The daily union., 1852-05-15

tee have been excusabe in ntrustng TO him work OF
much magnitude and Importance as those reports
Sir. prudent business would have hesitated one
minute 10 withhold H. Well, II he could not do II, and
this manifest, did not the law authorize the commit
tee to have Il done9 Il surely did Has the gentleman
from Indiana read the law Were judge from the
exhibition Of intelligence which he has made here to-day
upon the subject should say that he never read II IN his
life What power is given TO the committee by the law
power to adopt such means they may deem neces-
say The law the discretion in the committee TO
the mode of remedyng the neglect or delay OF the public
printer IN executing the work ordered by Congress.
do They employed. under their discretion, competent
TO do such of the work as the contractor could not
OF would not do. And this the gentleman from Indiana,
in the bitterness OF his spirit towards the committee, calls
'uampng upon the law, 49,.
The gentleman has talked much and Indignantly OF
coalitions formed by the committee between political edi
tors Of different parties have upon another occasion
denied any purpose of that kind, lar my action
concerned. The honorable gentleman from Tennes
MR. PoLKl has exculpated promptly his friends DON
elson Armstrong, from any such charge, and very
cheerully endorse what he has said know that from
the beginning TO the end these gentlemen resisted d.
vision OF the work between themselves and the Repub-
c and if any political idea had controlled the action OF
the committee. such the gentleman from Indiana init
mates, know these gentlemen well enough 10 say that
neither OF them would have received single dollar of
the work upon such terms But the gentleman's new
born zeal against coalitions is to my mind, nexplicabe
He startes if thunder-struck at the mere suggestion
Union and the Republic TO obtain such OF the public
printing the contractor cannot do Great God II
was not always 80 with this Jealous guardian OF
the public integrity Two years ago, when Mr., Nc
Willie Of Mississippi, then chairman Of the Printing
Committee, came into this House with report, ask
ing TO release Mr. Richie from his ruinous contract,
ing. where then the Indignation OF the gentleman
How happens il that he, who is now 80 sensitive OF the
political honor OF his party remained SILENT and did not
rise from his seat and denounce that committee for pro-
posing so unhoy combination or coalition! Was he
silent because there existed then motive, there is
now, for such punic indgnation!
MIR. FITCH. This is the first knowledge have had
of such proposed coalition the gentleman mentions
Mr.. STANTON. have it here, and can read it to the
gentleman from the original manuscript.
Mr.. FITCH II may be so !; | do not deny il. But l
tell the gentleman how it happened did not oppose
it, There was no definite action probably had upon il or
should haze opposed it, So far from being party 10
gentleman, should have opposed it. as do The one now
under discussion Whatever the gentleman may assert
know that proposal for such coalition he mentions,
and as he has made himself party TO-, was long enter
tanned by the last Congress- or any final action had rela
tive to it. The gentleman will 6nd no vote upon the sub
ec Hence its araya here argument or precedent in
this is species OF pettloggng which township
Justices court would rule inapplicabe.
: Mr.. STANTON. The gentleman's zeal against
liton did not happen to be aroused at that time;
Mr.. STANLY. Without intending TO mpeach the mo-
tives of my friend from Indiana. will tell the gentle
from Kentucky that he will find it about the time
Mr.. Ritche comPlimsnted the gentleman from Indiana
Gas able, accomplished and eloquent" Laughter
Mr.. STANTON. thought there must have been
some reason for his silence
Mr.. FITCH. | wish the gentleman from North Caro-
lima would show me the compliment | am as fond of
compliments as himself though moi of the character Of
some he has received. tt.M
Mr. STANLY. made speech last session referring
to it, and | will show il TO the gentleman.
Mr.. FITCH. The gentlenans speeches are always
complimentary-o himself, if not TO Others
Mr.. STANTON. Another point in this controversy
which disturbs the equanimity of the gentleman from
Indiana and has afforded him wide held for the
else OF his peculiar characteristics is the prices the
miliee have agreed to pay Donsson s. Armstrong and
Speaker, the resolutions which have referred as part
of the report of Mr. Melville, and which the gentleman
quietly permitted 10 be acted upon in the House without
any exhibition OF such we have to-day, moi
only proposed TO form coalition between the leading
whg and democratic organs in this dy, but actually pro
posed to pay them not less than twen,yv per cent
higher than we shall have TO pay Donelson & Armstrong
and Gideon Co. Here SIR, are the resolutions in the
hand writing of Mr. Melville, OF whom il may be said
better democrat or more hghtoned gentleman
occupied upon this floor | viii read from the
manuscript:
SEC 4nd belt further refcped That Thomas Richie
and Gales & Seaon be appointed by the houses tc
Belt for the remainder Of ie Thirty Congress. at III,
price of hlryhye per cent reduction for short numbers
thousand on the prices Of printing fixed by the joint resou
TO ,ion Of the 81 March, 1919 and that the said Thomas
bond with good and sufficient securities" &c.
Here was proposition to release William M. Belt ant
his securities from their contract-o abrogate il entirely
Not only 10 do this but 10 form coalition between ad
verse give very greatly
beyond those provided for in the contract made with
Union and the Republic, which are at least fy-6ve OF
sixty per cent below the prices of 1919. The gentleman
from Indiana nothing terrible in all this He startled
neither at the coalition the prices, but sat quietly in
his seat and permitted the report TO be proposed to the
House and acted upon SO little impression did it make
upon his calm and placid mind that the whole matter
had unit, now faded from his recollection.
maintain sir, that the Joint Committee on Printing
has in respect transcribed the plain requirements oil
the law We have attempted, according TO the best die
tates OF judgments and consciences, TO adhere TO
provide against the delinquency of the contractor
and "remedy his neglect and delay" The gentleman in
his excessive zeal TO find fault with the committee, very
absurdy denies that have power TO do what the law
in such plain language commands He assumes the III
dculous position that matter what may be the future
ment TO protect Congress against present and past de-
faults oil this kind, we provide for those to take place
hereafter "tample upon the law" and transcend our
powers most sage conclusion truly, and worthy OF
the enlightened mind which makes IL
Suppose. al the commencement OF the session. Bow
ordered by the House, and make provision for il
whateter Suppose IL was apparent to all that he
neither willing prepared 10 execute the various items
OF work they ordered each day by the House
What, under these circumstances, would be the duty
Of the committee According TO the learned exposi-
ana, we must quietly wait until a reasonable time has
elapsed for him TO execute the work. and then give out
each single Job arrives after having afforded him an
opportunity 10 do IT, and make contract for every
job to be done That is the process in the view of the
honorable gentleman, which the law requires the com
stupid enough to believe that such is the character OF the
awi II requires such absurd procedure. Under the
authority "to adopt such measures may be deemed
necessary TO remedy the neglect and delay of the public