The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-01-08

committee might give this contract of printing po
cal presses, irrespective OF the in which il is lo
DC performed, and irrespective OF the prices 10 be paid
while The Secretary OF this body and the Clerk OF the
oher House, owing responsibility TO their respective
houses, would be afraid to do So
Mr.. B0RLAND called for the yeas and nays on his
amendment; which were accordingly ordered
4 Mr.. BADGER AS the yeas and nays have been or
dered upon this amendment, wish 10 say few words
70 explain the reasons for my vote agree entirely in
the opinion that the duty which the amendment OF the
senator from Arkansas Mr.. BoRLANDl proposes 10 i'm
pose upon the officers OF the two houses diff
hcut and delicate one and would be perfectly will.
Ing as lar as am concerned, TO let the resolution
main IN lis original form. But when the senator from
Arkansas MIR BoRLAED,l who is at the head OF the
Printing Committee OF this house, informs the Senate that
be IS not willing to take the responsibility which is thus
proposed to be devoved upon him that he is not will
ling 70 become contractor or an agent for contracting
and letting out the work of the Senate and when
cur TO the rules of this body under which that commit
lee was constituted and find that duty of that kind
was contemplated to be imposed upon them, and that
by tins resolution we really directing that committee
TO perform what does not properly belong TO the
rial duties oil the members OF this body ALL do not
see how can with proprety and with just regard tor
the motives which that senator has stated and for the cir
cumstances OF this case. which enhte him 10 ask
empon from having imposed upon him duty which
does not belong 10 his office SENATOR his position
upon that committee refuse the which is concede
to HIM what he desires and what think he has right
think this joint resolution without his consent, cannot
rghtully impose upon him and his associates upon that
commltlee For that reason, and that reason only,
shall vote Tor his amendment
Mr. GWlN think that if that is the only difficulty
that the honorable senator from North Carolina MIR.
BADGER feels upon this matter he will change his opn
IONS when have made statement with regard to the
duties OF that committee Now, suppose that the pres
ent contractor fails TO perform his duty is it the duty
OF that committee to make another contract go with
the printing! As Understand the law, the very duty
are now seeking to impose upon that committee might,
in the event OF the failure of the present full
nj ms contract, come upon them to perform. According
to that law they required do If that is the CASE
certainly not going beyond the letter Of the law to
put that duty upon this committee which will perhaps fall
upon them without this resolution.
| MT. CLEMENS. wish merely 10 ask statement OF
a fact understand that this resolution was submitted
OF that committee overruled the senator who has offered
this amendment, opposed the amendment, and reported
this resolution back in its present form | would ask if
| Mr.. BORLAND. The senator from Alabama is cor
rect did not offer this amendment coming from the
committee. ! offered il from my own of propriety.
Since the senator has referred TO the action OF the joint
committee, IT will not be improper, apprehend TO state
the vote OF the committee. will state il. The joint
committee, as is known to the Senate, is composed of
three members OF the House and three senator's The
vote was, three IN favor of the resolution, two against IL
and one member OF the committee did not vote at all
voted with the majority SO voted with the express
declaration that il was for the purpose OF getting the mat
ter before the Senate, but that would offer this amend
ment. lfthe whole OF the committee had voted think
there would have been majority in favor OF the resou
uon as proposed TO amend IT. and that 1t will be SO
found when the vote comes to be taken here. AT any
re tns amendment oil NINE represents the sentiments OF
| majority OF the Senate committee
/ MI. HAMLlN. | desire merely TO state in addition
10 what has been said by the chairman Of the committee
Mr. BoRLAND in relation to the state OF the vote which
decided this matter, that myself was the individual who
withheld his vote | did for this reason was in
favor OF giving the contract TO the persons named in the
resoulion-l am so now-but was not in favor OF max
ing any committee of this body a pack horse for the
Senate, nor TO make any committee OF the Senate
mtee to into The street and chatter and bargain for the
Senate, when we have ministerial officers TO whom those
duties properly belong And the senator from Arkansas
Mr. BoRLANDl will recollect when state the fact that
stated that withheld my vote not because opposed
TO this work being given the persons named in the
resolution, but because wished the ministerial officers
of this body to do that and not the committee.
Mr.. BORLAND. Certainly; that is the fact.
| Mr.. BRIGHT. felt delcacy about pressing this
resolution after the senator from Arkansas Mr. Bon.
LANDl announced his unwngness 10 perform the duties
that would be imposed upon him by il. But since his
first speech, have had my attention turned 10 awhe
general law authorizing the printing OF Congressand
find that this joint resolution proposes nothing more than
is now enforced upon that committee by the law which
was approved on the Sd Of August 1916. understand
from that law that If the present contractor should fail
TO perform any part OF The public printing, all
of it, is made the duty Of the committees OF the two
houses to select another person, and make full and
pie provision for the performance OF the public printing
The law does not even stop there but goes that
those committees shall settle and audit the TO be
paid Tor that work And there is still greater force and
propety IN that law, IN view OF the TACT that have
furnished each oi these committees with clerk 10 assist
them and IN view OF the fact that during the OF
the Congress before the last il not mistaken,
mlUee OF senators drew pay during that recess Tor ser
wees rendered as members of the Committee on Public
Printing state II as fact that, since the organization
OF the committees Public Printing, members OF tha,
committee have served during the Of Congress.
and drawn their eight dollars per day for their services
Mr. BORLAND The statement of the senator Lom
Indiana Mr. BRIGHT] has reference state OF things
which existed before became a member OF the commit
tee or OF the Senate Prior to that time it customary
not for the committee 10 remain but for member TO
remain to audit the accounts Of the public printers pre-
sented after the adjournment OF the Senate Since have
been the committee different practice has prevailed
Now, instead OF any member OF the committee remaining
TO audit the printers accounts and drawing his per diem
during that period, the Secretary OF the Senate the Clerk
OF the House of Representatives and the clerk OF the
Committee on Printing, constituted board 10 audit
and settle the accounts OF the public printers during the
The Secretary OF the Senate aud the Clerk OF the
House receive extra compensation for that but
the clerk of the Committee Printing merely receives
his per diem. That is the present state OF the
MIR BRIGHT. | do not understand the law TO have
been changed since the period have mentioned. The
same law under which the senators and members OF the
House acted as Joint committee during the vaca
ton and drew their pay yet in force. The senator
complains of the duties which II is proposed to throw
upon that committee think that the law, when read
will clearly demonstrate that we impose additional
duties upon that committee. As the law is brief, will
read 1t for the information of the Senate:
"SEc. g Ind BE- AZ further resoipsd, That committee
consisting members Of the Senate and
bers OF the House of Represeuavessha be chosen by
their respective houses, which shall constitute Committee
on Printing, which shall have to adopt such
be deemed necessary remedy neglect
delay the part of the execute the work
ordered by Congress- and make reduction In
the pensaon allowed refuse the work altogether
should Il be inferior 10 the Standard" NC.
This committees as organized under this law has the