The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1853-05-18
DEBATE I'M THE U. s. SENATE,
APRIL 9th, 1853.
Public Prfnting-=Ohio Politics-<TIi6
Old Line and independent Demos.
rsicy.

finally on Monday, proceeded TO consider the fol-i :
lowing resolution, submitted by Mr.. SEWARD on
the 7th instant: .zs
"Resolced, That the Secretary b6 auth6rized to
procure the publication In the National Inte,lgen-s
Ger OF SO much of the debates in the Senate DUR
ing lhe last session of Congress as has not been al
reacy punished IN that paper, and to pay for such
pub calon, and also fr the publication of speecha
es at that ssss on already made in the Intellgeueer
the sum Of four dollars per column
Mr. CHASE: hardly suppose that the Senate
feels inclined to debate that resolution at this time,
and f,r the purpose testing the sense in regard to
it, | move that it lie upon the fable.
Several votes were taken without result, there
being quorum. Subsequently the vote was
again take n and resut-ayes 16. noes l5.
Sothe motion was not agreed TO.
Mr. CHASE think it very desirable that the
Senate and the country should understand seme-
thing OF the nature and history of this system Of
paid reporting before voting upon this resolutions
Ii with very great reluctance that offer aEy
marks at this period of the session; and nothing bub
sense of duty would consirain me to do it.
have, however, looked into this history, and Il
feel bound TO vindicate before the Senate and the
country the vate which shall give against The re.
solution of The S, major from New York, Mr.. Se-
ward1.
1t is now some FIVE years since the practice Of
reporting in the Union and lntelligencercommenc-
ed 1t has cost. for the National InieIIigencer,
S5n,429 Sd. and f. r the Union $40 1913 49, Il
originated in a resolu ton adopted on the 1lth of
August. 1888. At that time, as is well known,
the public printing disposed of by contract.-
The
oftle party papers at the seat of Government = :
They were not, l believe, connected with the
political press in any form. 1t so happened that,
from some cause, the organs of the two principal
political parties were not very well supported by
subscriptions; and it was, doubtless principal OBJ
Ject of that resolution to supply the want of pop
uIar support by governmental patronage. 1t pro-
vded for the printing of The proceedings and de- :
ha aes of the Senate alone in the Intel!igencer and
Union at the rate of seven dollars and fifty cents
per column. 1t did not prescribe the quantity of
matter which column should contain. It gen.
erousy left that TO the discretion of the publishers
of the papers. The only duty deYolVed UPON
Secretiry of the Senate, was to ascertain the
number of columns, long short de CT narrow,
and to pay according to the rate of seven dollars
and fifty cents per column.
This state of things continued utt the COM
Increment of The first session ofthe last Congrss.
At that time the.publishers of the Inteigencer
notified the Senate that they feundthe contract bur-
densome, and askedsto be relieved from it. The
ground of this step was understood to be that the
publication Of the debates of the Senate in fall and
the abstract which it was necessary to give Of the
debates of the House, so incumbered their columns
to injure the circulation of their daily paper
1t was voluntary act upon their part 1t was
| not called for by any action of the Senate. 1t
was dictated by slerations of private interest.
The paper thereby left free to advocate the
doctrines of the party to which the editors belong
ed, ard to publish such matter, and such matter
| only, as they thought calculated TO promote the
interests ofthat party. Nobody could complain of
that. 1t was oil right and proper The Senate
lHeqiiesced at once, and relieved the publishers
from their contract. &. . @
I At the last session of Congress, both Houses
elected the publisher of the Union, printer to
Congress, and fixed the rates of compensation
/ TheseIates, in my judgment, were not merely
sufficient. but very LIBERAL not say extravagant.
I do not doubt that with ordinary economy, un-
der these rates, the publishers of the Union can
make not simply ordinary profits, but an ample
estate out of the public printing. I believe this
opinion can be sustained by the judgements of
practical printers.
+ Thus, sis stands the case at this moment
The publishers Of the Intelligencer have volun-
tally declined TO continue reporting under the
contrac', and the publisher the Union has OBJ
tained the publ C printing and therefore the whole
reason which originally induced the Senate to con-
tract for the printing of the debates in the two
papers, has entrely ceased. There is now no
argument. either of party or of public nature,
known to which will at all justify the contin-
ued printing of the debates n full in either of these
papers. And it should be remembered that the
contract in terms temporary enc. The
resolution which authorized it, expressly deelar-
ed that it was to continue only "until otherwise
orderedby the Senate.''
But let me proceed with this history. Soon
afterthe printing of the proceedings and debates
had been discontipued in the Inteigencer,
resolution was submitted by the Senator from New
Hampshire, Mr.. NoRRIs, requiring the Secre-
tary of the Senate to audit and settle theacconnts
of John 3. Rives. the DAILY Globe, for printing the
debates und proceedings. allowing him the same
compensation that paid 10 the publishers OF the
U Union-namely, seven dollars and my cents per
column. That resolution passed the Senate; and
then had, as before, two papers in the city
printing our debates, aud atthe same exprense.
Now, sir, is there any reason which will justify
the Senate in employing and paging these TWO sets
ofpubllshers and reprtors to do the same work!
can none even of a pnry character That
paper, as l have shown, is amply provided for by
the pubic rinting. Still less can seen any so far
as the Intellgencer is conserned. for that paper
for the very purpose of being left at larger liberty
to promote party objects, and consult the taste Oh
it's renders declined the contract,
And now usk the attention of tue Senate, and
bona INV statement will attract the attention OF