The southern press., 1852-01-22
BOUNTY LAND WARRANTS
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

moNDAY, Jan. ~, 1857.
Prayer by Rev. Mr.. Morgan, chaplain of the
House.
PRINTING OF CENSUS REPORT.
The SPEAKER stated that the first business in
order was motion made by Mr.. ALLISON, Of
Pennsylvania, on Monday last, that the rules be
suspended so as TO enable him to introduce the
following preamble and resolution
Whereas, the superintendent Of the census
has published in the Globe Of Jan. l, 1882 clear
and condensed report of the census, containing a
large amount Of valuable information, and
| Whereas, that information, now desired by
thepeople, cannot be had in the ordinary course
Of printing, for long time to come, and then in
limited and very inadequate quantities, therefore
q Resoired, That the Committee on Printing be
instructed TO order 100000 copies OF that report
for the use Of the House, provided the cost shall
not exceed ore cent per copy.
| Mr.. SWEETSER, Of Ohio, moved TO Law the
resolution on the table.
| The SPEAKER decided the motion to be out
Of order, as the resolution not yet before the
Hodse-a motion to suspend the rules being the
question pending.
On the motion to suspend the rules, the yeas and
nays were called for, ordered, and resulted--yeas
l3a, nays 80.
So the rules were suspended
Mr.. STUART, Of Michigan, moved the previ-
Gus question, being the adoption OF the resolu-
ton, and the motion was seconded.
Mr.. ORR, Of South Carolina, desired to know
whether the adoption Of the resolution would not
virtually break up the contract with the public
| printer Such he believed, would be the result
as it would take from him printing which legiti-
mately belonged to him and the printer would
come before Congress and claim damages. He
moved TO lay the resolution on the table, and on
this question called for the yeas and nays, which
were ordered, and resulted-yess 40, nays 1877.
SO the House refused TO lay the resolution on
the table.
The question was then taken on the passage Of
the resolution, and the Speaker declared il passed
Mr. ORR moved TO reconsider the vote He
contended that the resolution proposed 10 give
the Committee on Printing the power to con-
tract with another than the public printer,
who had entered into a bond TO execute the
work. IL was already apparent, from a com
municaton which the printer has addressed to
the Senate, that he claims this work lie will
resort To the slightest pretext to claim dam
ages. This resolution gave him such a pre-
text and if il is adopted, the House will saddle
bill Of from fifty to hundred thousand dollars
on itself
Mr.. STEPHENS, OF Georgia, said that the
contract, after specifying certain descriptions Of
work, requires the printer TO execute all other
kinds Of work. About half million of dollars
had already been expended in printing the census
documents, and how much more is il now pro-
posed 10 appropriate
70 reconsidering the vote passing the resolution
He was at loss TO account for the constituencies
which gentlemen show in this matter. The reso-
luton does not propose TO take away any work
from the printer, but leaves il in the hands of the
printing committee to provide for the speedy exc
cution OF the census report. He commended that
the printer had violated his contract from dsy TO
day, and Congress was under no obligation to
/ him.
Mr.. ORR. Have we not contract existing
which embraces this work.
! Mr.. DUNCAN, in continuation, said the whole
amount which the resolution proposes to expend
was only $1,000, which would furnish all the infor-
possess from the census returns.
Mr.. CARTIER, Of Ohio, opposed reconsid-
i eration The public printer had lived in series
Of daily violations Of his duty.
i Mr.. ORR said he did not propose to defend the
printer, but he believed II the facts are as stated
the Committee on Printing have violated their duty
also, in not making them known to the House.
Mr.. CARTIER repeated that the printer had
lived in violation Of his contract and existed thus
/ far upon the mercy Of the House. He would
vote to have the printing done where il can be had
i Mr.. STANTON, OF Kentucky, said that the
eompittee had seen and held conversation with
the printer who had distinctly stated his inability
TO go on with the work, and that he was unable TO
comply with the terms Of the contract He was
using paper which weighed only 80 pounds TO the
rean while the contract stipulated that il should
weigh so. The printer had admitted that he could
not obtain either money or credit to purchase pa
per He had also stated that the President'smes.
sage could not be ready in less time than two
weeks. The committee had been ready 10 report
these facts 70 the House, but were prevented by
objections being made. .t
Mr.. CARTIER was glad to learn that the
printer was honest enough to confess his inability
TO do the work--that he had not complied even in
form with the terms Of his contract. The House