The daily union., 1852-01-15

4
| have done is right
Now, submit 10 senators upon this floor if we as in
dvduals had contract to lei ont Tor printing Tor which
we would have to paw 100000, whether we would no
do under special contractle out to the lowest bid
der, after ascsrtaning the character OF the work de-
sired TO have done Most certainly we would and who
would be the best one TO be employed 10 do work o.
that kIndf Why the person who understood the sub
ject OF The work the best And who understands the
agent TO get it done Not the committee OF the Senate
known as the Committee ON Printing Why, their organ
here, The chairman of that committee, [Mr, BoRLAsD,l
making contract by which the sum OF $500 900 Of the
public money Is to be expended Why does he refuse 10
do this Because he says he is not competent TO do it.
and It is not in the line Of his usual vocation He has
not the Judgment necessary 10 protect the country through
his inslrumentaly from bad contract Where, then,
can we next go We must 60 to the head OF the depart
ment who got up this work-lh Secretary OF the ne-
There is public printing done by contracts made
by tha department than is done by any other department
OF government And the public printing for these various
departments has been done for past under contracts
made by the heads OF the respective departments And
has not the printing been done satisfactorily Have we
heard any complaint about their printing, have
heard about the printing done by contracts of Congress
Certainly not. Why. then, shall we say 10 them we
VIII not trust YOU tq DO this work Why take il from
do as the committee OF the two houses Now, here is
work the printing Of which will involve. we will say,
be published in the style Of certain book--the Amer
can Archives, Tor instanceupon certain kind of paper
bound in certain way. Who is TO see that il is done
According to the plan Of the from Connecticut,
Mr. SmTrH which concur in. is the Secretary Of the
Interior Are we to suppose that he will do upon
plan not durable in its character and one not ad,
have competition-le the Appetons and the Brothers
Harper and other great publishers say what they will do
it for He will have competition, and competition egu
laes prices, and brings labor down to the lowest point
where il can make support and is da,y to have
this done He would open this all the book establish
menis in the United States they could in and
thar
and the proper amount and kind Of capacity 10 do the
work, you could say 10 them, there is the public
nouncemsn put in your bid and the lowest bidder shall
have it. want to have the contract open to the Globe
otce the Republic Office the Union Office the National
ntegenrer and all the other printing establishments in
the Union
But upon what principle is this resolution to be passed
Is because the Union office do the work better than
any other Office! Not at all They may do equally
we'll for aught know. And the only objection have
to this resolution is that you exclude competition, you
conne your committee to make the contract with
tain Office thus deprying the country of all the advan.
tage of competition.
II is said that our work has been badly done In some
instances that is true. But ii is unjust to that old
who formerly did our printing! allude to Mr. Richie
been honestly complied with. And the printing from the
Office OF A. Boyd Hamilton which has been laid before us
and sent TO the country is better than any have had
Mr. BORLAND. Do4understand the honorable sena.
tor TO say hat the printing and paper furnished by
present contractor have been according TO the terms OF the
Mr. DAWSON. / think the printing which has been
'as%S5 Mn RIf s. sNn e isof such character
mtee Printing, examined that priniing-tred 1t with
pair OF scales made expressly for weighing papers and
have found that il falls twenty five per cent below
what the contract requires and not at all OF the quality
which contracted for.
Mr.. DAWSo am not speaking OF The contract,
but of the character Of the printing and the paper do
not know the terms OF the contract; but think that the
paper and the printing both very clear and to my eye
very good But il is alleged that all your special con-
tha ida Ippf antho hoFa hQU
been let TO the lowest bidders have been total failures
on the part OF the government Now, would ask OF the
senator where is there special contract made with the
lowest bidder according 10 the terms speced, that has
not been confoned to, and the work well done Here
your Blue Book, and Schoocrafrs publication relating
to the aborgines of the counIy-hey have come up to
the contract Besides If you let Out to the lowest bid
der according specified TERMS and he who gets the con-.
tract fails TO perform bis duty, what your courts OF
justice intended fori What is the effect Of the judgmen,
OF this body You have the power OF appropriation and
If there should be failure TO comply with the contract
you have in your own power to stop the appropriations
TO pay for it and you have il in your power to sue the
vioator Of the contract, and damages from him
Has il got TO this that there is such want OF confidence
in the power OF the government to make contracts IN
Of the failure OF certain persons 10 fulfil their
contracts and discharge their dutes that we must our
selves direct the contracts TO be made with certain indl-
vidualsl 1t is unjust in the first place, TO argue.
The presumption should be that every man who enters
contract honest and will honestly conform TO IT.
II he fails, he alone is liable TO blame
prefer the amendment OF the senator from Connecti.
cut Mr. SMITH because il brings composition into the
disposition of this contract because gives to the whole
printing interest OF the United States right 10 Judge
whether either OF the persons therein engaged Gao bid
lower than any other not When the public printing
is TO be disposed Of, and contracts to be made for H.
is right that belongs TO the printing establishments oil
this country have the liberty OF making proposals for
the work II is contrary TO the principles OF our govern
10 con6ne contracts in the way tins resolution pro-
poses We should endeavor to govern our actions in
such manner TO place our actions upon such ootng
will allow every in the community TO compete, u
he DESIRES for the advantages OF any contract we may
have TO make And submit to the Senate and the coun-
try should either party-and care not which party II
bepursue the proposed by this resolution whether
they are not placing themselves IN such position as IL
not consistent with the public interest," and IN violation
OF the rights OF their constituents Suppose that have
Union Office another printing establishment here, am
10 be excluded from the right OF competing with that Of
fee for the public printing by any principle we may
| adopt
| The senator from New Hampshire Mr.; HALEl has
rather jocuarly presented reason for this state OF
things here which cannot admit He says it all grows
out OF party considerations. Now. cannot believe
thaI ought not to believe it, But / repeat, II by tins
course these charges will go forth to the country and at
senators jointly, ought not to avoid Certainly we
should. 1t is our duty to do 80. And how can We
avoid all such chargesi By pursuing a proper anc
consistent course. Let this printing 60 where II ough
| TO go.
| This is an emangon from one of the departments o.
this governmentihe Department of the Interior There
is respectable man. the Superintendent OF the Censu
Bureau, who deeply interested in the proper pubcaor
OF this work His reputation is involved in IT. we arr
now about adopt all that part Of the work not author
lied by law In the act authorizing the census to b'
nothing ead about qivlng the time the Sate