Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-05-08

ment to the amendment and decided in the negative
follows:
YRAs-Messrs. Adams, Atchison Borand, Brooke, Dodg
Of Wisconsin Dodge Of Iowa. Jones Of Tennessee Mallory
and Walker-9
NAYsMessrs Badger, Bayar Berren, Bradbury, Bright
Bredhead Glass; Clarke Dawson Douglas Fech Fish, Geyer
Gwin Hale Hnn Houston Hunter James, Jones of Iowa
Hing Mangum, Mason Miller Norris, Pearee Pratt husk
Seward Shields Smith, STOCKTON sumner Under
Mr.. BADGER moved amendment, the effect of which
was to empower the Postmaster General to discontinue
the line at any time after 1854 This amendment led tc
considerable discussion, and afterwards Withdrawn
by Mr.. BADGER.
Mr.. RUSK then submitted amendment the effect Of
which that Congress should have power, at any time
after the 1s December 1854 to discontinue the extra al
lowance, upon giving six months notice; which, after
some discussion, adopted
On notion ordered that when the Senate adjourn il
adjourn to meet on Monday next.
i On motion Of Mr.. PRATT, the Senate adjourned.
I HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Mr. STANTON, of Kentucky, said that he had been
instructed, by the unanimous vote of the Committee
Printing to submit the following report and resolution
The JoIsr COMMITTEES PMsrNc who instructed by
ment has been made execute the public printing and
other than the public printer has been employed report
what prices they have agreed to and who were also
instructed to let out such printing the contractor
execute to the lowest bidder after ten days notice
respectfully report
That the resolution the two Houses of Congress-
adopted August 1885, the proper officers of the Senate and
House of Representatives let out the public printing the
lowest bidder agreeaby to the terms Of the said resolution
That Boyd Hamilton being the lowest bidder for each Of the
several classes of the public printing designated by the law
received the contract and entered into bonds for its faithful
execution the Sd Of March, 1851 The prices which said
Hamilton undertook do the work uinouy low and in
the opinion Of experienced practical printers scarcely
than sufficient to pay for the paper upon which the printing is
required to be done by the of the The officers
authorized by the said joint resolution let the work
make the contract their report to the House Of the Sd Of
March, 1851 estimate the aggregate amount the contractors
bid the of $685. supposing greater of
printing will be ordered by the Congress than
ecued under the order Of the previous 1t is conceded
all that the next lowest responsible bidder who offered for the
printing, and willing TO take it at his bid, John
Towers experienced practical printer of the city Of Wash
ngton The difference between the which the contractor
Hamilton will receive by his contract and the bid of John
Towers for the amount Of printing is $sO6s9, diff
compared with the bid Of John Rves, another competitor
for the printing, the disparity between the agreed
ling execute the work is much greater being the Of
$l0S4 than hundred and twenty five per cent
Both Towers and Rives practical engaged extensive
W in the business of printing and doubt offered to do the
work what they deemed fair and reasonable prices
As might have been expected under these circumstances
the contractor Mr. Hamilton, has been unable any
during the session Of Congress to execute the printing
of the two Houses ngreeaby to the terms of his contract
In single instance the knowledge of the committee has
he fully complied with the acquisitions of his bond Neither
the bills reports calendars executive documents, any
other specimen of work he has executed is printed upon such
paper done in such style his written obligation requires
of him. That description Of the public printing intended for
preservation part of the legislative records of the nation
is done greatly inferior the standard Of the
tract and in such unsklfu manner to be absolutely
disgracefu Congress The paper is not only below the
standard in weight but of texture and of smaller
size than provided for by his When bound and
trimmed, the margin necessarily small disfgure the
work. and plates Of the usual size used they
clipped and seriously injured The general appearance Of the
work. arising from the inferior quality Of the material and
the unskul manner of its execution is shameuy bad and
believed to be than that done for any State Legislature
in the Union.
1t only regard inferior quality the
rial and the defective execution Of the work that the com
mee find the contractor dea but in point Of time in
the completion the work entrusted his hands he has been
and is unreasonaby behind The Presidents message
which might have been completed in three weeks by
gec and capable contractor is not after lapse OF five
months half done. There is the slightest prospect
judging from the conduct of the public printer far this
document will be fully completed ready delivery
members until after the adjournment Of the present session Of
Congress The two houses will thus be deprived for whole
important document for lega
tive purposes which viii by hem and the expense
of its publication only much money wasted Other mpo
ant documents for the of the various commit
tees have been delayed in the sau unreasonable
Four months ago the contractor called before the
mee, and notified regard the inferior execution Of
printing as Wen as OF the delay In furnishing Congress
He promised amendment in these respects but in disre
gard of his promises well of the obligation Of his
tract he has not shown the slightest disposition to furnish bet
ter material better work. execute the public printing
with dispatch The documents such have been fur
nshed printed upon the and inferior paper
in the unsklfu and in some instances egbe manner
and with like want Of alacrity
Your committee required by the provisions of the joint
resolution directing the of procuring the printing of
the Houses OF Congress,
them by the gross default of the conacto "to adopt such
remedy his neglect and delay in the execution of
the work ordered by Congress they might deem necessary
It apparent member of the committee not only
from the Of the public printing but the admissions of the
himself that he could not comply with his under
taking SO as to enafe to Congress upon proper
material and rapidly the terms of his undertaking
CURED There then left TO the committee other alter
native than permit Congress submit to the imposition of
inferior work and unreasonable delay exercise the
conferred upon them by law They chose perform what
seemed them be their obvious duty and entered into
public printing had been might be ordered by the
House. and which the public contractor would not
and with Gideon Co. TO do that ordered by the Senate
Each these firms has entered into bond in the penalty Of
$4,000 with good security for the faithful performance he
work The prices agreed to be paid to these firms for the
under their respective contracts
appended and made part Of this report They do not
differ materially from the bid Of John Towers and be-
eyed by the committee be such will afford the contract
ors no more than moderate profit
The made by the committee with these firms was
intended only temporary to the prompt
than the execution Of much Of the work as the
tractor do In all IL the contractor could
work in proper time and IN the required by
his contract he would be allowed to execute IT, The gentle
selected because they Of character abun
dainty prepared promptly and faithfully TO discharge their
duty under their contracts.
The public printer filed with the committee memorial
grounds Of for being able TO
the public work in the provided for in his
asking the hands of the committee such relief
this memorial merely because Of its admission that the
has been able meet the obligations of his
tract and indicate the House his reliance Congress
i for ultimate relief
The resolution Of the House the joint committee
"o let such printing the present contractor cannot
tha1 1cr he