The daily union., 1852-09-08

when be did come there desirous of reporting
the Oil back 10 the Senate and went into
animation OF the prices in the bill The committee dsa.
greelng TO what should be done and no agreeing
there was no investigation made opinion expressed
by The committee as 10 the prices nxed upon in the bill
Mr. RUSK There was no time.
Mr. HAMLlN, Besides, there no time, as the
senator says But one word IN relation TO another ponl
mat mas been raised III has been said that other
tracts have been made and other paid in addition
10 the contracts. That is no rule by which can be
guided. O'her Congresses may have made contract,
and then abogated it, but that furnishes guide for
me-. II they have done wrong. it is not rule for
II they have done right, be il TO do in thit
case what believe is Just between The parties and the
county Comparing the contract with the prices OF the
resolution Of lSl9 il the paper ccst FIVE or six dollars
ream and the printers and presses worked at night, the
resolution OF 1919, with twenty hive per cent oh. would
pay less profit than il would when the paper 80 80
per ream, and the printers worked only the day lime
In the latter they could afford do il for fifty per
cent OH the resolution Of 1919, and make money
with twenty per cent Off The very difference in the
mode OF executing would furnish very handsome profit
that Is The tact in relation 10 these contracts Every
body who knew anything about printing knew that th,
printing OF the last Congress and of the present
shameiuly executed, and member of the Printing
Committee my vote stands recorded lis journal then,
as al this session, against receiving the work done, and
then as now, simply because the work did conform 10
the contract, and because | desired that the contrac
should be faithfully and fairly executed The senator
from Arkansas (Mr. BoRLANDl concurred with me, bu
we were overIuled by majority OF the Joint committee.
Mr.. SMi III. While on that point wish to inquire
whether the Senate committee did not appoint me sub
ceyed or not and whether did not the respons
by of receiving it when all knew that there was no
conformity with the contract
Mr.. HAMllN think probably the senator is
right; but the fact has gone out of my recollection
only know that against receiving the work last
year and this, simply because il did not come up 10 The
standard and conform to the contract
Taking this state of the it presents itself, il
seems to me that do injustice to ourselves and in
justice TO the country we pass an amendment like ha
which has been offered by the senator from illinois, Ii
the matter to which the Senate should give
favorable consideration, free to say that think the
povlso suggested by the senator from Arkansas would
deal very fairly and justly with the contractor but be-
lieving as do, that il is neither Just right to make
contract, and hen to pay for wilful violation of it,
cannot agree, according to the dictates of my judgment
to give farthing .r#H
Mr. CLEMENS. The senator from Maine has not
met the point between him and myself He stated--at
least understood him to satehat Mr.. Richie would
stood hun Then, he does not assert that Mr. Richie
would make any such amount He does not pretend 10
assert, as understand him now, that there would be
anything made by him because he does not pretend 10
say that the documents in his possession prove that any
such amount could be made that any amount could be
made. He says he does not know what the losses are
but we all know that there was loss upon the contract
We all know Mr, Richie did lose by III and say
here in the face OF the Senate and of the country that
| want nobody 10 work for us without getting a
compensation Tor IT, want every man who does
work for the government OF the United States not
merely TO get pay for n-not merely 10 get even that
but TO make reasonable per cent The senator from
Maine does net pretend TO assert that this amendment
would give MIR Richie more than reasonable per cent
he voted, according TO my recollection, for Mr. Ben
tons resolution TO give twenty per cent of the prices OF
lsls We propose to deduct fifty per cent and this j,
is said, is extravagant and extraordinary Why did
they think was eytravagant and extraordinary then 10
deduct twenty per cent only' We propose to deduct
thirty per cent more but that is extravagant now while
twenty per cent. was not extravagant then | cannot
understand this process OF reasoning do not profess to
understand IT,
Mr. DOUGLAS. II the senator from Alabama will
allow me TO interrupt him, wish to say that have no
means OF knowing whether the proposition Of the senator
from Arkansas will be acceptable to Mr. Richie not,
as the terms OF settlement. understood him 10 say,
when spoke TO him TO whether be would agree my
amendment that il would be the least possible amount
that he would accept As to accepting the proposition of
the senator from Arkansas should be apprehensive ha,
there would be difficulty in determining what would be
due Mr.. Richie under the contracts but am willing TO
leave that TO those who 10 audit bis accounts and il
they cannot agree, to leave il TO referees viii there.
fore take the responsibility for myself binding others
to accept the amendment OF the senator from Arkansas
limiting the amount to $4,000
The PRESIDENT That will not be in order while
consideration.
Mr.. BoRLAND Task the senator from Connecticut
10 Withdraw his amendment, TO allow the senator from
Illinois to incorporate my proviso 10 his amendment
Mr.. SMITH / have such entire confidence in the
sound judgment OF the honorable from Arka
that although think Mr. Richie ought not TO have one
~
be more than $4,000, yet will Withdraw my amend
ment
Mr.. DOUGLAS. Then, accept the proviso OF the sen.
aor from Arkansas, so that my amendment will read
follows:
"Propided, That in settling the for the printing
Of the Thirty first Congress, half of the prices given by
the joint resolution OF 1912 be allowed, erceedn the
amour, that would be paid under the respective contracts
settled by the prices the bill of House of Rep
resenaves which passed the 3lst of July last In
70 the public printing estimating the AT the actual
thereof; 10 be paid out OF In the treasury
otherwise appropriated Ind propided further, That the
amount to be paid for said printing, and above the
amount which would be paid under the aud the
rate Of the contracts for the shall exceed $50 600
Mr.. PEARCE. | do not mean 10 detain the Senate
long. but | have additional remark make. II
bad not sufficient already for voting against the
proposition, should find it in this. Before the
system adopted, Mr.. Richie the public printer
under the old sysem-for how many years do not re
member am not sure whether II was two or four, but
he know the printer for Congress before the rates
reduced by the contract system and during that
time he made he must have msde--no with any
of prudence with anything bat the grosses misman-
agement would have failed to make--large sums oi
money. II has been urged, and again. that he
did make large sums, and have doubt OF it.
have heard il said that he made 800 900 while he was
the printer TO Congress before the contract system
adopted Having made large profits al a time when large
pros could be made, with what proprety does he claim
that should now indemnify him for alleged losses
made under less favorable contrscti Upon the whole
taking both contracts together, he mus. have made large
ly and yet we propose TO give him $4,000 more Am
glad that It is reduced that much, but that rather more
than in the habit OF giving to the greatest bene
factor OF the country What great statesman Is there
who has had the bounty OF the government show
cred upon him this public printer, who did not per-
form his work faithfully What has the hero received