The daily union., 1852-09-03

ness, have been utterly opposed the renoduction into
Ing on The principle Of political iavortsn and IL ha p
pens that lind self record. in train Of remarks sub.
ing the returns which views expressed such
had the honor to lay before the Senate yesterday and
hope the Senate will indulge in reading from these
remarks lew extracts showing what said la first
exiiaet which will read, remarked as foilowst
lny accord in the opinion which has been expressed
by my friends The other side OF The chamber. that the
has gone by Tor investing tue head OF any department
with an arbitrary discretion upon this subject OF painting
This is an extract from remarks made by du.
ring the bst session OF the last Congress- 10 which the
honorable senator from Indiana referred.
And then, again Muss
Now, taen this committee has reported this bill,
have before remarked containing the provision Of the old
law, and conierng the head OF the Department of the
ateror the arbitrary power OF making contract with
dyidua that he pleases and upon terms that he may
see t Without advertising without npetlon. To any
such provision in this bill utterly opposedno that
believe the honorable gentleman the head Of that depart
ment would abuse the trust thus oondded in him (; am
convinced he viii execute twh much fidelity any
osasy OF the distinguished citizens Of the country.
Now sir In order 10 Ieazs, rather To carry out
what has been the policy Of the for several
contract and given the lowest bdGeral that is requr
ed Is the addition OF few words to the clause Of the
section"
The last clause reads thus:
"And further, the made, the
TO be classified and arranged in the best and
be printed Tor distribution"
That the proposition of the Committee on the Cen
sus ior giving arbitrary power TO the Secretary OF the
The extract further proceeds
Nov, sir, il the amendment OF my honorable friend
shall fail shall propose add that clause these words
On contract, as now provided by aw'-that is 10 say
That is to let tout by contract as now provided by law
by advertising in the newspapers and subecting the
matter TO fair competition. Here was bill that would
have given absolute discretion the Secretary of the
Interior, and came forward and said would agree 10
no such thing could net offer the amendment just al
that lme because there was an amendment pending TO
an amendment; but said that when that obstacle was
cleared oat OF the way. would propose amendment
requiring the printing OF the census to be let out by con-
tract in conformity with law. But, furthermore, re-
marked
ii would say that am not for subsdzing the press OF
the city, either the whig the democratic presseiher the
one or the other"
And again
As to the scheme of giving the printing a, this late
day. 70 the political OF this city, proposition that
! shall resist 10 the nttermost, and at all times"
And finally, remarked:
intend sir to resist now, and all times hereafter
the ofthe public printing with the potcai
Of this city, whether upon the side the other.
therefore insist that the 2ist section is exactly right; and
with respect the preceding section all that required
Is simply the addition Of -four five words, such have
already suggested TO the Senate"
Now, what this twenty first section' II was the
section which related to the preparatory printing and it
did give discretionary power TO the Secretary OF the In
leroT And said that was all right for special reason
But with regard 10 the other sec,ion regarding the print
ing Of the returns, said that it right, and that it
ought 10 be so framed as to compel the Secretary OF the
Interior to let out to the lowest bidder and upon fall
competition.
what said in regard to this twenty secion relating
10 hs preparatory printing, while he leaves entirely out
OF sight what said on the question now before There
were special reasons then stated why the preparao
printing should not be lei out 10 the lowest bidder
and there were other reasons which will not now re-
peat
Now. after had brought before the Senate and the
country, aud the senator HIMSELF the facts and consider
aons to which now refer, the honorable senator rises
up and renews The accusaiionand all suppose by way
OF expediting this bill through the Senate. lie is in
great hurry 10 get IL through. All have TO say is, that
il is rather novel way OF managing matter OF this sort
But not content with this display of diligence in coming
over The record, by way OF hunting up Inconsistencies
Of which may have been guilty at some time or other,
The honorable senator introduces to the Senate in
dcment He says that insisted upon il that the prices
named in this bill are exavagan; and he further says,
that member OF the Committee on Printing,
have quietly acceded TO contract TO have the print
ing OF the Senate and House OF Representatives done
al the same prices, If not higher prices, which the
chairman OF the Committee on Printing [ Mr. HAMLIsl
says extravagant have been long time associated
with that gentleman on the Committee on Printing and
must say that never knew him to swerve hairs.
breadth from the strict line OF his duty as chairman OF that
neither Tor party purposes nor personal iavor
ltsm. He has been much more ngid IN dealing with
these contracts than would be disposed TO be- and
rather inclined 10 think that be was right and that was
wrong
have no occasion. Mr.. President. to controvert the
statement made BY The senator from Arkansas Mr. Bon
LAsBl have said nothing about the prices named IN
this bill recollect that did say something to the SEN
the improperly OF our laying our hands on the de-
printing objected 10 II most decidedly, al
though was overruled by majority oil the senate.
will not enter into the details oil the prices have here
do not know what they are, whether they just
or unjust, extravagant or Otherwise; but they some
what correspond with the prices which the committee
agreed pay to Donelson Armstrong for the printing
Of the House, and Gideon Co for the printing OF the
Senate have doubt that the prices will yield pretty
large profit DESIRE however, to ask the senator from
Indiana whether he supposes that the Committee on Print
ing could make contract for mere fragment OF the
printing upon The terms, and al as low rate as
whole Congress Sir we never agreed that Gideon *
Co. should have the whole OF this printing We entered
into such stipulation
Mr. BRIGHT. Does the senator from Connecticut de-
sire an answer TO his question now
MIR. SMITH The senator can answer now ii be
chooses
Mr. BRIGHT understand that the contract which
has been made requires the party undertaking the work
to do Just such printing be referred to them TO
ecute by either branch of Congress during the present
may decide
Mr.. SMITH The senator from Indiana does not
stale the matter accurately, though, doubtless he in
MessH Gideon Co , aud Messrs. DoDelson Arm
strong, shall have much OF the printing OF this Con.
gress as il is impossible for Mr.. Hamilton TO execute.
That is all. Nov, desire TO know from the senator
whether he supposes that favorable contract can
ee made with any printer on the lace OF Gods earth
the contract were Tor the whole time Remember that the
contract not made for the entire printing OF the
House OF Representatives for the entire printing OF
the Senate but merely for such part Of the printing
Mr. Hamilton could not during the residue OF the
session in conformity with his contract | will ask the
cnafa L.. tl,at,