The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-03-14


amount that II will cost il be done by any other printer
But may be said that The person who has entered into
me contract to DO Tue public printing will not be ready
De SO out this document IL not desired until the
opening OF the next session understand he who max
he contract enters into obligation 10 do all the public
pruning LOT Tue next session tie VIII by mat ume nave
all his materials ready and have doubt the work
Will be we'll done.
Mr.. CLARKE. had no sinister motive in wishing
The printing TO be done under The direction OF The Sece'
ary OF the Treasury But certainly, any officer OF the
government could be trusted with simple matter. we
might trust the Secretary OF the Treasury with the PRINT
ing Of This report know nothing about the contractor
Tor The public printing. know not who be is bu tbit
document will be one OF the most valuable documents
furnished to the country aud Congress and depend upon
IT. we shall want that document upon our tables al the
commencement OF the next session. Very much TO be
done within the long session Very little has been done
now. The information contained IN that document Il
very important l. will be recollecled BY the Char and
the Senate that al the last session OF Congress special
order was made directing the Secretary OF the Treasury
10 prin, his annual report on commerce and Navigation
80 that We might have II on our tables at the next meet
ing OF Congress II has been very serviceable Before
the adoption OF the resolution, did not get that report
until half the session had expired This year we had
It upon our tables by the Isl OF January and has been
OF very great service This document too will be very
important. II will be synopsis OF the commerce and
navigation OF the country. together with brief state
ment Of the tonnage between thus country and foreign
countries from the year 1921 to the close OF 1850
know OF no document that II is more important we
should have upon our tables Who prints il care not
Il should be printed, and we'll printed and certainly
would be very unwilling to sanction the idea that the
present Secretary OF the Treasury could not have done
well any other department OF the government. \
there is any danger OF delay hope the amendment VIII
be placed upon our tables at an early day. have
Mr. cortland As have had some connection with
the public printing deem il my duty to make remark
this matter. need not remind the Senate OIL our ex
perence in regard TO public printing Tor the last two
years We are all sufficiently familiar with The nGonye
niencc that have incurred in that respect We know
too that applications have been made Tor relief under the
contracts and statements have been made and suppose
the accuracy OF them 10 the losses which nave
been sustained by the public printer have made some
inquiry with regard to the new contract cannot say thai
can speak with perfect confidence with entire certainty
10 its character; but am informed, upon what re-
gad the best authority that the present contractor has
undertaken his work at much lower prices than we
have had for the last two years, under which con-
tractors say they have been ruined am informed upon
what consider to be good authority that he has under
taken the contract for much less amount than ne can
buy the white paper for. As this my opinion, based
upon what consider good authority, deem 1t my duty
to state it the Senate that they may know what to
expect il they order the printing TO be done under thai
contract. .
Mr. DAVIS, of Massachusetts, | think i, probable
the Secretary of the Treasury would understand this res
olaon that he should cause the printing TO be
executed under existing laws. There IS standing law
in regard the printing OF the departnents-that sha
be let out to the lowest bidder II there is any doubt
about that think it would accomplish the object OF my
friend from Rhode Island and from Pennsylvania. BY
interpoatng according TO the provisions OF existing
-, IL
That is all that necessary. think il is well enough as
is but if there is any doubt about it, those words car
be inserted.
Mr. BRODHEAD | withdraw my amendment, and
offer the proposition suggested by the senator from Mas
sachusetts
Mr. CLARKE. | accept it.
Mr. HALE II we adopt the resolution in that form
will it be courteous the Secretary' There Is an ex
isng law which requires that the work OF the depart!
ments shall be given the lowest bidder. Now, will II
him. respectful to ourselves, TO say that ht
shall do according existing laws But will not the
adoption of thus resolution with such an amendment con
vey the idea that we are apprehensye he will not do
according the existing law Will 1t not imply sus
picion that be will do il otherwise
The PRESIDENT The resolution be modified
but ty unanimous consent. J..
No objection being made, the resolution was podIfce
accordingly.
The question being taken upon the resolution, il wa
adopted
On motion by Mr. HALE, the Senate proceeded to th'
consideration of executive BUSINESS and after some um
spent therein, the doors were reopened and
The Senate adjourned