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

a
tract system; and printer having entered into his
tract knowing precisely al what rates he TO be paid
after he had completed the term OF his contract asked
for more compensation, and you voted him $4,000
or 500, 900 in addition TO the contract price for which he
bad undertaken 10 do the printing other words you
determined TO indemnify him Tor loss, and give him
profits besides do not think, therefore, that il becomes
the Senate who have bestowed grauity by way OF in
demniy upon one printer. TO object TO providing, al
expense OF about one-fourlb what then thought
not at all Objectionable, for putting printer in an in
Mr. HUNTER My friend from Maryland will allow
me 10 say that the amount is not $4,000, but only
one,lhird Of that OF 600 according TO The statement
oil The senator from Maine himself The Increased ex-
pense will only be double composition for the Senate
work.
Mr. PEARCE. Then it is SO much the better for my
Mr. HAMLIN The increase will be $4,000.
Mr. PEARCE. say that taking 1t at $4,000, n does
not furnish. with me, any objection to The amendment
We have printer Of our own; and II we continue TO
have printer OF our own, we must furnish him with
the means OF independent support. We must not al
low the whole profit and patronage OF the public printing
be diverted the printer OF the other house. II we do
that may as well give up our public printer and ask
the House OF Representatives to elect him for
Now sir very clear that the present provision
operates whether from accident design il matters not
to bestow greater profits iron this patronage on one
printer and take, in the same proportion, from the Other
il is the duty OF this body if il maintain It's indie
pendence recfy that evil and TO put the matter upon
such footing that the printer Of the Senate may have
fair share OF the public printing may do at least what
Besides there is another consideration in this matter
which. it strikes is OF Importance. and which we lost
sight of in the original law. When direct printing to
be done for which goes the printer OF the other
house, have not exactly that control over him that
should have the printing executed BY our
printer. We can dismiss our own printer. We can.
at all events, do something in the way OF expedng the
printing of this house. should be improperly delayed
which we cannot do by own action II that printing
is TO be done by the printer OF the other house. think
the constitution seems TO contemplate that each house
md M
do not know why the execution OF our public printing
should properly be regarded of those proceed
ngs which peculiarly and exclusively belong to the Sem
ate itself think ii does Think at all events. that it
is proper in itself that should not only have our
public printer but that should have our own printing
done by him, that may have control over him and
over it, If il does cost little more money surely those
senators who liberal few years ago (and do
not to IepIoach them for D to printer under the
contract system, will object TO doing that which
is simple justice to officer and TO ourselves
Mr. BAYARD MIR President my objections 10 the
present slightly different from those OF the
honorable senator from Mary land The very exposition
which the honorable senator from Maine has given is a
sufficient with me for voling for this amendment
IL shows that there is scramble for the patronage
executive, too, for augh, know though have not
heard much about that. think $4,000 would not be
thrown away if it would prevent the state OF feeling
arising from such scramble Harmony bdween the two
bodies tar important than any consideration Of
expense OF that kind There is also, additional
gunen besides the fact that that state OF feeling would
Increased
When document is ordered by house in the first in
stance, OF course il is first supplied 10 that house, and
until the entire supply for II is exhausted. the other
house furnished Ell all take it for granted that
OF the results OF The present and there
fore produces confusion. | think The whole system
bad one hope il will be amended But while lasts,
am satisfied that such amendment as this is necessa-
~ when two different printers elected, one by each
house.
Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr.. President, believe the
senator from MARYLAND has stated correctly the main ar.
IN lawn n he hy
Tor from South Carolina. So far as | am concerned,
very frank TO admit that there great difficulty in the
execution Of The present law and II perhaps may need
the expense which will be consequent upon the alteration
proposed by this amendment The senator from Vlr-
GINA, BY he remark which be made TO the senator from
Name seemed 10 suppose that the SIS 900 additional
pense stated by the senator from Maine the result OF
this provision, included the composition for the work
both OF The House and Of the Senate Now, sir by refer
the statement OF the Superintendent, II will be
that il does not include The House work. but lb at
beyond that, there will be additional expense OF $751;
600 incurred 10 the House II the law be altered IN the
manner contemplated by this amendment.
But, cir, the senator from South Carolina Mr. Bur
LER has gwen wider latitude 10 the discussion OF this
to a matter which has been pending before the Senate
for months. perhaps fecolleci that shortly alter
had the honor of being placed on the Committee on
Printing, a proposition came before them to recommend
the printing oil nifty thousand copies OF The report
in a condensed form. The committee coneurred in the
proprey oil that. and repofed 10 this body and the
senate agreed 10 lhelf fepoi Inc
from Sosth Carolina moved 10 reconsider the vote. He
has assigned bis reasons-of they satisfactory
10 him, and presume they are TO the Senae-why be
made that mo,on and have nothing TO say IN regard
10 It,
Sir the principal cause which has placed the census
report in s present altitude, and which has delayed, up
10 this tme the action Of The printers upon the volume
ordered by this body. results from the peculiar law
regulating The printing OF our documents asd the fact
that there have been two printers elected, one by the
Senate and one by the House In order 10 show that the
calculation OF increased expense OF $4,000 does not
affect the House printing, but relates only 10 the Senate
printing, will take the under consideration
The Superintendent says that The adoption OF this pro-
vision will require increase OF $4,000 in The item Of
composition alone
Mr.. HUNTER. | admit, after hearing The matter
planned, that the senator IS right; and If The Supern-
tendent be correct, IL will add $4,000.
Mir FITZPATRICK | take it for granted that the
Supefinlendens statement is correct though have not
examined II myself
MIR. HUNTER / have my doubts abou, IL
MIR FITZPATRICK. Hence the statement OF the Su-
perntendent oorroboraies what said when FIRST adj
dressed tie Senate upon this subject, The facts and the
arguments ought properly TO have been stated By the
chairman OF the committee; but when The question
about TO be taken, saw that he not IN his seat and
therefore felt disposed TO make the lew remarks which
submitted before, in opposition 10 the amendment
Now, sir, know nothing OF the scramble, il there ia
any, for punder, for patronage, to mder phrase
between the Two houses. the departments and the PRINT
eTs believe there is have not the pleasure OF
a personal acquaintance with the Commissioner OF Pat
sns, but take for granted, from hrs high character
and from what have heard Of him, that he would not
descend TO be party 10 any such scramble. mus, say
however, that think The law, as II stands does
produce embarrassment; have felt this in my action
upon the committee; and do not wish TO be understood
rs opposing modification OF IT, for think Il should be