction Of these contracts would
impose still greater loss had he been required to
execute the census printing under these contracts.
The work is rule and figure, BREWER, and there is
no clause in either OF the classes embraced in Mr..
Ritchie's contract that would render such an enor-
nous profit it is insisted he would have realized
by the job. If am correct in this opinion, then
Mr.. Richie has not been injured by the action of
Congress, nstructing the Secretary Of the Interior
to contract at his discretion, for the printing Of
the census returns.
But, sir, there are other considerations why
these contracts should not be abrogaed, or if alb
rogated, why should not pay supposed losses
and here he no |
that at the time the bids were made these con-
tractors, as well as Mr.. Richie, knew that the
work could not be performed without loss. The
declarations of Messrs. Trenholm and Richie,
made only few days after the contracts were de-
clared, are conclusi i've Of the point. They con-
coded that they had taken the contracts too low,
but that they would 60 on and execute them, and
rely upon Congress to make up all losses. Mr..
Trenholm, when Intercepted why he had taken |
the contract at such low rates, replied, that it
was expected there would be Democratic ma
Jority in the present Congress, and if so. they
would be relieved by Congress, the contract sys-
tenn would be abolished, and Mr.. Richie would
then be elected public printer at former prices.
grace they come to this House and ask to be
relievedi They cannot, truly, plead any misfor-
tune. Mr.. Trenholm has the reputation Of rank
ing among the best, and one Of the most intelligent
printers in the city; he was good judge Of the
work, having been many years connected with il,
and knew well what prices would remunerate.
The contractors were neither over-reached, de-
ceived, nor defrauded. They all knew Wendall
d. Van Benthuysen, their predecessors, and the
first contractors under the new system, had sus-
tanned heavy pecuniary loss, rendered more OPP
pressive from the fact that they were compelled
TO fit up and furnish all the materials, type,
presses, &C., necessary to commence and carry on
the work. And Notwithstanding all this, they
contracted, deliberately, to do the work at less
prices than those paid Wendall e. Van Ben.
thuysen. The contract Of the latter firm, being
the first, was a mere experiment; and il you re-
lieve the present contractors, who had the benefit
Of their experience, and who voluntarily placed
themselves in position where loss may ensue,
you can no longer, in justice, refuse TO refund
every dollar, and interest thereon, to Messrs.
Wsndall & Van Benthuysen.
DO you propose to establish the principle that
MI contractors IN the employ Of the Government,
wno, nom want Of Judgment or through folly,
seinsnness, or other cause, involve themselves in
olmcuity and are threatened with loss by carry
ing out faithfully the stpulations of their con-
tracts, are to be thus summsrily relieved by Con-
gress; II 90, you will soon DESTROY ali 6del;tv in
r.suR AERNAA -