Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-05-12
G0marassi0maI.
THIRTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
FIEsT SESSION.
senate. -Thursday, May II, 1854.

paper, on the terms of the resolution of 1913.
Mr.. FITZPATRICK opposed The resolution on
account Of the vast addition il would occasion TO
the present expenditure for reporting and pub
fishing the Senate debates. The debates were
now published in the Gi06e and the UnioR, and he
saw no necessity for now having third report
Mr.. BRIGHT said that in 1918 the Senate
adopted resolution providing for the prompt
publication of its debates in the National I2iteH-
gsncer and Union, at certain prices per column.
The contract was made with those papers, and
the reports were published Some time after The
InteHigencer threw up It's contract, the compensa-
ton not being deemed sufficient. AT the time
these contracts were made, Messrs. Richie and
Heiss Were the proprietors OF the Union and sold
out afterwards 10 General Armstrong, who, IN a
letter 10 the Senate consented TO continue the
publication Of the debates under the agreement
made with Richie and Heiss.
So the matter had continued until December
last, when General Armstrong addressed letter
10 the Senate, asking to be relieved from the ini-
pied obligation upon him 10 report and publish
the Senate debates. The editors Of the Sentinel
then offered TO take the contract and publish the
dehates-the Unton having asked 10 be relieved.
The matter was referred 10 the Committee on
Printing, who reported il back, recommending no
action, but leaving the whole matter 10 be deter
mined by the Senate.
There was no existing contract with the Union
for publishing these debates, either with Arm
strong, or his, successor, Nicholson. The resolu-
lion proposedstc pay the Sentinel for publishing
the debates in the same manner as they were
originally published under the resolution of 1913.
lfthese debateswere 10 be published and paid for
by the Senate who so suitable 10 publish them
The person CHOSEN by the Senate as its printer !!
The Sentiiel was newspaper OF as quite large
general circulation other of the other papers in
| which the debates wete published, and was as
good and as web conducted as either of them.
The Globe published these debates, but its pro-
prietor was asking for greeter pay. Major Nicbo-
/ If ~. Tf,yro, in Aattn In cpn
tnue the publication of thu debates, asked for an
| increase in the allowance FIR the same.
| The proprelors of the Sentinel IN their letter
proposing 10 take this contrict ask for no increase
in the allowance. but offer 10 do the work for the
| price now provided by thsresolution Of the SEN
ate. There was no contrad at present existing,
he understood, with the U,FoR newspaper for pub
| fishing the debates; their publication made in
that paper. he was informSd, under an authority
| given by the chairman pf the Committee on
| Printing.
MI BROWN .aid that he was glad to hear that
| there was no contract withhhe Union, and there
fore there was noegal obligation TO pay for publish
ing the debates il that papei. If the proprietor Of
that paper suppcses he has contract for publish
ing the debates, ought alto 10 feel under an OBJ
legation to publish them promptly. II was we'll
known fact that he debates were not published
in the Union for eight or nine days, aud some
times longer, af,r they had been published in the
Globe. Sometimes they did pot appear at ALL A
debate was not published in that paper until after
all interest in il had passed away. The debate
which had sprung up on the veto message of The
President had no yet been published IN that paper,
though the editoi had published the message OF
the President, and had sent out TO the country his
comments upon L. He wished if any contract
was made with the Sentinel some provision would
be made by which a prompt publication Of the
debates could be Insured.
Mr.. GWIN sad that he thought this matter
should undergo aGexamination by the Committee
on Printing, and that the Senate ought moi TO act
until a full examination and report on the subject
had been made. He was in favor of dispensing
with all the reports except those OF the Globe.
1t was well known that the editor of that paper
had represented, ind most truly, too, that he was
sustaining an act loss in disqualification of these
reports. II other reporters were employed it
would lead 10 claims for extra allowance, towards
the close of the session. from all ofthem.
He moved that The subject be referred to the
Committee on Printing, with instructions to in
qure into the expsdiency of aboshing all con-
tracts for reporting Except that with the Globe
Mr.. FITZPATRICK agreed that the proper
course was TO referIlhe resolution to the commit
tee. He objected II the proposition, not because
of any hostility TO NE Sentinel but because of the
great addition il wSuld occasion TO the cost Of
porting these debat$.
Mr. BRIGHT sid that both the Union and
Globe were paid theEame amount per column for
reporting and publishing the debates. The Union
had no reporters present, as he was informed, but
copied their reports from the Globe He was not
governed by aHyparGality or hostility TO any paper
in making this motion. But he desired that the
Sentinel, the editor Of which was the printer 10
The Senate, should have whatever support il was
in the power of tie Senate TO give it. Having
been elected printer Ivy the Senate, there was an
obligation 10 give him support, otherwise he could
| not support his establishments Were he (Nlr. b.
the Senate printer and the Senate refused TO give
| him IFS work he would resign
T MIR. JOHNSON said IL was question whether
| there was or was not contract with the Union,
| and on that point there was didertnce OF opinion.
| But he supposed as the work vas done, there
would be no objection to pay fol it, so far as it
may have progressed. The Unio,, however, had
| reporters in attendance daily, though there was
some difference Of opinion as TO the manner in
| which the reports were delayed as 10 their cor
rectness. If The reporting was o be continued
with the Union, then he was fol giving 1t also to
the Sentinel; he would go further, and if any
1 wing paper desired 10 have the work he would
/ give il 10 that paper also. He hid offered reso-
| luton increasing the subscription to The Congrys.
sional Globe, with view Of adding 10 the support
of that paper, and that proposition was yet pend
| ing in the Senate. He thought the whole matter
ought TO be considered, and disposed of at one
/ time
| All the reports of the debates outside of those
/ published in the Globe, were published with a
view 10 the profit, and not with any regard TO
| promptness or correctness.
4 me ueDdleS IN tue CfOOc were must uCCurdtciy
reported, and were published with astonishing
prompness The employment Of reporters for
other papers were unnecessary, for they can find
the speeches OF senators revised by)themselves,
correctly reported in that paper.
/ He disclaimed any hostility to the Sentinel and
said, il the proposition was referred % The Com
nttee on Printing, it would receive fair consid-
Grafton al his hands.
! Mr.. BRIGHT said that when the Seitind should
have been placed upon an equal footing with the
other papers in this city, he would himself move
resolution directing The Committee N Printing
10 report some plan TO sysiematze the whole
business of reporting.
Mr.. JOHNSON asked how could this be done,
| after contracts had been made.
| Mr.. BRIGHT said that the Senate resolution
| and all the c; niracts expressly stated That the
| contracts for reporting should continue al the will
of the Senate, and could. therefore, be dissolved
| by the Senate al any moment
| Mr.. DOUGLAS said that he was for pla,ing the
| Ssiiina on the same footing in this Particular,
with the other papers. The debates we're now
admirably reported in the Globe, and them could
be no need for three corps of reporters. One corps
belonging TO tue Globe could do all the reporting,
and all the other papers could copy from that pa