The republic., 1852-01-13
THIRTY SECOND CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
MONDAY, January IL, 1882
SENATE.
IsrERvENrIoN-RussIA-BUNGARv.

IsTERvESTIoN-RUssIA-B
Mr.. SEWARD presented the petition OF ive
hundred citizens of New York city, calling the
attention of Congr ess TO the intervention of Rus
sia in the affairs of Hungary, and urging Con-
gross to acquesce in the three petitions offered by
kossuth, in his speech at the banquet given him by
the municipal authorities Of New York. Referred
20 the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Mr. STOCKTON presented NO petitions pray
ing that Congress will not restore fogging in the
navy.
LOUISVILLE AND PORTLAND CANAL.
Mr.. UNDERW OOD presented several petitions
from Tennessee and Kentucky, praying that the
Louisville and Portland canal be purchased and
made free.
Mr.. SEBASTIAN reported bill for the relief of
Thomas Snodgrass, and after explanation, II was
considered and ordered to be engrossed
COMMERCE EAST
Mr.. SEWARD, from the Committee on Com
Incrce, reported resolution discharging that COM
mittee from the further consideration of the me-
mortal of Aaron II Palmer concerning his unpub-
lished work on the commerce OF the East; and the
resolution was agreed To.
MARINE HOSPITAL FUND.
MIR. HAMLIN reported a bill providing for the
erection of a marine hospital at Portland, Maine
MIR. FISH introduced bill 10 increase the salary
Of the district Judge of the southern district Of
Florida. Referred 10 the Commttee.on the Judi
ciary
pIsTRBuTIoS BOOKS.
MIR. PEARCE submitted the following resolu-
tions; which were considered and agreed to:
Resoired, That OF the synoptical index OF the laws
prepared and printed pursuant to a resolution of
the Senate, there be distributed, in the same man.
the copies of Little & Browns edition OF the
laws distributed under the act OF Sth August,
1916, (except TO the Library of Congress,) 6T0
copies; and TO each member of the Senate and
House Of Representatives who has not already re-
ceived the same, one copy; and that ten copies be
placed in the Library of Congress,
Resolred, That each member of the Senate be
furnished with the 9th volume OF Little & Browns
edition of the laws and that the preceding volumes
be furnished to those members who have not
already received them.
Mr.. SHIELDS said that he the chair
of two other committees, and he would be
glad if the Senate would excuse him from serving
tho Committee on Public Lands. And the Seua,
tor was excused, and Mr. BoRLASp appointed in
his place.
PRIVATE
The Senate took up the several private bills
passed by the House on Friday last, and they were
referred to the appropriate committees.
CENSUS PRINTING.
On motion of Mr.. BRIGHT the Senate proceeded
to the consideration of the Joint resolution direct
ing that the Committee on Printing contract with
Messrs. Donelson and Armstrong for printing tho
returns OF the Seventh Census, upon such terms
TO the committee may seem reasonable.
Mr.. SMITH moved TO amend the joint resolution
as follows:
Strike out all after the word ''that' in the third
line, and insert
ut shall be the duty Of the Secretary of the
Interior, IN conformity with the provisions Of the
act entitled An act making appropriations for
the civil and diplomatic expenses OF the Gov
eminent for the year 1872, approved the
18th May Of said year, TO contract for the com
position and press work of ---- copies Of the
returns Of the Seventh Census, the are
CLASSIFIED and arranged by said Secretary, and
IN like manner to contract for much paper and
of spch quality as he shall deem proper for said
work, and in like manner to contract for binding
SAID returns as printed, IN such style as he may
Judge expedient, provided the party to each OF
civ nd sai9
paper and work shall be subject 10 such inspection
hB said Secretary shall require to insure faithful
performance Of the same"
Mr.. SMITH sad that he had no antipathy either
personally or political TO the very respectable gen.
uetnen to whom 1t was proposed by the resolution
that the work should be given; he would soon
they should have the work any others. But he
ooJected 10 the principle OF the resolution; II was
nothing more than giving the work 10 DoneIson and
Armstrong upon the principle of favoritism.
The resolution was peremptory that the com
Inlttee shall contract with these parties; the only
condition annexed that is be done for prices
deemed reasonable by the committee. lie regard
ed Tie resolution sa IN ehect-though the mover Of
II perhsps had no such intention--en order upon
the COMMITTEES 10 give the work, which would in
vOlve the expenditure of large amount Of money
10 the proprietors Of the political organ Of that
party which was predominant in both Houses Of
Congress. The Committee Printing, too, had
majority OF the party; but to this he had no
objection-itwas perfectly proper. He had not the
Temotest idea that the Committee on Printing
would be inf huenced by any improper motive; on
the contrary, he believed it would discharge its
duty under the resolution properly and ustly; but
there was but little for the committee to do in the
selection BY the terms Of the resolution they were
10 make q contract with Armstrong and Donelson;
all others were excluded
Another objection to the resolution was that il
made no provision for the number 10 be printed.
How many copies were the committee to contract for
printing! This should be determined before any
contract vas made. How could the committee de-
termlne upon the price TO be allowed when the
number to be printed was not fixed, The price Of
compOsiton for one copy was great as for twenty
thousand, and the price per thousand copies de
pended greatly upon the number Of thousands
which tue contractors were called upon 10 print.
AnOther objection was, that it was impossible for
the committee to determine the extent or size OF
the work. That the returns would be Of immense
magnitude, could be well conceived, from the fact
that there were now one hundred and sKty-one
persons employed in the Census Bureau. That
these pcfsons were necessarily and properly en-
ploycd to complete the work, be had the slight
est doubt; and this should satisfy Congress that IL
ought not 10 order the printing of a work requiring
many persons 10 perfect il, without some exam
ination and scrutiny. How could the committee
csiimate what Ehould be given for printing these
returns, when Of the magnitude Of the work they
bad no definite knowlsdg,2
He thought that Congress could not well decide
upon ordering the printing Of the work until II
should be laid before them; II ought, when re-
ported 70 Congress, be referred 10 some committee
and carefully examined, and its accuracy, &c, as
ccr'alned. l should also be ascertaned il il
should all be printed; or, If lcss than all what parts
should be printed
he could not well why THE subject should
now be pressed upon Congress. Was II that the
Union Office was hard pressed for supplies, that
thc party cannot wait til the work shall be laid
before Congress- bst they must get into the Cen
Hus Office and carry Of the returns, page by page
% the LntOn office, in order that funds may be
drawn frotn the public treasury TO support tbe or
gan, Can gentlemen not wait til The document
shail be laid before Congress and examined, and
the number Of copies to be printed fixed; or must
they, 60 aid the organ, seize hold Of the head or
tail Of the document they find il, and send il Up
10 the Union Office, 90 as to give them something
TO operate on, lie thought il, 20 the last degree,
ipdiscrcct for Cougrcs5 10 order the printing O any
document without having secn il, or having it eI
amined II may contain errors In ls40 the re-.
turns OF the census in Montgomery county, Mary.
land, were found 20 inaccurate, that a ncW census
vas ordered 20 be taken. Might not similar errors
be found IN the, And il not well, in a work Of
much interest, 10 wait till 1t was examined be.
fore ordering 10 printing!
lie regarded the effect Of tIis resolution was 10
take thc arrangement Of the census from the Score
tary oi The Interior, where the law placed u, and
give IT % The superintendent Of the Census Bureau
That superintendent might be a good officer and
errors might cSIst; bot was il not adyjsablc 10
. "a b