The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-12-09

National lnfdhgencC, giving q nistOry OF the
public printing of Congress II is OF peculiar
interest just now, when the spoils OF the prin-
ting appear to engross public attention at
Washington, and the office OF printer seems
from the eagernessswith which it is coveted, to
be scarcely less desirable than the Presidency
Messrs. Gales q Seaton, the publishers of the
htligenc1, were themselves public printers
from 1919 to 1929, both for the Senate and for
the House of Representatives. But at that
time the country was small. and very mode
rate allowance OF public documents satisfied
its wants. During the ten years Of their print
ership, the average amount received by them
every year was only s36,370; and out of this
they had to pay higher prices for paper and
presswork than now obtained. Hence, they
claim that their profits were very small.
For five years after Gales & Seaton we're dis
possessed, the printing was done by Duff Green
of the Telegraph Gales & Seaton then obtained
it again for couple of years, and were sue
ceeded by Blair Il Rives, of the Globe !; who,
with Thomas Allen, Of the 4Madisonian, held it
till 1s41. Gales & Seaton again enjoyed il
Tor couple of years, till, in 1843, they were
superseded by Blair Il Rives- In 1916,
resolution passed Congress deciding that
hencetorth the Congressional printing
must be given out by contracts this
plan lasted some six years. In 1862 it was
superseded, and an act was passed by which
the rates of compensation were fixed, and the
work required to be done in such o manner as
to satisfy an officer to be appointed with the
title of Superintendent of Public Printing
This plan is still in force. Under it, Robert
Armstrong of the Union obtained the House
printing, and Beverly Tucker of the Sentinel
the Senate printing at the last session of Con-
gress.
Not to waste time in beating the bush, it
may be said roundly that it is bad plan in
every wsy wasteful to the nation, unsatisfac-
tory to the public, pregnant with corruption
for politicians. 1t is estimated that the print
ing of the last Congress cost one million and a
half of dollars, besides half q million spent by
the Executive Departments for their printing
The price for each separate job being fixed by
law, the printer reaps the benefit of every
labor-saviDg and cost-saving invention and as
these have been tolerably numerous since 1852,
the rates of pay which were then large and
liberal-are now exorbitantly high. It is esti-
mated by persons quite competent to form au
estimate of such matters, that the profits of a
single sessions printing for the House alone
rather exceed than fall short of one hundred and
fifty thousand dollars. What claim Mr.. Robert
Armstrong, or Mr.. Nicholson, or Col. Forney
may have to bleed the country to this extent,
any reader may discover if he can. And if
there be any who conceive that it is a benefit
to the nation at large that this monstrous
agent of corruption should be perpetuated
from year to year, tempting the journals of the
federal capital to abandon al, prctenoe to
manliness, and exhibiting to the world the
digraceful spectacle Of the leading politicians
OF the United States engrossed by scramble
for go many thousand dollars, it will be ex-
ceedingly edifying to hear what they have to
say.
There are two plans by which the mischief
Of the present system could be avoided. One
by return to the plan of 1876, which was
abandoned nominally because the contractors
made their tenders too low, performed the
work badly, and failed besides, and because
Congress made up its mind that all future con.
tractors would do likewise. The real reason
was that the political parties were sorry to lose
SO much spells, and gladly agreed to restore
the old corrupt method. If majority of the
present Congress are imbued with integrity,
they could readily be brought to see this, and
to re-establish the tender and contract system
The notions that irresponsible parties will OBJ
tain contracts-that responsible parties will
take them at too low prices-that the work
will be done badly-are mere moonshine.
Let the proper precautions be taken by
Congress, in the way Of exacting ample
security: let the present Office Of superintendent
be preserved and all work be submitted for
his approval and let the printers take care of
themselves. There need be no apprehension in
Congress that they will rush as body and cut
their own tbroats, though at first one or two
foolish ones may do so.
A good mode of printing the Congressional
documents would be for the government to
establish q national printing Office, on the same
principle as it now keeps up national ar
mory. The idea is an old one with us as every
one knows; and long, long ago some of the best
thinkers in the country were satisfied of its
feasibility. We have now a new Congress,
in which men untrammelled by old party affini-
ties are likely to have majority; they could
give their constituents plain evidence of their
honesty of purpose by removing the public
printing out of the arena of party politics,
ny establishing q national printing Office.
The expense of building and the salary OF
the public printer would all be repaid by the
saving the country would make the first year.
And as the country Increases, and the Congress
sional printing with it, the amount that would
be thus rescued from the fangs Of politicians
would probably support half the public officers
at Washington.
The Pardon or william Kissnne.
1t appears by the following that William Kssane has