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

difficulties attending him, the impossibility of
getting money without paying enormously high
rates OF interest notwithstanding all these, !
md there has been more printing executed than
had been executed in any one session from the
organization of the government up to the pres
ent day. This being the case, another question
presents itself TO my mind, and one which has
had considerable influence in bringing me to the
conclusion to which have come upon this sub
ject. Allusion has been made by the honora-
bile gentleman from South Carolina, Mr.. ORR,
who has just addressed the House, to the fifth
class of public printing, in which was comprised
the opinions ofthe Supreme Courtand the obitu-
airy notices of General Taylor lIe speaks Of
the extravaganza OF the charge made by the
public printer for these two items of printing.
Now, that very reason ought to be controlling
influence on the mind Of any reasonable man
why we should pass the resolutions now under
discussion. Under the fifth class of printing,
according to the opinion Of some individuals,
whatever may be the opinion of gentlemen upon
this floor to the contrary, the charge made by
Mr.. Richie for these particular items was in ac-
cordance with the contract. Such is the opinion
of Mr. McCulloh and Mr.. Fendall, men who
are learned in the law--men for whose opinions
| have the highest regard. These men have
come to the deliberate and solemn conclusion,
after the most thorough investigation, that Mr..
Richie is Justly entitled to every cent of his
charges upon this class of printing. The dis
trct attorney has given the same 0 inion. Rob-
ert ]. Walker, a man Of high talents, man
who is acknowledged throughout the country as
one Of the abest men in the country, on ques
tons of finance especially, has given such an
opinion. Although he differs politically from
me, i will do him the justice to say, that, in my
tons of finance Well, Mr.. Walker, after
thorough analysis Of the case in question, came
to the deliberate conclusion that Mr.. Richie
was entitled to every dollar which he charged,
under his contract with Congress. Further
than this, we have the opinion of several emf
ncnt senators upon this subject. We have the
opinion of distinguished senator from North
Carolina, Mr.. BADGER, AMI an ADLER lawyer
| there is not to be found throughout the length
| and breadth of this entire land, a man whose
whole life has been dedicated to the law, and
who, upon thorough analysis of the whole
subject came to the same conclusion, that MIR.
Richie was entitled to all he charged, and that
Yif he has made n losing contract, he has the
right to claim relief If that opinion should be
sustained it would give him more than double
the amount which this resolution asks for him.
Mr.. Richie has asked, that, instead of this al
owance being made, the matter should be re-
ferred to the Supreme Court of the United
States to decide upon this technical, abstract
right to receive what he charged upon this fifth
class of the public printing; and that, whatever
might be the decision, he would be satisfied
with it. He proposed to thro aside to give up,
the $4,000 which he had received from the
Senate upon this fifth class Of printing, and re-
ceive compensation fr it of one.half the
price.
| New, Mr. Speaker, as to the amount of com
pensaton we are to allow him. do not wish
| to detan the House upon the subject as to
whether it should be what the gentleman him
| self who opposed this resolution has sad or
not From all have heard upon the subject, !
am satisfied that we do nothing more than barely
cover the cost of the work by appropriating the
amount provided for in this resolution.
Now, sir, have known gentlemen to make
paper calculations which show, beyond all dis
pute, the precise cost for which contract can
be executed but when you come to carry the
contract into effect, the result shows that these
calculations can never be relied on. There is
not practical man in this House who does not
know that paper calculation as to the actual
i cost OF executing contract-as to what the
work can really be done for, rarely, if ever
| proves to be correct
\ III LOOKING over Wilib HAS DccH Siiu on Dotii
sides Of tbs question, have not passed by the
statements which have been made by this spe-
cial committee on printing ] have examined
everything which was said before that commit
tee. have read that report, and all the evil
dence which was taken before that committee
! have read it all carefully and impartially. |
find in that evidence statement made by Mr..
| Rives gentleman who has had some contro-
versy with Mr.. Richie, but about which know
nothing. | have never read one side or the
other. have never read the statements Of Mr..
Rives or Mr.. Rtche's answers. ] have taken
no part whatever in the contest which has been
going on between them but when Mr. Rives
is brought up to the witness stand to bear ties
timony in relation to this case, believe in his
statements He says
taking the amount of work at this session
as standard, and adopting the style of work
done by the printers for this session, the public
printer cou afford to do the printing for both
Houses, at the price of one-third less than the
prices fixed by the joint resolution of 1919.
He would lose on the composition, but would
more than make it up on the press-work"
Mr.. Rives, then, when called to testify upon
his oath, says the price Of tie public printing
might be one-third less than that fixed upon by
tie Joint resolution of 1919 On the other hand
ask the House to consider the price for which
Mr.. Richie actually engaged to do the work,
which is sixty per cent less than that provided
for in the act of 1919. The gentlemen who
had the contract to execute the printing for the
last Congress, came befole this committee and
testified, that under their contract they lost SlS
900. / look further into the testimony, and
find there is no difference of opinion as to Mr.
Ritchie's work being done from ten TO fifteen
per cent better than that performed by the con-
tractors of the preceding Congress. Taking all
these things into consideration, we came to the
conclusion, after the most thorough investiga-
ton, that we would give him half the price
provided for by the resolution of 1919, which
we thought would indemnity him for the actual
cost, b no more.
Mr.. Speaker, ] do not intend to detain the
House longer upon this subject ] only desire
that gentlemen should understand the motives
and principles upon which we were governed in
reporting this resolution.
The gentleman from South Carolina TMr.
| ORR has asserted that Mr.. Richie could afford
to do this work cheaper than the former con
| troctora bpcnnse he had n printinu eat NJ