The daily union., 1852-09-02


ilism
But Congress got tired, several years ago. Of dealing
oul departmental printing and congressional printing to
party iavorltes TO enable them To make large fortunes
and therefore, they went INTO this system OF letting II
oat the lowest bidder and, say. that so far as The
departmental printing IS concerned 1t has operated very
We'll have al my room letters from each and every
one OF the heads OF The departments, which should
have brought into the chamber il | bad supposed
tat The subject was coming up for consideration To-
day, In which they bear testimony to the admirable
operation OF The system of letting out the Departmental
printing TO the lowest bidder. The honorable Post
master General is particularly emphatic on This subject
viii be borne 10 mind that the large portion OF the
public service pertaining the post Office OF The United
States let out to the lowest bldder and the Posmas
ter General tells in his letter, which have not at
Post Office Department should not be let out 10 the
lowest bidder, much the transportation Of the mails
s let out 10 the lowest bidder and he is decidedly in
That also is the testimony of the Secretaries OF the
Treasury, Of the Interior, OF War; and of the late Sece-
aTy OF The Navy, (Mr Graham) They all bear !ssti-
mony to the economical operation OF the system They
say they not only obtain The printing OF the various de-
parlmens well executed, good paper, and commen-
surae 70 The wants OF the public service but at rates
great deal lower than they otherwise would and unless
Congress- as the House Of Representatives seems 70 be,
are prepared to return 10 the old system OF giving 1t out
upon political consdeations-to the old waseiul, podi-
gal, and extravagant system--I entirely that a
majority of this honorable body will concur in the
amendment proposed by my honorable friend from
Maine.
But here, Mr.. President, is most extraordinary state
Of things have doubt that The two houses OF Con.
gress have the right to appoint officer under the name
Of public printer, 10 execute the printing that IS required
Tor the two houses but has Congress the right, II II
has the right is exPedent for Congress TO seize hold OF
The printing OF the various departments OF the govern
uent Upon what principle it that elect the public
prime to do the printing Of the two houses OF Congress
is exactly upon the principle that we appoint Secre
ialy of the Senaie is exactly upon The principle that
appoint Sergeant -ataTms-it is exactly upon the
principle upon which appoint all other officers of the
Two houses of Congress-to do what! To exercise GER
tan uncons-discharge certain duties winch are abso-
ey necessary to enable TO perform our duties under
The constitution The public printer, therefore, is an Off
OF Congress- and has been recognised as such but
If usurp or think il is OF the nature OF usurpauonl
the power OF executing the printing for the departments,
know what sort of function that is Is the super
mendentto exercise his functions and perform services
cessary enable discharge our legislative duties here?
desire TO know OF honorable senators whether we are
elect public printer not TO Congress but to serve
The departments But TO what extent il to be carried
say it is highly improper for the two houses o Con-
gess undertake lay their hands printing that has
gress. And how is this 10 be done AT what expense
At very great sacrifice TO the lreasuy and to what
end My honorable friend from Arkansas Alr. BoR-
LAnDl has announced the end, or rather the result
viii not say the end contemplated by honorable senators,
because that would involve possibly an imputaton on
their mo,ves-5ut say the result of The system proposed
has been announced by the senator from Ark ansas
He says he wants put into the hands OF the priaer TO
be elected by the two houses OF Congress all the con-
fhe provisions Of the bill, have Of doubt
that its eject will be 10 accumulate considerable for
tune during congressional term. Bu, the honorable
senator says be have them accumulate fortune
rapidly. lie these to grew ii h at the ex-
pense OF the labonng industrious people OF the country
He wants 10 have them succeed each either n ihe aces
sion OF these fortunes ~ rapid succession andi believe
they will do II il the bill pasees.
Now totally opposed TO drawing within the yor-
tex oil the congressional printing the printing o the de-
partments We have 81 stem now that operates well
1 iCal RI.
mens, and not oppressive 10 t1e government Nobody
complains OF it, Why, then, is il proposed 10 lay violent
hands on that branch OF the public printing, and draw
under jurisdiction, and undertake TO execute il By
autborItyl
have other views TO express in connexion with this
entire subject but mean ID limit myself precisely 10 The
question before will not travel INTO the question
OF the merits OF the bill intend, in addressing myself
the Senate-anl fear shall be compelled 10 do II
than once-to conhne myself strictly and rgldy TO
the point before IT, do, therefore, most senuousy re-
sis Ia imhe the idea of breaking down the system OF
letting departmental printing to the lowest bidder,
when il operates well and nobody complains OF ltwhen
it il satisfactory TO the heads OF the depaument-when
nobody calls for the change, and when II apparently TO
draw within our urs lction upon idea such as has
been suggested by the honorable senator IRON Arkansas
As II important question, ask or The yeas and
nays the amendment.
Mr.. WALKER. think there has been an amendment
adopted which destroys the utility Of this bill II IS that
which limits its operation TO the 4th OF March next
Considering that that amendment destroys the efficiency
of the b and that there Is longer any use IN consid-
ering it, ! move that i lie upon the table
Several SENATORS 'Oh, no - "Oh, mol"
Mr. DOUGLAS. As that will be a test question, must
ask the yeas and nays upon the moton. -, -
MIR WALKER II the friends OF the bill, upon this
side OF the chamber particularly, do not want TO lay Il
down, withdraw the motion but | think there is not
much use in considering the bill any longer after the
adoption OF tba, amendment
The PRESIDENT The motion 10 lay on the table
having been Withdrawn the question is upon the amend
ment OF the senator from Name.
Mr. BAYARD ! shall yo,e against this, or any other
amendment, because IL seems 10 me- tha, IN accordance
with the amendment which had the honor TO propose,
and which the Senate sanctioned, a principle has been
adopted that this is OF temporary character
understood my amendment 10 be adopted upon the
ground N at there lime discuss the prnci-
pies OF bill oil this kind, 10 settle permanent system
had objections tn the bill on ground, the honorable
senator from Maine other grounds We could not
have opportunity now to discuss them, and thought
u was right that permanent system should not be adopt
ed without discussion But also thought il would re.
eve scnalors from their objections to the bill as stood
~ were made temporary N it's character The provision
making il Temporary having been adopted, Il certainly re-
moves my objection. Though am decidedly opposed TO
the bill permanent system yet as the Senate acceded,
with the statement OF those views TO the amendment
which proposed presumed that the object was TO lei
the bill pass as temporary measure, which the eygen-
cles OF the public demanded with regard 10 the
printing OF the next session.
Mr.. BRADBURY. Mr.. President, the sweeping, and
had almost said suicidal amendment offered by the hon.
orabe senator from Delaware which has been adopted
by the Senate renders the present amendment, imperative
and unnecessary. By the amendment already adopted,
the provisions Of the act 10 terminate on the 81 OF
March nexi and IL proposed TO exempt the PRINT
log OF the departments from it's operation. presume
that contracts have already been entered into Tor all the
printing OF the departments up TO that time; and as
think another portion OF the bill already makes this ex
r. this nd dmenf uou1