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

committee can perform this duty in manner and give
the Secretary Of the Senate and Clerk of the House
= dare not do. Why dare" not do it Does the
ator mean to say does he think. that the committee
could or would give than fair price," and that If
they did they would be censured and justly censured for
doing SO Surely he does not And if not, why would
not the Secretary and Clerk dare" do the thing
A "reasonable"-lhat is "tair"-price is what the
resolution provides for Let the Secretary and Clerk
give that-as | am sure they woud-and who would,
who " dare" censure them II any one. his censure
would be harmless. do not seek 10 save the committee
from such responsibility that. The Secretary and
Clerk need not fear to incur il.
Some senators to think it easy task perform
the duties OF the Committee Printing The duties may
seem simple, and the matters referred them very trivial
Irue the matters referred 10 them often very trivial
but they are nevertheless. very troublesome. and re-
quire much time IN attending TO them Senators con-
vince themselves OF this by undertaking for short time
some OF the duties they anxious TO impose upon
others.
Even as il is now and has been for the last two years.
has been difficult for the committee to perform their
duties with satisfaction TO themsevesimpossble, il has
seemed 10 give satisfaction to the Senate or the country
And why The first obstacle in the way OF success has
been found in the contract SYSTEM" under which our
printing has been and is now required TO be done and
which not only permits but encourages bad faith IN the
execution OF the public work. And the second obsa-
clehe most pertinent, perhaps 10 be mentioned here
has been found in the action OF the Senate itself, in this
That when the committee have, time and again, faith
fully performed their duty IN requiring the terms OF the
contracts TO be complied WITH the Senate, instead of
tanning the committee, and thus nsung the proper
cution of the public work. have Invariably, think
may say for can recall instance OF the contrary
abandoned and overrued the committee, and sided with
and sustained the faithess contractor. This the
during the last Congress- as most OF the senators
well know and unless some radical change be speedily
made in the system have spoken Of and also in the prac
tce OF the Senate, there to fear that the
gress In view of this state OF things, consider, sir the
position oil the Committee Printing IL surely is bad
enough and the burdens you have already imposed upon
us are heavy enough to ene to be spared that which
this resolution proposes to add.
The advocates OF this resolution seem to agree with me
IN condemning the contract system, and speak OF this
beg leave TO say, with all respect they widely mis-.
taken. The proposition OF the resolution is that
tract be made and it differs from the present evil system
in material particular Ii differs only in changing the
parties 10 the contract and allowing latitude for paying
somewhat higher price Instead OF putting the work out
10 the lowest bidder it names the contractor who shall
have II; and instead of making il the duty OF
tive officers, the agent Of Congress, it imposes that duty
upon the Committee Printing. Supposing the commit
tee TO be qualified to perform this duty and the contract to
be made II might be that the work would be better done
and furnished in better time than has been fortune
to obtain under the present system But all that would
depend upon the good faith OF the contractor. il now
tenn Where, then, is the advantage TO be gained Let
those find il who But, sir, suppose the contract
be violated IN this case as II has heretofore always been,
there IS this additional disadvantage TO the committee
They would then be liable to not only for failure
perform the impossiby of holding the contractor TO
his terms when the contract had been made by another
agency, but The agents who themselves made the for
feiled contract For the committee and myself ask to
be spared this additional burden.
Mr.. GWlN. | can very well appreciate, Mr.. Pres
dent, that the chairman of the Committee on Printing
would very gladly get clear OF the labor OF making this
contract | can appreciate his feelings, representing
State he does that it takes great deal of the time
of the senator TO attend TO this work But really do not
think that the senator's argument ought TO convince the
Senate that the committee ought not TO be charged with
this duty. The gentleman says that the committee was
raised under the law passed in 1S46a specific law, i'm
posing specific duties Why sir, the Committee Ma
val Affairs raised for the purpose OF attending TO the
business OF the Senate sppeainng TO the navy and yet
they have the duty TO discharge oil attending 10 the
ryi1g OF the mails They have not objected TO IT, The
Senate have imposed that duty upon them One OF the
most responsible duties imposed upon that committee is,
contracting and experimenting the great line OF mall
steamers running between
MIR. BORLAND | would ask the senator one ques
ton He alludes to the increased duties imposed upon
the Committee on Naval Affairs. will ask him II, IN
these increased duties the Senate have directed that
committee to contract with individuals for constructing
ships carrying the mail } III they have done that,
will admit that the paralel-not otherwise.
Mr.. GWlN resumed Printing is specific object
We must have the printing DONE and we have appointed
Committee on Printing This is question pertinent TO
that subject We must have the census returns printed
and TO the additional duties which this resolution will
impose upon the Committee on Printing, II strikes me
that they will not be by any means labonous The du.
ties imposed upon our Secretary and upon the Clerk oil
the House OF Representatives already very onerous
and this would wholly incapacitate them for the dis
charge oil their present duties am under the impression
that the labor OF making this contract is very much over
rated This is a matter OF opinion, and the senator
knows about the matter than do; but take II that
the gentlemen who prepared to do the work are pre-
pared relieve the committee OF this great labor by lay
ing before them the proposition upon which they will
agree 10 perform this work. in all IFS details; so that II
will be impossible for the committee TO msunderstand
precisely what the contract proposes think that The
labor has been greatly oveated by the senator from Ar
kansas No doubt he has not looked into this question,
and has not paid the attention TO il that have and
confident that the labor OF making this contract VIII
be tax en- from the committee by the facts which will be
laid before them by the parties proposing 10 do the work
am unwilling that the Secretary should be responsible
for that which properly belongs 10 committee OF this
body concur in all that has been said 10 the neces
siy OF printing This work in such that Il may
properly become part OF the archives OF The country,
and that we shall not be ashamed of IL and hope the
gentleman will review his determination, and will con-
sent 10 act with the committee in the performance OF
work of this kind.
MIR. CASS | wish to say word only upon this sub
ect II to be conceded upon all hands that have
arrived position when some contract must be made
The census was taken year and half ago, and not
paper has met the public eye upon the subject. do no,
believe there another country upon the face OF the globe
in which such delay would have taken place. The de.
cennia term will almost expire before the people will get
the information upon the subject so II ~ with all OUT
printing Where is the Biennial Register, which ought
TO have been ready at the OF this session
Not copy ready for reference and when shall we geth
Shall we get IL at this session or at the next
a SENATOR. Is il printed by contract Z
Mr. CASS. do not know | want TO know why
IL is not here So with everything we have. All our
printing comes 10 when the subject concerned has
almost passed from public notice and the people have
ceased to talk about it, How is the printing OF these re.
turns TO be donei How is the work TO be obtained
There contract The proposition ia TO refer to the
committee OF the houses Can il be in better hands,