The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-04-17

that any gentleman upon this door, in the other wing
OF this building, any member OF this committee, could
have any objection 10 his doing his work
Mr.. CLINGMAN | hear his inquiry Of my friend
with great pleasure but he will that il does not re-
move the difficulty which now stands in the way tell
him canddly that do not know whether this man can
execute the printing not think probably he cannot
But suppose he cannot, what the duty OF the Print
ing Commteel Unqueslonably TO report TO this House
10 determine whether they would let il 10 the lowest
bidder or adopt the plan OF the gentleman from Wiscon-
SIN, Mr. DoTYl or some other mode But these gentle.
men OF the committee say clearly, their action shows
that II that was done Donelson Armstrong would not
get any part OF II, and the Republic would get no
part Of il. and therefore they have arranged mat.
!ers in the present mode. They intend 10 hold on TO
Boyd Hamilton, and make him the instrument OF keeping
the control Of the printing from the House. and TO con-
e hs,s sy
cannot get IN any other way That is What object
TO- The plan recommended BY the, committee is the
worst plan you possibly haS4 You will have three
by this mode.
The difficulty will be- when you do not get any print
ing done that you will have three printers TO look to- and
one will shift The responsibility upon the others Boyd
Hamilton will say, 81 expected TO have had this printing
but found that the committee had given il TO some other
printing, 10 be bedeved during the whole session.
having no one responsible person to look to.
The Printing Committee have left things in this cond
ton. and only account for il upon the supposon
OF strong and overuing desire to benefit their friends
Now, was pleased. al the beginning OF this session,
with the candor of the chairman OF that committee lie
out very frankly and told the House that his object
was TO benefit political friend; that he was a. party
and he called upon his party, all around the House,
TO sustain him; and have no doubt that that gentleman
will admit that he isnow acuated by the same feeling.
have doubt that he will admit, if the question is put
directly 10 him. that he does not intend 10 recommend
any proposition that cuts out Donelson Armstrong al
together That is the situation OF that gentleman upon
the committee They see that we are IN dlihcuy, and
they do not TO let get out OF il any way ex.
cept through Donelson L Armstrong.
Mr. Il I,utah IN all yba VpntI nm he q
not actuaed BY the same motive 10 cut out Donelson
Mr.. CLINGMAN No, at all.
Mr. GORMAN. can, with the same proprety say,
not all
Mr. CLINGMAN. Task if it is not his fixed purpose
10 recommend any plan which will cut Out Donelson
| Mr.. GORNAN / ask the gentleman from North Car
olina the same question over whether his fixed and de-
termined purpose is not 10 cutout Doneson and Arm
Mr. CLINGMAN Its not If they will do it as
cheapy anybody else am willing that they should
naSf Mr. Il oRMaS M4T WSai VI answer
| Mr.. CLINGMAN. | say, il Doneson & Armstrong
will do this work cheaply any one else, want
| Mr.. GORMAN. II Donelson g. Armstrong do not do
this printing cheapy anybody else in view OF prompt
and contract price, they cannot and shall not have
| Mr. CLINGMAN Will The gentleman recommend
proposition to let out the public printing to The low
est bidder, and let Donelson & Armstrong take their
Mr.. GoRMAN. have no such power in the CON-
millee or in the House
Mr.. GoRMAN. will not
Mr.. CLiNGMAN The gentleman will not vote for
" Mr. FOLK. wnilh gentleman allow me to ask him
Mr.. CLINGMAN Certainly.
MIR. POLK. The gentleman says that be will vote
for The contract system. want hun 10 tell me IT, since
the contract system has been adopted. there has been
single contract given out that we have not had men al
our portals asking relief under i And further II Il
has not more, by consuming the time Of this House,
TO consider these applications for relief under the con-
tract system than one half Of the whole public printing
costs? ILL.,
Mr.. CLiNGMAN | will answer that question OF my
friend in moment; but will not leave the committee
yet TO show 10 the House, as the committee has
not, how this matter stands They say that this man is
not capable OF executing the public printing, and they
will take certain other bid But there eight lower
bids than that OF Mr. Rves, although they have selected
his bid. Every admits Towers is good ptinler-a
responsible According 10 the statement given TO
Towers's bid is 10000 or S2sO00, and fraction less.
than Rves's, and yet Towers was passed over. Why
pass over Towers's bid And remember, according TO
The statement given TO us, Rvess bid about $50 900
better than the Terms upon which they proposed 10 give
the contract 10 Donelson Armstrong; for Rves agreed
to make deduction for large number OF the documents
You will from the statement given in the Congress
sona Globe that that deduction amounts TO about $780,,
ooo thai il turns out that they propose TO give TO DON
elson Il Armstrong this contract at 10000 more than
Towers was willing 10 do II Tor:
Mir GORMAN. Most certainly not
Mr.. CLtNGMAN. How much more then
Mr.. GORMAN. told tho House yesterday, but the
gentleman 10 have forgotten IL, that Towers did
not propose to deduct a single cen-not one per
cenLoa the round numbers but that Rives did propose
deduct sixty per cent upon all copies over twenty
thousand and that Rvess bid thereby, the lowest
say further, sir. that Mr. Rves has published-"I ]
am the lowest bona de bidder Tor the greatest portion OF
the printing OF Congress, and have made ample prepara
tons execute IL and am prepared to prove this before
committee therefore ask the Speaker Of this House
for committee to investigate this fact that am the low
est bona fds bidder"
Mr. CLINGMAN I ask the gentleman, then, how il
stands that they have given 10 Donelson Armstrong
upon Riyess Bid. without that deduction OF sixty-nne
per cent. upon the largest number
Mr. GORMAN. No, sir; that ie not so
Mr. CLfNGMAN. II IL published in the papers that
he accepted H. upon condition that he should not be held
the reduction IL appears from their letter published
in the Globe, part OF the committees report made
yesterday Did the committee and these persons come TO
that understanding
Mr. GORMAN. They expressly declined TO accept that
proposition.
Mr. CLINGMAN As understand the gentleman, he
has taken Doneson Armstrong at Rives's bid and
they have refused il with bis proposed reduction. Did
the committee assent to Donelson Armstrong; PROPOSE
ton they made II
Mr. GORMAN We have made no contract with
Donelson & Armstrong
Mr CLiNGMAN Then, this matter is in a worse
sea- and, according TO the present statement this com
mree has not, in fact, made any contract at all IL
seems 10 me that this committee instead OF doing the
business OF this House, and making recommendations for
getting OF the difficulty, want us TO adopt their action
when they have had no final action.
Mr. GORMAN. I wish TO lay this proposition tangIbly
before this House and will, on Monday. give tangi
-. a .~k.r mi IN