The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-18

his contract was losing money--thatt the session
WAS prolonged, one---that the debates were
very prolix and protracted and that be had lost
large sum OF money at the rate OF at least y 90
per day. What did Congress do! Without one
word OF difficulty, an act was passed granting
him relief, and he was reimbursed for his losses.
sustained that measure, for thought u fight'
have no objection whatever To it, and ihink
now il was right and perfectly just. Because
have differed with the editor the SIMON news
paper upon the mere party issues which have
heretofore divided the country, am TO wlthhoiu
my consent to this measure! Why, at the very
last session a resolution was introduced here,
: aud, as far as know, was not debated at all
giving to Messrs Gales a. Seaton acontracL ON
which ! hope and believe that they VIII make
large sum of money They were losing money
in the publication of their paper. The publishers
of papers are so situated here atthe seat govern
ment, that they are unable to support Their papers,
from the small amount of advertising which they
get, unless they receive government patronage.
The case of Mr. Richie, in my humble opinion,
presents itself in stronger light, and makes a
more powerful appeal to us than any or all the
cases which we have had before put together.
sincerely believe that the relief afforded IN the
resolution which we have offered is no more
than is just that we should give to him. II the
resolution Uuu gwen SOLnctIltiiR oNtt ti't "po'S
the actual cost, ], for one, should have voted for
it. II it had given sum sufficient to have real
lied him handsome profit, should have voted
for it, But this resolution asks for no such
thing. 1t merely asks that you should give one
half the prices provided for in the act OF 1919,
! which will not be more than the actual cost
trust Mr.. Speaker, that when this resolution
has been fully considered by the House it will
be passed.
MIR. BURT said | have not obtained the floor
| for the purpose Of discussing the merits OF the
report made by the Committee on Printing, but
to make a suggestion, or rather to offer reso-
luton, which think should be acceptable to
every member of this House. cannot be insen-
sibe to that which is obvious to the sense OF
every body, as well to the promptings of my
own party feelings.
\ know, sir, that it is moral certainty that
this House, apart from party feelings is disposed
to make ample remuneration for any losses
which Mr.. Richie may have sustained in con-
sequence of his contract for the public printing
i But, sir, when person here throws his claim
upon the justice and the generosity of Congress
we should require him to show that he has sus-
tanned this loss Now, whilst have great re-
spect for the opinions Of the Committee on
Printing of this House, and though have the
highest respect for the opinion OF the select COM
mittce on public printing, have made inquiry
in relation to this matter, and find that neither
of these committees have shown to this House
the extent Of the losses or the gains OF MIR.
Richie by the execution of the public printing.
| apprehcnd that the opinions of these two CON-
mittees cannot both be correct For one seems
to infer that Mr.. Richie has found it proiita-
bic business, and the other committee that he
has found it an immensely Improbable one
Now it seems to me that there is nothing nthis
case which renders these claims upon the justice
and libcrality of Congress valid, apart from the
fact whether the losses have been sustained, and
if sustained that they were the result of this
contract. We must first know whether Mr.
Richie has performed his contract agreeably to
its terms, and whether by that performance Of
his contract has lost ; and if he did lose, to what
extent.
Now, on the one side it is said that upon one
portion of the public printing Dir. Richie is lie
gally entitled to very large sum; whilst on Thu
9 other side hear it suggested that he is not so
5 entitled. | desire to know the facts. ] desire
{ to know whether Mr. Richie has executed his
contract and if he has executed it, what sun
; he has lost by its execution. And am free Il
confess, that if he can show that he has sus-
tained losses, believe that he will be compen-
stated by this House. 1t has been suggested to
me in conversation, by the members of the Com
mittee on Printing, hat Mr. Richie cannot show
what losses he has in effect sustained. Well, il
he cannot show those losses, apprehend it is
too much to expect of this House to suppose
that il can take his own loose estimate. ] I'M
derstand that Mr.. Richie is wholly unfamiliar
with prnting--that he cannot make these est.
mates himself, but must leave it to his persons
of business who, at least, mnst be able TO make
them. If he has sustained loss he can show to
the House and to the country, with some ap-
proach to certainty though not, perhaps, with
perfect certainty, what those losses are
Now, we all know that Mr.. Richie is not only
the public printer, but also the editor of the
daily, tri-weekly, and believe, the weekly Union
also, and that he also executes private printing.
Mr.. Richie may find himself loser upon this
whole bnsiness-I doubt not but this is the case.
But say that it il utterly impossible but that
Mr. Richie can show to the House with some
approach to certainty, the result of his exeou-
ton of the public printing. lie may have lost
upon his newspapers. | believe that the publ
cation of papers, especially of daily newspapers,
! in this city, is never source OF proht to the
publisher Surprising his loss shall have arisen
from the publication Of a daily newspaper in
this city, imagine nobody here would venture
| to propose compensation for a loss of that kind
MS oniy tuu'l'pt Siaih upon WIS
House arises from his relations to it as public
printer, and if he has done his duty in that ca
pacty and sustained losses in consequence, II ap-
pears to me, say, that il is almost impossible
that he cannot show, so as to make it clear to
| the House, the actual amount of his losses.
To the end that we may have that informa-
ton before we vote upon this proposition, !
move that the report Of the Committee on
Printing be recommitied to that committee, with
the following instructions:
"That the Committee on Printing be instructed
TO inquire and report 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 by his
, contract"
Mr.. McLANE, of Maryland, obtained the
floor, but yielded it to
Mr.. ORR, who said / desire to explain the
matter referred to by the chairman of the Com
mttee of Ways and Means, to the class o
public printing that had been assigned to Mr.
Ryes ne | stated nt n less price than was pnic