The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-01-14
THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION

/
| SATURDAY, january 10, 1850.
The senate did not sit to-day, having adjourned
over until Monday.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
Mr.. vINTON, having yesterday nominated
JAMES MoRsE for the office Of Sergeant at. arms,
this morning withdrew his name from the list of
| candidates.
Mcssrs. sAcKETr, Thompson of Kentucky, HAIR
MS of Tennessee, and RoBINsoN, resumed their
seats tellers.
| Mr.. EVANS, of Maryland, moved that there be
a call OF the House II was not ordercd--yeas 62,
nays 1873.
COMMERCE AND NAVIGATION.
Mr.. McWILLIE, from the Committee ON Print
ing, made report, that ten thousand extra copies
OF the communication Of the Secretary of the Trea
sury, ON commerce and navigation, be printed for
the use of the House
Mr.. CONGER wished to know the expense of
printing this document. He believed that all the
committee had to do was to inquire into the cost.
MIR. McWlLLlE said that IL was impossible, in the
present state of the matter, TO state with precision
| what would be the cost There would, however,
be no charge for composition, the setting of the
supposed that there would be no objection on the
score OF cost as the usual number Of the document
would be printed, independently Of the extra num-
| Der.
Mr.. CONGER remarked that the law under
which the committee act requires, when they pro-
pose the printing of any document, that they also
report the cost. He, therefore, protested against
ordering the printing OF any document. unless the
| expense was stated; and moved that the further
| consideration Of the report of the committee be
| postponed until Monday next.
Mr.. McWILLIE said that there was a general
contract for the printing, and until the type
set, the committee could not determine the cost of
| the work proposed TO be executed. He had un-
| derstood that the document would make two hun
dred or two hundred and fifty pages. II the print
ing should be deferred until a future OCCASION the
". M ba tai ri ard
the expense of the extra number be increased by
decomposition. Now, the expense win be only for
| the paper and Presswork.
MIR. THOMPSON, of Kentucky, member of the
Committee on Printing, was understood to make
remark in support of the views advanced by the
gentleman from Mississippi.
Mr.. Nc WILLIE moved that the report be re-
committed.
Mr.. STEPHENS, Of Georgia, moved that the
committee be instructed to inquire into the expe-
diency and cost of binding tho extra numbers of
the documents in neat and cheap form.
Mr.. SCHENCK wished the committee to INQUIRE
into the propriey Of reducing the number of copies
lie had never had ten of them called for. II was
an exceedingly expensive document. 1t might be
| that he moderated these documents
The question was taken, and the motion of Mr.
| SCHENcK disagreed to-
Mr.. BROWN, Of Mississippi, was glad that the
gentleman from Georgia had made motion look
would examine the history of documents published
by Congress, they would find that heavy expenses
were involved with little profit The reason To his
mind was obvious. The documents are sent out m
sheets, and that was the end of them. II would be
infinitely better to reduce the number of COPIES
and distribute them in durable form. He did not
like binding In cheap FORM If the documents
are worth binding, they should be bound in SUBJ
stantal form de wished TO see them in places
where they could be referred to. 1t is fact that
many OF the sheets go into the grocery stores, and
are made use OF for wrapping paper. This is the
experience OF members OF Congress. The few docu-
Ia. E.,,,, .,,xh he.
raj States but venturcd the assertion that of the
forty or fifty copies of the Presidents message dis
trlbuted by every member, not three would be pre-
served IN ma; any congressional district He was yet
TO meet with one in his own district Occasional
ly, one man was discovered to take care of public
documents; but if they be bound, every one who
receives a copy will take care of it. The document
ON commerce and navigation contained heresies of
peculiar characters yet he was for preserving il.
MIR. CABELL, of Florida, inquired whether it
was In order to offer amendment, to inquire into
the expediency OF binding, not only this document
but all documents containing over hundred pages
Mr.. STEPHENS would say, in reply to the gem
teman from Florida, that he intended to move an
inquiry into the proprety Of having all the docu-
ments, printed by order Of the House, bound.
What he meant by cheap binding was, such as
that OF the report OF the Commissioner of Patents
which he believed cost ten fifteen cents avolume.
Mr.. BROWN said that the binding of the Patent
Once Report was worse than no binding at all
The first time il is read il falls TO pieces He would
have the documents bound like the Congregational
Gio6s-leather backs and boards. The muslin
binding was worthless. Whatever is worth doing
at all, should be well DONE
Mr.. STEPHENS was willing that the committee
should have all the suggestions before them and
port upon the subject.
The amendment Of that gentleman was agreed
| 10.
Mr.. HOUSTON inquired whether il would be in
order 70 move the printing Of an increased number
OF the Report on Commerce and Navigation.
The SPEAKER said that il would be in order to
offer an amendment. The committee, however,
would have the subject before them, without the in
struction.
Mr.. ROBINSON, this matter was likely TO
consume much time, moved to lay the report OF the
committee on the table.
The question was taken, and decided in the
negative;
And the report was then recommitted.
Another resolution from the Committee ON Print
ing, proposing to print four thousand five hundred
copies OF the report ON the Coast Survey, was re-
committed, that the expense Of printing might be
ascertained.
The House then proceeded 10 vote for