Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1852-02-05
The Public Printing.

the subject of printing the Census
Returns has caused considerable debate
in Congress, aud the whole ground rela-
ting to the public printing has been gone
over with. The subject is certainly one
of importance. and some reforms are as
certainly needed i'll this department OF
the public service" The style and
quality of printing and binding official
works at Washington. has hitherto been
VIGOROUSLY defective. Yet these works.
be it remembered, are not got up for
mere temporary purpose but are printed
for circulation and pressrvaiion. They
are designed to go down to poste'i.y.
as reliable recold s Of the ti>e and prog>
ress VI our nation. in all its diverse inter>
ests. They are 10 form an important
part of Ghe public and private Libraries
Of this and other countries. From them
the future historian must draw large
part OF the facts and statistics which will
60 10 make up the sum Of our nation ;
history. Hence, our congressional doc
uments, and the reports Of the several
departments and bureaus should not only
be printed in = readable and durable
manner. but in style such as a rcspect-
able city publishing house would not be
ashamed Of. This, however. has not
been the care. Much Of the public
printing would disgrace the meancst Of
fee ofths back woods. We have in our
mind at this moment, Fremonl's over
land journey to the Pacific, which was
published by order Of Congress. It Is
quite large volume, and on subject OF
permanent, interest and importance-ye,
the printing, the piper, the binding and
the ergravings, are all Of the very cheap
est quality.
And why is all this? Is not our
Government as we'll able To pay for good
printing as are individuals =? And if
it does pay. why is it content with such
miselab Die swindle 10 our mind, The
evil complained Of can be accounted for
on either or both Of the following suppo-
si,ions The printing is bid off at SO low
a rate that one cannot afford to do the
work well; or, if contracted for, the
contractor determines to make tie best
of good bargain, and get all he can GU:
of the Gov.rnm <nt- land partizan com,
mites wink at a s:n in which they have
themselves participated So l""geIy.
Our distinguished Senator. the don
Truman Smith, "a membs, of the Com
miltee on Printing! addressed the Sen.
ate on the subject in question, on tie
18th of January. His speech (Which
has just reached us, occupies nearly
sixteen closely printed pages. 1t WIS
predicated upon the following resolution
submitted by Senator Brigh; from Indi-
ana
Resolred, &c. That the Joint Com
mittee on Printing be directed to contrac,
with Donelson d Armstrong for printing
the census returns, upon such terms ~
the committee may deem rea sonable.
To this Mr.. Smith offered an amend
ment, or rather a substitute, providing
that tie Secretary Of the Interior con-
tract for the composition and ptesswolk
Of a specific number of copies Of the
census returns and in like manner con-
tract for so much paper and Of such a
quality as he shall deem proper for said
work and in like manner to contract
for the binding Of said returns in such
style as he may judge expedisnt. DC.
-This amendment covers the whole
ground. and is certainly most worthy
substitute Cor the loose a d indefinite
original. Mr.. Smith haudles The subject
In mastery manner. exposing the cor.
rupiiOn and frauds which have gradually
cTept into this branch Of The national
expenditure, and suggests The remedy.
We lrpas hn viii parasvsls until he has
effected . thorough reform. We shall
hereafter give our usaAeys soma extracts