The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-01-30
SPEECH or ma. SMITH,
or CONNECTICUT,

delivered q. he osnas o Me United StaeS, January
II, 1882.
The following joint resolution, submitted by Mr.
BRlGH, being Under consideration
Be il resolved by the Senate and House. of Rspsssalars
That The Joint Committee Printing be directed 10 con-
tract with Donelson Armstrong for printing cousus
sonsble- o1alol
Mr. SMITH moved the following amendment;
Strike out all after the word That in the third ne and
shall be the duty Of the Secretary OF the Interior in
conformity with the provisions of ha entitled An ac
making appropriations for the civil and diplomatic
penses 'hs government for the year 1884, approved on
the 18th Of May OF sald year. TO contract or the compost
seventh census the classified and arranged
by said Secretary; and in like for so
much paper and Of such qualify, he shall deem proper
lor said work and in like contract for binding
said returns as patod il such Style as he Judge
pedient provided the party each Of said shall
give such surety and said paper and work shall be subject
such inspection as said secretary shall require to insure
Mr.. SMITH said Mr. President, | regret | should
have the III fortune to be member of the Committee on
Printing the duties OF which are, perhaps irksome
honorable body But as the Senate has been pleased to
assign me 10 situation on that committee it became my
duty to turn my attention TO the subject before sub
lec OF very considerable importance in its practical
suits, and still more important OF the prnci-
pie rule of conduct which, involved in the resolution
offered BY the senator from Indiana, Mr. BRlcnrl
At the threshold OF my remarks Mr. President, | de-
sire il may be understood that have other purpose
addressing the Senate upon the present occasion than
promote ulSpQSlllOn OF subject snail
form TO the public interest desire also dscam
teainng any sentiment OF antpathy, either political
personal, for the highly. respectable gentlemen whose
names introduced in this resolution Ii about
TO confer favor upon any Of the propretos of the
various printing establishments in this city, know OF
reason why should not do that favor readily and
as cleerfuy 10 the gentlemen who named in that
resolution as TO any other firm parties whatever But
Mr. President, il is proposed in this resolution TO dispose
of an important work, which involves the expenditure Of
avery large sum OF money, upon the principle OF favor
illsma principle 10 which utterly object. and which
conceive to be inadmissble on the present occasion.
What is the character OF the resolution that is now SUBJ
med the consideration OF the Senate II is proposed
by honorable friend from Indiana [Mr. BRIaHTj that
the two houses OF Congress shall make peemptoy order
on the Committee on Printing to make a contract with
certain firm in this city denomna'ed Doneson g. Arm
strong o the execution of this work, upon such terms
this committee shall Judge 70 be reasonable We are
not, sir 10 inquire whether Messrs Donelson s, Arm
strong are competent to perform this work. We are not
inquire whether they have The requisite machinery
and The requisite material, or the requisite capital TO
Bile them TO perform the work in that shall
port with the public interest We not to inquire
whether they are as competent more competent than
The poprie!ors OF other printing establishments 10 the
country. We.are not TO inquire whether they would be
willing TO do this important work terms favorable
70 the public as those on which other individuals might
be willing to do it, But to make contract with
them at all events. There is be no qualification ex-
cept what is involved in that Clause OF the resolution
which provides that i is to be done upon such terms
the committee may deem reasonable" Nothing can be
further from my thoughts than TO cast any mputaton
upon my honorable friend from Indiana who has sub
mlted tD8 proposition 10 the consideration oil lle
ate and certainly would not express, as do rot en-
eIan the slightest want OF confidence in the recttude
Of my honorable friends who constitute majority OF The
Committee Printing. But ask. what is the charac
ter Of this resolution Itis, that committee Of this
body. or rather Of the two houses OF Congress, organ.
ized-and properly organized. | admt-upon political
considerations majority OF which, IN the proportion oil
four TO two, sympalhze feeling and opinion with the
majority Of the two houses shall make contract, not
with any OF The citizens OF the country who are pre-
pared 10 do this work terms most favorable 10 the pub
lie, but with the proprieors OF political organa highly
respectable organ adm-o do this work such terms
as the majority OF the committee shall deem to be
able
Now, what does this mean, Mr. President, and what
is the essential character OF the transaction The facts
and circumstances Of the case speak language which no
one can mistake When consider that this work is
not to be opened 10 the public generally. and that the
drawing up OF The contract and the settlement OF its terms
10 be committed not the Executive not 10 the hon
orabe Secretary oi the nerer, any officer connect
ed with the executive department OF the government but
toa committee organized political considerations and
having political purposes and views, who to make
contract with the proprietors OF apocal organ sympa
thzing with majority Of the committee on terms TO be
prescribed at their discretion what can be more apparent
than that the promoters OF this measure intend the conces
SION OF peculiar advantages 10 the parties named at the
public expense DO you not mean that Doneson Arm
strong shall have an advantageous contractl Is not this
10 be money making business Do you contemplate
that severity OF stipulation In favor oil the public which
every prudent would observe in his private af
asa Is not lbera,y 10 be accorded 10 Donelson
x Armstrong than would be TO any else II not,
why not this work opened 10 general competition Is
not feared that these favoriies will make money
enough II they constrained to compete with others for
hs work Bat, 10 make all sure, they are 10 have
mohopoy-they the only persons to be dealt with
we cannot call for bids generally, and cannot know
now low other competent persons may be willing TO do
The work We are TO proceed in the dark find out as
can what terms reasonable, and then conclude bar
gam, which, in spite OF the committee, would be lob
alike discredtable to Congress and pernicious
ample Hence learn the reason why the honorable
chairman Mr.. BoRLAsDl should manifest such Tepug
nance for the duty which proposed to be imposed upon
the committee. understood the honorable chairman 10
TO himself and his State before he would submit 10 it,
consider this another expression OF that high OF
rectitudc which has uniformly marked the OF my
honorable friend.
But Mr. President, there are some objections to this
measure which wish TO urge in detail, and which
conceive 10 be worthy of the particular attention of this
body In the brst place. have to remark that, in the
present state condition OF this subject the measure
utterly impractcuble; or, in other words, the commit
lee cannot determine what terms would be just and
sonabc, for the that Congress has not yet
hNed or determined the number OF copies TO be printed
My friend from Indiana tMr BRIGHr does propose
TO settle this point; and yet ii would that this
question to which he should have addressed himself
al once when he proposed TO print the returns Are
70 enter into contract for printing without knowing
how many copies are TO be ordered by the Houses
How can the Committee on Printing determine what
terms reasonable unless they know what is to be the
number OF copies and the magnitude and extent ot the
work. II my honorable friend from Indiana will re-
nect on this subject for single momeBt he will see that
Is utterly impossible for TO form any opinion
N regard TO what should be the terms. And why