The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-19
The Printing or Congress-Wasteful Elk
travngance.


travnyance.
We give elsewhere in our news columns
portion of the debate in the House of Represen-
tatives upon the subject of the election of its
Printer, and as proper pendant, card from
the successful candidates-Messrs. Steedman i
Banks-both of which official documents ex-
hibit, in the strongest light the very question
able and improper means which are taken to
secure the printing Of Congress. The debate
in the House discloses the fact that persons as
ISOLATED with particular candidates for the
office Of Printer have approached members of
Congress with improper and corrupt PROPOSE
tions-the Hon. Sherrard Clemens, of Virginia
making distinct statement that such a propo-
stion was made to him by friend of Cornelius
Wendell, the Printer to the preceding House.
Mr.. Clemens withholds the name Of the person
who made the proposition, out of misplaced
consideration for the feelings of his family and
friends. Mr.. Wendell denies any knowledge of
the particular case referred to by the member
from Virginia, but admits the existence of
hungry leeches who infest the Hobbies of the
House, too lazy to work, too proud to beg, and
too cowardly to steal openly" The card of the
new Printers is maize in its admissions and its
confessions. OF these two office-seeking adven-
turers, one is from some small village in
Virginia and the other from a similar place
in Ohio. They were contending candidates
with Wendell for the printing job, and the votes
Of the majority of the House were divided
among the three candidates BY their own con-
fessicn Messrs. Steedman and Banks entered into
an "open and honorable" partnership, which
necessitated a similar combination on the part
of their respective friends in the House. Yet,
with indignant virtue, they deny that any per-
son has any claim upon them for services rem
dered during the contest which resulted in their
election.
Here then. we see three individuals all seek
ing from the same House job worth half
million Of dollars the profit on which amounts
to not less than one hundred and fifty thousand
dollars. Two of the steeds. finding that they
can accomplish nothing separately, combine
their forces and carry off the prize. Neither of
the successful candidates has the capital, the
types, or any or the means required to execute
the work of Congress. They are poor, penni-
less printers from the rural districts who were
able to command sufficient amount Of personal
and political influence to secure the votes Of a
majority Of the members. 1t is more than pro-
bable that Wendell, the old Printer, will be
employed by them to do the work for the House
as we'll as for the Senate, while the nominal
Printers will confine themselves to pocketing
the plumber.
Now, from an examination Of the Official de-
bates, and from the card of Messrs. Steedman 4
Banks. we pronounce the system Of eleotng the
House Printer, as practised at present, the most
infamous the most outrageous, and the most
disgraceful piece Of corruption that has ever
taken place under any free government on the
face of the earth. In printing alone. We find
half million of dollars expended, while for
binding and incidentals connected Herewith
over quarter of million more is appropriated
Here, by q most impudent and arrogant combi-
nation, over two hundred thousand dollars (for
such are the profits of the jobs) are taken from
the peoples pockets and thrown away to enrich
two or three adventures from the rural dis
tricts AS to the wasteful extravaganza of the
job in its details, we shall refer more fully at
some future time. 1t is q piece Of gross rob-
berry from which has sprung all the disgraccful
lobby schemes which have degraded Congress
for the past five or six years.
We do not 90 further than the official record
for the proof Of what We have said. That is
enough to condemn Wendell, and to condemn
the House Of Representatives for the most
wasteful extravaganza and atrocious squan-
dcring of the public money