The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-13

Isrsss from adopting the resolution befors the
House. he compared the expenses Of printing
IA 1919. with thoss Of the present time. Refer
ring To the complaints Of the public printer because
the crDsus printing had been given To another, he
went into minute statement relating to the
ner in which the contracts were entered INTO, from
/ which he inferred that they had no right to ex-
pcct that class of printing As to the complaint
that II certain kind Of binding which was enjoyed
! by former contractor, had been taken away, he
! stated that that was contracted for at the same
time Mr.. Richie contracted to do the printing.
! The contract required the printing TO be upon pa
per weighing thirty eight pounds to the rea'"
The regular numbers we're printed on that KIND OF
paper, but the extra numbers, comprising three
fourhs Of all, were printed upon paper Of inferior
quality. Twenty thousand dollars had been saved
| by this means.
| Mr. ORR proceeded to state some facts which
in his belief had actustsd Mr.. Richie in
bidding at 50 low rate. The persons bidding
| against him, il successful, were to establish an
| other Democratic paper IN this city. Rather than
that his establishment should be deprecated IN
value as it would be under such crcums stances, he
concluded to run the risk of a loss IN the public
printing. Moreover he expected that the next
Congress would be Democratic, and the contract
| system would be abolished. Mr.. o. referred TO
the delay experienced in obtaining public docu-
ulents from the printer aud concluded by some re-
marks justfyng himself with reference to assaults
that would be made upon him.
Mr.. BAYLY understood the gentleman Of
South Crroina to say in the course ofhis speech,
that the successful bidder for printing for the next
Congress had proposed at lower rates than Mr.
Richie.
Mr. ORR. On one class.
Mr.. BAYLY. That gentleman is in the Hall
and he has authorized and requested me to stale
that bis bids are higher than MIR. Riches for
every description of printing.
| Mr. ORR. say that Mr. Rives got class at
| a lower rate than Mr.. Richie.
Mr. BAYLY. MIR. Hamilton, the person who
got the mass Of the printing, says that one
description, he gets fifteen cents per page more
than Mr.. Ritchie, on another 81 10 higher, and
on the press work his bid is between five and
seven cents higher.
Mr.. MOREHEAD of Kentucky, said, that be-
ing member of the Committee on Printing, he
had given attention to this matter. He desired
that unAinchng justice should be meted out to
MIR. Richie. Differing from him in politics, and
possessing as strong and ardent feelings an most
men in this House, yet he could not bring him
| self To believe that Mr.. Richie would make false
| statement as to the operation Of the contract
Looking at the matter in the light that the con-
tract will be productive Of serious loss, he wished
to act from considerations of justice alone 1t was
not unknown that the organization Of Congress
| at the lust session DELAYED for six weeks |
During that period, Mr.. Richie had one hundred
men who were necessarily idle When the first
documents ordered to be printed were delivered
was exhausted. Money could not be obtained ex-
cept at high rates Of interest, and Mr. Richie then
asked to be relieved from his contract, leaving
to Congress to do whatever should be thought fit.
| Mr.. M. went on to say that it the quantity
! Of printing ordered, which under the circumstan-
ces made the contract disastrous. Two hun !
dred millions Of pages had heen printed, making
at the rate of 800 volumes per day. He then pro-
ceeded to speak of certain printing under the fifth |
class. One OF the documents containing an opin-
ion OF the Supreme Court, the other the obituary
notices of General Taylor. The charges for print
ing those documents had been alluded to as extrav-
agant, yet under the wording Of the contract in
the opinion of those learned in the law, Mr.. Rit- |
chic was fully entitled to all that he had claimed
Mr.. Feadall had given an able and ingenious
opinion to that effect; So had Mr.. Mccullough.
Mr. r. ]. Walker, whom he regarded as one of |
the ablest men in this country, had given the
subject full and complete Investigations and had
| arrived at the same conclusion.
Mr.. MOREHEAD commended that the con-
tractor had the right if the contract was losing
one, to require its execution to the letter. Garry
it out, and Mr.. Richie will receive more than he |
will under the resolution before the House. Mr. |
"a referred to the testimony Of J. G.. Rives from |
which he inferred that about half the prices OF
1919 should be allowed the contractor. Referring
to former allowance to Gales and Seaton, Mr. |
NJ said that he would not refuse the~.ne JUS
tlce to political opponent. Relief was granted |
Mr.. Rives at the last session upon his testimony |
that he had lost at the rate Of 800 per day
Mr.. BURT rose to offer amendment which |
it seemed to him would prove acceptable to every
member o. the House. He was not Indifferent to
that which was obvious to the sense of every body
ms well as to the promptings Of his reast. He
believed the House was disposed to make Mr..
Richie ample remuneration for any losses he
might have sustained. Mr. Richie had come be-
fore Congress- and should be required to show
that he had sustained loss. While he had great
th A. ~
ing, as well as for those of the seect committee,
still neither OF them had exhibited the extent Of
MIR. Ritchie's loss. One found the contract pro-
ftable, the other Improbable. Mr.. d. could see
nothing in this to elevate il above other claims
upon the justice and liberaity Of Congress. To
act intelligently we should first ascertain whether
the contract had been adhered to according to its
terms, and whether in SO doing, loss had been in
Cured, and il so how much. If loss could be |
shown, the House would make the proper CON-
pensaton. With view TO obtain information,
whereby the House could deliberate before acting.
he would move that the report be recommi,ted
with the following instruction.
That the Committee on Printing be instructed
to inquire and report to this House whether Mr..
Richie has executed the public printing, having
regard to the quality Of the work and TO time,
agreeably to his contract and what sum he has
lost thereby.
Mr. McLANE then obtained the floor, and ad-
dressed the House M length in favor Of The reso-
luton. He regarded the proposition OF Mr. Burr
as calculated TO postpone relief to Mr.. Richie
Mr. Mel combatted the positions taken by MIR
Dan, of whom he made inquiries concerning the
per cen,age that might be deducted from the rau
of 1873, no as to save the public printer from loss
AT the close Of his remarks,
Mr.. RAYMOND demanded the previous ques-
ton, which motion was not seconded by the
House. =,
Mr. CROWELL then sent to the Clerk 3 table
an amendment to the resolution. 1t extends the
same advantages to the contractors for the last
Congress as to those for the present one.
Mr.. MARSHALL, of Kentucky then obtained
the floor, and spoke at length maintaining that
Mr. Ritchie's bids were made with the view to
break up the contract system, and 10 bring back
the prices Of 1919. 1t was done with view to
uphold the political press in this city Without
concluding, he gave way to
Mr.. CROWELL, who moved an amendment
Carried. The House then adjourned
THE WEEKLY DISPATCH,