The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-08-01
THE DELAY IN THE DELIVERY OF PRINTED DOC
TrNFNTS

] tMENlS
We hope that extract below from recent speech Of
Senator johnson proposition to give to the superi-
tenden Of Public Printing the right TO make contracts for
engravings 70 accompany public documents win attract
the attention Of members Of Congress As stated by him.
have had for months many tons Of printed documents
for which applications are made but which we
unable deliver because the plates accompanying
them ready AT this time have in Office
less than hundred Of printed documents thus
awaiting delivery. Besides the disappointment members
in obtaining these valuable documents for distribution
the Inconvenience to US is very great nasmqeh Of
nee is crowded the endangerng of the building by
such weight of matter The remedy for the evil is mat
Ter with Congress but it which certainly calls for
correction;
instructed by the Printing bring
the Senate Under their offer the following
amendment in after the item in the bill making
/ appropriation for ithographing and engraving
Prepided, That hereafter, when maps, plates,
other shall be ordered to be engraved and print
ed fen either house Of Congress the Superintendent of Public
wings and prinng specify ing the particulars of style and
time, and the receipt of such proposals, shall
with the lowest bidder who shall offer for the and
should such contractor fail To furnish such plates
cravings within the time specified his the Joint
Committee Printing shall have TO abrogate such
contract and require the Superintendent to such
contractor for the penalty OF such contracts and when the
said Superintendent shall advertise for the supplies
printing paper for the congressional and printing
he shall the tie and in the manner
for such paper his opinion be for the
printing OF such maps plates other engraving and the
for the paper shall be made BY the said Supentend
ent, in like manner and under the restrictions by
law provided in the purchase OF congressional and
other printing paper
The Committee Printing of Senate considered
this matter, and it is Imperative that something should
be done in regard the engrayinea. will give short
synopsis of the and facts connected with the sub
ject
Tho maps plates, and other engraying
ed for by the Secretary of the and COMMITTEES
craving OF the House OF Representatives each for
specTe houses. The amendment proposes place this
thoriy with the Superintendent Of Public Printing for
4 the following
is The Superintendent. now having charge of the print
ing Congress make the contracts for the engravng
correspond point delivery with the printing
finished that the great delay in the delivery books
dered by either house experienced during the present
engravings may be avoided hereafter Every
of the body familiar with the extraordinary,
unaecouniabe and all outrageous delay that has
delivery of of the books ordered be printed
! by the Senate.
I'd The Superintendent has the authority of law
inspect and receive reject such engravings be
dered by Congress whilst the contracts for these engrang
beyond his control thus leaving great for difficult
between the contractors the Superintendent
and the contracting authority Contractors prone
slight spoil their work procrastnate in its delivery
lying upon the beraty of the contracting inter
fere between them and the execution Of their bonds
The contractor irresponsible TO the Superintendent of Pub
lie Printing bat of the House Representa-
ves in instance and the Secretary of the Senate in the
other the only that have control of him. make
his contracts govern them, and fix them in accordance
with what be the necessities and interests arising from
the action which has already taken place in regard the
printing, either in this body in the other
3D.. The government is paying much for paper
for engravngs than be procured for by contract (s
informed the and, under the proposed
paper be procured OF better quality than that
used, and at much less price.
The Senate viii perceive that there relation
existing directly between the subject matter Of printing which
is under the control of the Superintendent of Public Print
ing and the subectmatter Of engraving which has been
left in the reorganization Of system of printing,
under The old system in the hands OF the Secretary OF
the Senate and OF committee Of the other house There IS
evident proprety having the whole natter Of printing
engraving connected and in order that they be
carried pari assu they should be under the control OF
individual subject to the supervision OF the Joint
Committee on Printing Of the two houses
At present have say the Senate what imagine viii
surprise them vet if they reflect for a they
will recognise that something Of the sort must have
been the There in the Union Office, OF this
city hundred of printed matter not delivered for
the simple that the plates and engravngs have been
contracted for in such that the works cannot be
issued because the engravngs not prepared and ready
In regard Marcy report which ordered Tour months
ago and copies of which ought to have been delivered by
this time understand that the engrayngs and plates
not ven ordered day before yesterday under
stand it already printed The Agricultural Report
ordered the 30th of March, but the plates all
contracted foT this Now, how such be
carried and what condition Of things this in
ion with public business The that il is
of the question: and will not 10 at oil. We must do
something concentrate this class OF business under
head make TINT head responsible for the work All
this printing, understand could have been delivered
the plates had been prepared The whole OF this matter
would have been delivered at this session. and distributed
and been sent to the people would have whatever
object designed for all these things had been
have been done. But it is certain that the hundred
tons printed be delivered you the
Of this Congress session and the next session both take
together The amendment which have offered have
to believe, and the Committee Printing have
believe, viii do away with the difficulty.
LI