The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-01-30

TO breaking up the contract system
:, Alter MIR. BRIcHr had concluded his remarks, Mr.
SMITH, (January 10y reloned as follows:
Air. President, wish TO make very few remarks in
reply TO my honorable friend from Indiana, and | am
prompted to do so on account OF the personal issue which
my honorable friend made with me last evening That
honorable senator iii TO remark that al the last se
sion OF Congress- he understood TO take ground in
the Senate in favor OF giving the printing OF the census
returns 10 political press IN this city, think he named
the Republic then suggested that he was under an en-.
TIRE msappehension upon that subject. do not suppose
that my honorable friend intended 10 misIepesen my po
siion IN that regard The truth that from the very
set OF this business have been utterly opposed 10 the in
PRODUCTION into Congress OF the old practice OF dispensing
the public printing ON the principle OF political favor
iusm and so happens that fad myself record in
train oil remarks submitted 10 the Senate in relation TO
this very subject OF printing the returns in which
views are expressed such had the honor 10 lay be
lore the Senate yesterday; and hope the Senate will
indulge me IN reading from these remarks few extracts
showing what said In the first extract which will
| read. remarked as follows
"llnly accord in the opinion which has been expressed
ny my friends on The other side OF the Chamber that the
Tune has gone by for investing the head of any department
WIN an arbitrary discretion upon this subject OF printing
| And then again:
Now, then, this committee has reported this BILL
have before remarked containing the provision OF the old
law, and comforting the head OF the Department OF the
Interior me arbitrary power OF making contract with
see ht without advenisng without competition To any
such provision in this bill utterly opposed that
ment would abuse the trust thus conded in him am
WINGED he will II with mnch fidelity any
Nov, sir, in order to realize, rather carry out
what has been the policy of the government for several
tract given bdder-a that is required is
The addition OF few words to the clause OF the twentieth
| section"
| The last clause reads thus:
"And further the made, to the same
to be classified and arranged in the best and
| be printed for distribution"
Now. sir, i the amendment of my honorable friend
shall ia shall propose 10 add To that clause these words
on contract as now provided by law. That is say,
the lowest bidder"
| And then, again, remarked:
- would say that for Substituting the press Of
the ctyeliher the wing the democratic presseither
4 the or the other"
| And again:
As 70 the scheme OF giving the printing at this late day
to The political press Of this city, it's proposition that
SHAH resist TO the utteimos aud at all times
| And, finally, remarked
- intend sir to resist now, and at all times hereafter
the connection OF the public printing with the political press
/ OF this city, whether upon the side the other.
therefore insist that the 2ist is exactly right
with 70 the preceding section, all that is required is
already suggested TO the Senate"
Such. Mr.. President, were my as expressed at
The last Congress, and such my views now there
fore the charge OF inconsistency falls to the ground
resist now, have, the idea of breaking up the
existing policy OF Congress. and for letting out the
| to the lowest bidder.
But understand my honorable friend from Indiana
lMT BRIGHT to say that the amendment which pro-
pose to his resolution conlempates giving this printing
to the Secretary of the Interior be disposed OF BY him
arbitrarily and at his discretion; or in other words
TO give him the power. he should see M to confer the
execution OF The work upon some portion OF the political
press in the city regret very much, Mr. President
that when closed my remarks yesterday did not move
the printing OF this amendment and when consider the
character OF my chrography, | will not complain that
my honorable friend from Indiana MIR. BRGHr] should
have entirely Inexperienced the object and purpo Of
this amendment Ii does not sir propose at all 10 con.
fer any discretionary power upon the Secretary Of the
Interior On the contrary, it requires him. in the first
place. TO let the composition and the press work; in
/ nan in the ri
place, the binding in conformity with the provisions OF
an act entitled IAN act making appropriations for the
civil and diplomatic expenses OF the government for the
year 1872 Or in other words, advertise it 10 the pub
c papers for thirty days. 10 receive the bids OF all those
who choose 10 enter into this competition and then TO let
il out 10 those who will do the work for the lowest
price, according TO the specifications, the party bidding
give security, and the work. the whole wokhe paper
composition, press work, and bndingto be subjected
10 such supervision and inspection the honorable Sec
rotary may deem TO be necessary in order TO full
and faithful performance OF the contract BY my pro-
posed amendment, therefore, Danish all favor,ism in
the execution OF the work in any and every FORM and
put upon the footing the departmental printing
now stands except IN one or two points which regard
as improvements There is, therefore, not TO be any
favontism The work is 10 be done the lowest terms
and il will be done, have doubt, in which
will be entirely satisfactory to the department, 10 Con-
gress, and the people OF The country in general
Again, Mr. President the honorable senator from Ind-
tit TO remark that had he presumed greatly
moderated the value OF this work and that seemed 10
suppose that was of very little consequencethat il
was thing TO be printed and thrown aside, like many
other documents, OF value The says IL
work OF very great vaaethat il Is TO go into the records
OF the government, and into our colleges, and the
various States OF the Union; and the honorable senator
III 10 have read at the desk OF the Secretary
euloges by foreign writer q hardly know who) on
the value OF this work. and speaking of il being very
great improvement any work OF this character either
in this country in Europe Sir have undervaued
this work. know that IL is work OF high Importance
But what, let ask the honorable senator from Indiana
has that 10 do with printing il at the Union office That
is the question wish him 10 me. What has the
| VIZ Ia twtth nrtut tnfEa
compeorsl What has that 10 do with the question OF
the propriey OF comforting this work upon the political
press OF this city as matter OF favorltism
But the honorable senator stands up and gavely tells
the Senate that this work is undsposed of-tha II is
OF wait estray, which the honorable senator pro-
poses should capture and deliver to the proprie
tors OF the Union newspaper IN this city And this is
said, presume TO alleviate any little irritation OF con.
science which there may be-snd venture TO say that
pety OF taking this II is work which the hon
osbe senator says is "undsposed OFF, And why is il
undsposed OFF Simply becausewe have ordered the
Secretary OF the Interior print H. And II
dered to be printed, then IL would under the law OF
1912, which tells the senator from Indiana that il shall
90 into the Union Office unless they the lowest
bidders The Senate Is 10 make the order, and then
the law of 1912 take hold of IT, The gentle
proposes to alter this law take IL out OF the hands
OF the proper party and TO hand to my friend from
Arkansas. Mr. BoaIlsp. 10 be baIgained out to Donel
son 4 Armstrong. He again Mr. BoRLaNDJ replies that
he will have nothing 10 do with IL and respect and
honor him very much for coming to such conclusion
He does not like the job But says my honorable friend
from Indiana 81 guess can find senators who would be
willing to do this" Possibly he may | do not know
but he will Perhaps the honorable senator from Indiana
hair ,oh