The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-03-03

The PUBLIC PRINTING.-M Mr. BOYD Hamilton,
of Philadelphia, the successful competitor for
the printing of Congress, has published card
in the Philadelphia Ledger, in relatoa to the
newspaper statements as to the rate of the
prices, from which we extract the following:
Since my private business has become the
theme Of public discussion, it is right that DO tn
sides of the story should be told, and | know
that you will grant me snll space for that
explanation, which promise to make as briefly
as possible.
"A combination was formed at Washington to
prevent the public printing from falling into the
hands of any one who did not reside there.
When it was guessed that my propositions had
been successful, the correspondents for news.
papers, through the telegraph, were put in mo
ton, aided by nearly the whole corps of letter
writer's, to state that Mr. Rves had the large,
and | had the small portion of the work but
not word about low prices Next day e
tune was changed; | had the large, and Mr.
Rives Ga first rate man of business, by the way
had the small portion, and that my bids, success
ful for the most part of the work, would not cover
the cost of paper, &c The truth remained a
mystery until it appeared that Of all the bidders,
was the one that his The afzf' in the right
place while all but one of the bidders had
missed it. When | left Washington, this was
beginning to be wel-known, and in what shape
it will be given to the public ! am at loss to
conjecture
The propositions for the public printing are
based upon schedule furnished by the clerks.
II was made four ye RS ago, and has not been
altered In any material point since. The lowest
bidders four years ago obtained the contracts,
at an aggregate Of about 1913 900. and claim be
fore Congress 10 hare lost trom $4,000 to 81 :
500, and they purchased m entirely new estah-
lisbment. The lowest bidders for the existing
Congress, Messrs Belt Il Trenholm, (of which
Mr.. Richie became assgnee,) obtained the
printing at an aggregate OF about $4,000 ex-
elusive of the bills by Mr. Towers, at about
$4,000, total of 10000. Mr. Towers makes
no etaim fDr loss, but Mr.. Richie says he has
sunk from $4,000 To $4,000 He Offers to
take as ample remuneration 80 pcr ccnt. off the
prices of 1919, the whole amount Of printing
executed by him ia form the basis of calcull-
ton, thus excluding the basis upon which his
bids We're formed. ! am perfectly contcn, if
Congress votes him all he asks but his own
proposition would not net him over $4,000 at
most. NY bids for the n xt Congress, about
which the combination at Washington have
managed to give currency to so much gross mis-
representation, form an aggregate on the basis
of lSl7, of about $4,000 and IT the next
Congress order as much printing as the last, III
run the risk of the difference between making
and losing "a fortune"
In the contest for the jobs, the Union office
had two bidders, Mr.. Bowen and Mr. Farnianl,
of Washington and the difference between their
b Dis and mine is not $4,000 while the differ
ence on various portions OF the work between
such practical, substantial and experienced print
era as Mr.. Rives Mr. Gideon and Mr.. Towers
will not vary more than $4,000 or $1,000 On
one class. Mr.. Rives and myself do not vary
$500 in our bids,-Na. Intel