The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-08-02
DELAN in THE DELIVERY OF PRINTED DOCU-
MENTS.


Washington, D c. August l. 1854
IoMe Editor Of The Ulioa
Ny attention has this been directed to The fol
lowing article which appears in Your columns of to-day
The DELAY N THE DELIVERY PRINTED DocunEyrs-
We hope that the extract below from recent sp,ch Of
Senator johnson proposition to give 10 the Stperif
endent of Public Printing the RICH, TO make contrars m
engravings to accompany public documents will attract
the attention OF members of Congress As stated bv hin,
we have had for months many tons of printed
for which constant applications made bur which We
are unable 70 deliver hreause TIE plates aee,,n,n; 4 NJ
ss are no ready AZ this time have in our o6ce not
s iha'l one hunared Ions OF printed documents thus
awaiting delivery Besides the disappointment 10 nembe
IN not obtaining these valuable documents for distribution
Inconvenience to very great nasmuch as our Of
nee crowded to the endangerng the building by
such weight of matter The remedy for the evil Is mat
yer VITA pehgfass Phi = Il ane Eiich certainly calls for
correction
The extract referred is from the speech RECENTLY de
cred by the Hon r. w. Johnson senator from Arkansas
which regret not seeing sooner in order that its state
mnts could DC fully replied TO- and the impressions il
IS likely TO produce corrected
As know the honorable senator WINS pronped bv nope
but the best motives, regret he did not before speaking
upon the subject investigate il more Had he done
So there is no doubt his views would be materially differ
emit
The senator first recommends that the Superintendent OF
Public Printing be authorized TO contract FOR all mans
plates, &c. for the following reasons
ist The Superintendent now having charge of the pr;
lonsrcss can make the e2nylacs for the ongrayngs
correspond in pointot delivery with the time the printing
hnished 50 that The great delay in the delivery Of books
ofdred by either house experienced during The
Ioh Tor want OF engayings may be avoided hereafter
Every member OF the body familiar with the extrsoydi
nary to them unceounabe and 10 all outrageous delax
That has accompanied the delivery Of most Of the booEs
ordered TO be printed By the Senate
These reasons with all due respect are not only MOI
valid but indirectly charge The committee OF the Honss
ItaIy ~. l..
asenlng the work In the first place the gentleman should
KNOW that is in the power Of man or body OF men 10
nave the plates and maps for public documents delivered
IS soon as The books printed unless the setting Of ht
n does moi begin until te engras ing nearly Finished
any document which Congress has lately ordered nccpu
panied by pates) could be printed IN two weeksin fact IN
oN aay IL me public printer saw proper to employ su
Gent worklnen thereon. On the other hand one of The
plates alone of the many which frequently accompany sucb
works could not be engraved Autographed in less than
tWo months, apart from the press-work which follows
one n only can work such Plates and there ere MOI
10" enodgn ARTISTS ia the United staes Who without
heSieons all other and private contracts could prodsce
the work ordered by the House OF Representatives anrp
e shH o. 'ue present session In proof of ihs--and
such acls Wall answer the second position Of The
e largest bthographng establishments in the cities of
New York, Philadelphia Baltimore and Washinrtan are
no" engaged upon the government work The coss gpr
y Ap, contracted for by It's superintendent, carly in
SauFy are not yet delivered OF Che plates and maps for
Leuteants Hendou and Gibbons reports 600 and ooo
'espeouve have been delivered; while those which ar-
company The agricultural portion Of the Patent Office re-
port WIZ DC IN part delivered in 30 60 and 90 DAYS he
s usoa'eo Tor The purpose OF expedition among three
hihographeFs. The plates Of the Patent f-ice reo are
nea IN rich coiors and the heat during Inc pst month
mas peen 50 oppressive a. to prevent their being exeua
with hasenot only account Of the inability az
10 work. but The running OF the colors used
Il is true that IL the power of Contracting was ,oo
rom the committees Of the Senate aud House to which
ee sure such committees would personally obee, Tho
work might be expedited few days or perhaps weeks hut
US equally true that such change would cost the .
eminent much more money than is now epeat BY de
u'lR rule Of The House the duties of the Committee on
Engraving are thus defined
p There shall be appointed a standing committee Of his
ouse 20 consist OF three members be called the Conn
CIV lyye on Engraving TO whom shall be referred bv the
esN vi drawings maps charts, other papers which
En9 ~ any time come before the House for engraving
ogaphng or publishing in any way; which commit.
report TO the House whether tae same ought M
t oPlAioa' % bepdblishei and if the House order the
uluon OF the same that said committee shall direc
e ana manner OF execution OF all such mans charts
snesior other papers, and contract by agreement In
Sune ior ail such engraving, liihographine PRINTING
ana coioring, as may be ordered by The House
en agreement IN writing, she'll be furnished by said
""nee 20 the Committee Of Accounts 10 govern said