The southern press., 1852-05-18

stowal, at unnecessarily high prices, upon parti-
IAN politicians in payment of partizan services.
1t is to be hoped that what this " small section
of the party" requests will not be granted, and
that the law, in its spirit as well as its letter,
will govern our disposition of the printing.
The report now before us objects to the in
structions Of the House, that they contemplate
the exercise of power which the House does
not possess The committee assume that the
House printing and the Senate printing each are
Joint matters, and that therefore, the House
cannot dispose of its printing without the con-
sent Of the Senate. But the arguments they
use in support Of this, are sophis.ical AS the
House pays for ita printing out Of its own con,
tingent fund, it is not easy to perceive why we
should not control it's disposition, especially
under the circumstances now presented, and
when we propose to dispose of il in accordance
with the spirit of the existing law. 1t is surely
our duty TO guard our contingent fund, and all
other government funds ntrusted to our guar.
danship, rs far as possible, from unnecessary
expenditure II the other branch Of the legis-
ative department do not choose to exercise a
vigant watchfulness over their contingent fund,
but permit it TO be squandered for the benefit Of
partisan politicians, or in payment of the ex-
travagant wine and cigar bills Of an adyenturer,
who may wish to draw upon our gullibility for
his own purposes, their example, to say the least
oft, does not recommend itself for our adoption.
1t we have not the power to order reletting
Of our printing, then neither have the Joint com.
mittee the power to do, as il is admitted they
have done, namely, constitute themselves the
| House and Senate portion each II separate com
miltee, each to have tho entire control over the
printing OF its respective body. In taking such
action, the committee assumed a power, the
. ,f Ivhi,h tba, NON, 49,. Al,
House, and OF necessity to themselves. They
assumed that power when they thoaght it neces.
Sary for the progress of Il particular plan which
they had IN view; but they now deny the same
power, whenits denial, under changed circurn
stances, is equally necessary to the completion
Of their plan. They make the House and Senate
printing each joint or separate matter-sep
arate to-day, joint tomorrow, rs their will or
their plans may dictate
Mr.. STANTON, of Kentucky, Gntcrruplinr.)
The gentleman makes Il statement, which am
sure he makes under misrepresentation, because
the Joint Committee on Printing has never
divided itself ..:.
Mr.. FITCH. Then the report before us is
again at fault. 49,. ..1'.. s..@ ~
Mr.. STANTON. | will state to the House
what the joint committee did, and then the gen.
teman will see whether the report is at fault
The report states the facts precisely as they were
| The Joint Committee on Printing appointed the
three members of the House, who were on that
committee, subcommittee, and the three men,
bers of the Senate, who were upon that COM
mittee, sub committee, simply for the purpose
! of perform ing little portion of the labor of
Chat committee and that labor was, to ascertain
in what respect the public printer was in default
in regard TO the printing for either House. It
tn ha 10 h. ;o;,,
no action was to be had by either sub committee,
independent of the action of the joint commit
tee. We do not pretend TO be independent of
the joint committee at all Merely AS a matter
of convenience we are required 10 perform a
portion of the labors which it would be useless
to require the whole committee to perform.
What We do we report to the joint committee.
1t would be inconvenient for the whole commit.
tee TO go to the printing Office to ascertain how
much the printer is in default
Mr. FITCH. Now, sir, if they have not made
| this division, how came the House portion of
the committee 10 say that they had nothing 10
do with the Senate printing, and were not re.
! sponsibIe for its bestowal upon the Republic.
and that the Senate portion had nothing TO DO
with the House printing?
We were told a few days since BY a member
of the Committee on Printing of the last Con.
gress, that il was usual for each portion of the
committee respectively TO report To their bodies
the number Of extra copies of any document
they deemed it desirable 10 print Thus far and
no further the independent action of each DOR
ton Of the committee has hitherto extended.
But here We find case Of independent action
covering the whole ground for each portion of
the committee not only reports the number of
extra copies, but selects the men and fixes the
| nria at urhi tba nj, =. 4 n
Mr.. STANTON. The gentleman places me
in the position Of having stated facts which
now deny. have submitted 10 bis misunder.
standing Of the report; but the fact ia, that the
House committee did not say that the Senate
committee have exclusive control over the SEN
ate printing or that we have exclusive control
over the House printing. Blu, say, that with
three votes in the Senate, p,rt Of the committee
acting against u, our three cannot control
matter any more than the three members Of
Regents OF the Smithsonian Institution, ap-
pointed by NE House, can control the three
members appointed by the Senate for the same
purpose; and therefore, by agreement. we di.
vide the business each taking certain part.
Nor can tie House any more instruct the Joint
Committee on Printing than il can the Regents
Of the Smitl sonian Institution.
Mr.. FITCH. The gentleman's comparison
Of his joint committee with the Regents of the
Smithsonian Institution does not hold rood
The cases are not parallel There are other
gentlemen belonging 10 the Board Of Regents
than members Of Congress, who could give the
casting vote, and control the action of the
board in the event Of any disagreement betwe,
the House and Senate members. But the state.
nent just made by the gentleman fMr. STAN.
TON confirms what have said relative 10 the
division and separate action Of the Committee
on Printing Neither the House nor Senate
portion constituted a majority they we're
equally divided; they could not agree, and
neither could control the other on The joint com
mittee. Instead, however, Of reporting. ms all
other joint committees do, that they could only
agree 10 disagree, and asking instructions, or
asking 10 be discharged they each undertake
separate and independent control Of the print.
ing Of their respective bodies. They can agree
upon this separate action, and go report bat
TOW deny that any such action has been had
SO far az concerns TIE power in the House 10
instruct The House portion Of the Regents Of