The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-14

reference 10 the public printing, SO lar as remember
may have heard The subject mentioned by outsiders,
gentlemen who may have had connection with the mat
ter, hoagh not conscious OF that but, 90 lar
The printers concerned say that neither OF them
has approached upon the subject. But, In the dis
charge OF my duties a member OF tue Printing Com
mee, have been impressed with the belief that there
should be some change ia the law, by which the con-
miee should be relieved from the annoyances under
which they now labor And, ask again. cannot this
be done without saddling upon the treasury The annual
expense which this amendment will invoyel
will not undertake TO state the relative proportion OF
printing which has been bestowed the printer OF each
branch. am not sufficiently informed in regard 10 thai
not having been on the committee for OF time
The present law. and the machinery under it, went into
operation before had the honor OF seat this floor
and have nothing 10 say in regard to il But there is
contest pending before our committee which is undecided
TO which printer is entitled to two OF the largest Jobs
ordered 10 be printed at this session One the agrcul
tura portion of the Patent Office report and the other
the census compendium, OF which fifty thousand copies
hive been ordered! How are we 10 adjust These
officers appeal to members OF the committee 1t gentle
men occupying the highest positions in the various de-
partments to unscathed from all suspicious in
this matter l ask, how are gentlemen composing the
committee to escape untouched from the suspicious and
apprehension OF those who feel intensely upon The
subject as the respective printers naturally dol
These the reasons which prompted me 10 say few
words to the Senate before and they reasons which,
think should appeal 10 the reflection OF every senator
this floor We say you that the execution OF the
law surrounded with difficulties, that these difficulties
met al every point, and OF course the larger job, the
more anxiety and the hercer contest there is for the
printing
Well, sir, as this body has, ia its own WISDOM seen
tit to select printer, am the last man, so far as am
concerned 10 take advantage oil any discretion which
may be delegated to by the law TO withhold from the
printer OF this body his legitimate rights According TO
my understanding OF the law, and according to what is
fair and right intend TO give that officer his due; but
there complicated and difficult questions connected
with the subject which embarrass the committee, and
will continue to do until the law modified in come
form Still, cannot consent to this amendment which
will incur such an additional expense. know the great
alnht AF fha hIarUl land
has been to the amount OF expense and have heard
said this floor that the treasury in the condition of
a robust patient, needing depletion ! venture TO say
shall be carried through before the close OF the session
the patient will require tonic medicines, and repeton in
stead OF depletion II may be said that this is small
matter; but sir, when proposition is made which
draws money unnecessarily from the treasury, think it
is my duty, not only to raise my voice against il, but to
shield the treasury in every form can.
MIR BADGER The honorable senator from Alabama
has, think, furnished the most conclusive for
the immediate adoption OF the amendment which have
Mr.. FITZPATRICK. No, sir say / am in favor Of
modifying the law, but without increasing the expense
will be done BY this amendment.
Mr.. BADGER did not say wha, the senator was in
favor OF, but what his argument proved The senator
told US that the law stands, of the largest
jobs Of printing he calls Them have been ordered and
the Committee on Printing are totally unable 10 decide
which OF the printers is entitled 10 the work. As used
10 say in college, they are graveled and cannot come
Mr.. FlIZPAIRlCk. No. sir ]; let me explain.
Mr.. BADGER have no objection to the senator's
explaining when get through. but really have word
" Nj. FlfzPATRIcK, One proposition was stopped BY
Mr.. BADGER give ii up yield the floor 10 the
senator.
Mr. FITZPATRICK / intended simply to say tina,
compendium had been followed by motion reconsider
and that motion had been laid upon the table alluded
10 that as a matter undsposed Of
NJ q yha L.I -
made. He says that under the law as il now stands you
cannot tell who is entitled 10 this printing
MIR. FITZPATRICK. No, sir; did not say that
Mr.. BADGER. The gentleman will allow me to 90
on, and he correct when am through am sure
he did state that in regard 10 printing of something,
Il do not care wha, II was the committee could not tell
under the law as Il now stands which printer en
tied TO it. Am right in thatl
Mr. FITZPATRICK No, sir
Mr.. BADGER Then there something about
which the committee ignorant, and could not
10 conclusion. II either printing II not
printing II II about the distribution OF the printing
the amendment clearly meets the difficulty, because after
lis adoption he that may read and every will be
able TO interpret the law 10 tell who shall do the
printing Of each house II the difficulty not abou,
the distribution OF printing have nothing to say in re.
gard 10 IT, because do not that it this sub
jeci.
Mr.. FITZPATRICK. My remark was. that there
were jobs which bad caused embarrassment in the com.
mitlee, and which adjourned and unsettled Ques
tons. did not say that the committee unable 10
determine the law. presume that when 10 act
we shall interpret the law understand IT, But
there unsettled questions before The committee in re.
gard TO printing, and referred 10 them.
Mr.. WELLER Will the senator from Alabama an
swer me this II this amendmeat had been the law could
any difficulty OF this sort possibly have existed
MIR. FITZPATRICK. OF course not
Mr.. HUNTER hope now that shall be able to
take the vote.
Mr.. STUART. suppose that, lnasmuch as the sena.
tor from Virginia has spoken two or three times on the
question, be viii not be IN very great haste about
king the vote; but viii allow me To state some two or
three reasons why shall against the amendment
This s not perhaps the hrst occasion upon which gen
teinen Of good intentions have differed upon precisely
the same ground. The senator from North Carolina
Tor the purpose OF avoiding undgni6ed with
The House OF Representatives Now, sir, thnk il is the
best means which could possibly be introduced 10 further
that contest and 10 further II upon this very bill II the
chairman Of the Committee Finance 10 pass this
bill in through this Congress- the best thing be
can do is, II possible, 10 prevent this amendment from
being attached TO IL II there anything in the argument
there any such fact senators seem to suppose
there contest between the houses OF grow
ING OF this subject ask what prospect is there that
the House OF Representatives will yield their side OF III
Sir, Il is ntmaied here that officers IN the House OF Rep
resentaves are connected with side OF this question
that they have pecunary interest in the public print
ing. III they have they will certainly Weld this
point.
Mr.. WELLER Who minated ihai2
MIR STUART. really cannot undertake 10 cay who
did II; but IL has been done Now, let us see whe Their
there any prospect Of success in That branch Of the
gument will undertake 10 show that there is Just
little validity IN the argument which is used in respect
this amendment in another quarter II Is said that the
Senate, having elected printer. bound TO that he
paid How did Il happen that the Senate became
bouni because they elected printer, to that he