The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-05-01
Cost Of the Coalition .

We are informed on good authority that the
table and statement we append to this article,
present the prices respectively that were asked
by Mr.. TOWERS in his bid for the printing OF
Conaress when public proposals were invited,
and those which the Joint Committee on Print
ing has agreed to give the proprietors of the
Union and Republic. They cannot fail to as
tonsh both Congress and the people. Mr..
TOWERS was responsible bidder and is so GER
tilted. He is also a prudent and practical man.
He expected, of course, to make money by the
acceptance of his bid. Yet, now it appears that
the Committee on Printing has gone and con-
tracted with tloo other parties, at a much higher
rate. If we exclude from this catalogue the
press-work, paper, folding, and stitching of each
table larger than octave, in four Of the classes,
an item of trivial consequence in the aggregate,
it will be seen that the prices which the COM
mttee have agreed to give the coalition, exceed
those Mr. TOWERS offered to take, more than
fifty per cent? OF course, the different kinds
of jobs differ in quantity, but whether this diff
ference would increase the average per centum
or diminish it, we have not now the time or
knowledge to ascertain. 1t may be more, il
may be less; but from the manner in which the
whole thing has been done, we should suspect
it to be more. Now, the printing of Congress
amounts to about $500, 900 the session. Fifty
per cent. more than Mr. TowERs's offer would,
therefore, probably give the coalition a nett
bonus Of one hundred thousand dollars, over
what we are to presume the work would cost
at a reasonable profit to the printer.
Now, when we consider that this enormous
sum is to. be thus taken out of the public purse,
and put into the pockets of Wing aud Demo
cratic editor, by committee of Congress, in
contempt of resolution of the House of Re-
personalities to appoint special committee TO
enquire into the law, and to report any amend
ments they might find necessary, we think it
will be regarded as the most decidedly cool and
intrepid operation that has lately been attempted
in this age of public plumber
If Congress, nay, if little committee Of
Congress can put its hands into the treasury.
and take out hundred thousand dollars extra,
and hand it over to couple of presses TO sus.
tain them, why then, we are progressing more
than considerably.
The public must have been struck Of late
years with the peculiar emphasis of party pa.
pers in insisting on the vast benefits Of party
on the immense value of two parties 10 watch
and check each other-and on the monstrous
enormity of third parties The argument be-
ri. To H.
of these two parties keep up pretence Of an.
tagonism TO divert the attention Of the people,
as the Union and Republic do, they quietly slip
into joint committee room, joint committee
of both parties, as well AS both Houses, and
arrange a joint-grab Of hundred thousand dol.
lars, and come out, and then denounce respec-
lively the awful dishonesty, rascality, and ex-
trayagance of their opponent. And thAAupon
the people of each party al home are indignant
think their next door neighbors are little better
than rascals to uphold such doings, rally TO
stump speeches, and rush 10 the polls, TO save
the country from the ruin and robbery of Wing
or Democratic ascendaney whilst their organs
here are feeding on canvass backs, drinking the
costest wines, and laughing in their sleeves at
the gplibiiiy Of their friends respectively
No wonder we have such pathetic decam1.
b ton from these organs in favor Of this glorious
Union. a small State or republic could not
stand the abstraction Of enough spois by
couple Of organs at a single operation 10 sup
port an economical State government for year
Several Of our State governments are actually
supported on less.
We shall give our readers complete imforma
ton Of the process, Of the functional or organic
arrangement Of our system by which this thing
was done. For our government now presents
the finest study Of political pathology The world
has ever known.
The Speaker Of the House, the Hon. LINZ
BoYD, is a Cospromise Democrat, but was
elected TO the chair by the united vote Of Com.
promise and Anu-Compromise Democrats Of
all sections 1t was expected last year, when
the prices we're published, that the contract
bidder, Mr. BoYD HAMnroS, would fail, and that
the printing, the most important patronage Of
the House, would fall again under It's control.
The Speaker appoints the committees, and thus
exercises power Of great responsibility and
delicscy. There were several practical printers
In the House-bul the Speaker appointed the
three members Of that committee from the
House, who were not practical printers But
they were all Compromise men-two Of them
Democrats, and one Wing. Neither the Wing
nor the Democratic party, therefore, was fairly
represented in the committee But the Com.
promise coalition Of both parties, monopoized
all Of the House members. This prepared tire
way for the coalition that has been made
Now, it is one6f the defects Of our Congress
and Of this glorious Union, that we have 23s
members Of the House Of Representatives, Of
whom about 2al are speakers--how many think
ers there are, we have not ascertained-tbe