The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-25


% nigh, by the that the President had bestowed
MS share OF the executive departmental printing upon
Major Heiss OF the States The President has nearly
hundred thousand dollars worth OF this kind OF printing
to evo out for season he has been n-commi,tal-
fearing that in Harris OF the Union should fail in his
election Senate printer he might have this little amount
to fall back upon. Rice of the Pennsyunian; Farran,
of the Inqrer (CncnnaiD Beach, OF the san; Parsons
of the Nos and various other candidates have been af
Ter the President. with sharp appetes for the smallest
official patronasesuch as printing blanks, &C., for tho
departments
understood that Parsons is to have some printing
and some position in connection with the construction Of
the new Post oice building to be erected the lower
anglo OF the i'ark The bargain was contaminated be-
tween the Postmaster General and the Aderman; com
mit.ee-Harris, Rana and Fullmer-this morning. Gov
crnor Brown must have clear title certified by District
Attorney Setgwck ami approved by Attorney General
Black Then ali viii be smooth work and speedily com
menced.
"Dug' wallach of the Star Gender TO tho Union), is
last ten days his little sheet has been full Of assaults
upon every body and uisome OF compliments and praise
OF everybody IN the remoes degree related 70 the ad
nilnstrauon Harris disposed To Wallach, and
let HIM have few the PAN and TO be choused
out of snug little job OF twenty thousand dollars is
trie than his humanity stand The last feather
may suffice 10 break the cames back We not little
sorry for poor :" Dug" He has been really and truly
tender and when certain matter could not be public
N the tn,cn Dug would put bodily in the Star. The
Mdtes has ever been respectful in its tone towards
Its ootemporaries, and general satisfaction is ex-
pressed that the President has had the nice dis
examination to select 1t the recipient Of official
favor instead Of the Sdr In days past the Star aimed
its impoient assaults against the Herald and its editor
Verify, he hath his reward.
John Kelly the most universally popular in the
House has certain wholcs >me measures which he pur
poees IN have adopted II had dese 10 prosecute
thing 10 successful issue would get could,
John Keily tn aid He has ambition TO figure on
committees-though he is on the Ways and Means-but
simply to do his whole duty as an honest and honorable
man Mr.. Kelly will undoubtedly be the next High Sheriff
OF New York, position he is said TO desire.
II mistake To suppose that Colonel Orr ever had any
idea Of making chairman Of the Committee Commerce
out Of any material from Ohio or Indiana rumored III
the CINCINNATI Enquirer. Corning OF Albany, and Hatch
OF Buffalo, we're mentioned in this connection but Coch
rane has been all along Colonel orr's choice. He will
make his mark i'll the committee and the House Hatch
Is chairman OF the Militia Committee and is also the En-
craving Committee where will recollect the Rev. Mr.
Tcarce told Milward he could make ia good thing y
Soaring, Of l. J. Is the Committee 81 Accounts This is
post OF importance All accounts by the House officials
have TO pass the revision OF this committee. II has been
thought times that the Clerk OF the House stood in
Of this committee and would stretch point TO obge
its members in the way OF supplying their friends with
subordinate portions
Cullom, late clerk il before special committee
account for his official conduct
Haskn, of westchester, holds his There thing
about this gentleman worthy OF commentator He
from policy or expedieDcy deserts friend. Though all
the world turn against him, he is true and sesdfast
People are beginning TO ask "Where is Gen. Bowmans'
He appears to in no particular haste to take the
burdens Of Office, but he is wanted here badly Two
New York members called yesterday 10 see him. but he
had not yet maize his appearance his Office the Ca
pto His special friends assert that he will have
shuttle and deal upon the proposals furnish paper This
Ia webecsuse will set at rest the tongue OF uncertain
and give every body tina, justice has
been done in the premises II any agent Of the govern
ment go "cshoote" with bidders, he certainly
tmakc very good thing during his of official
vtude, over and above his paitry salary.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10, 1857
TIE Printing Of Congress-History Of the Con,>ss-The
Various Sysems-did Rachie, Towers. Wendell, Seed-
man Banks Gales Sed,or-FoIly Of the System-Tcks
ofhe Lo,5y, dc.
Your articles upon the subec, OF the public printing
have called attention to IL in marked manner to
make good parties here feel rather uncomfortable
Although Mr. Secdman has been elected Printer to the
House OF Representatives. yet the resolution under which
he elected acted upon gives him only temporary
tenure Of the office, committee raised, conformity
with the selection of lrnter, whose duty Ia to invest
gate the whole subjec, Of the public printing and repor,
20 the House whether the existing system Is good one
and no, what changes necessary Under the pre-
sen arrangement certain per page Is paid for
position, and much for each hundred copies printed
The prices considerably less than formerly paid
20 Ncssrs Gales Scaton Blair Rvcs &c far as the
presswok coucerned-,hc price for composition being
abou, the under the old system.
In 1876 both houses OF Congress abandoned the plan or
clccng Printer each House. and adopted the system
Of giving the printing 10 the lowest bidder Under thus
arranseuent MfESrs Van Bcnhuysen Wendell, of Al
bany, New Yotk-the former OF whom WA at the time
State Printer-succeeded in obtaining the contract by
beng the lowest bidders Thoy had based their scale Of
prices upon the calculation that labor and material al
Washington would not be higher than at Albany They
found, however that this Everything
much dearer Washington not only the cost Of trans
portaian had 70 be aided hut wages were some fifteen
per cent more The consequence that although they
executed the printing very inferior msnncrhe paper
cspecl, being wre,ehedly badat at tie expiration Of
but beng mn Of means and IN the enjoy meni OF the
State printing Al Albany, was able 10 stand i; whilst
Wendell, who Vas = practical printer, AMI the active
Washington partner was completely begnred. some
two three years afterwards Congress voted about
$40 oeo 10 make up portion " the loss, but II wa. IN
dcrsood tho Albany mon were sl largely 90 the wrong
side % the logger.
After this : siher Richie Of the linton snd Mr. Towers
q wAshpgtoh printer, treu their hsnds al 49, without
much better Finally Congress determined "
abandon the contract stem and return " the plan O
clcctnE Printer for cash House. hxng the compeusa
ton, end government buying " Own paper. new
Office crcaedhat Uf superintendent Of Public Print
ing-wbose duty was TO purchsse al the paper used
and and certify " all work executed by the
public printers General Taylor appointed Mr. Towers a.
the lrst Superintendent Upon the accession Of General
Pierce Mr.. Towers removed and Mr.. Seaman WAS
appointed Mr. seaman has recently had 70 give place
70 Mr.. Bowman. All these genilemen are practical
pribirrs
Under this new system General Robert Armstrong Of
tho Washington Tpton, elected Printer for both
Houses, and Messrs Gideon q The RTb,e Printer for
the executive departments After this Mr. Beverly Tuck
or, OF Va established paper called the S~nns and
succeeded In being elected Printer 10 the senate Mr.
wcndel took the management Of the business and
eve also the manager Of the House printing for the
Enionreher Of the o-iebe printers for Congress be
ina practical printers Al the commencement Of the las,
Congress Mr. Wendell a competitor FOR the position OF
Printer o. the Houae o; Representatives and although
there large republican majority In tue House, and
Mr.. Wendell well known 10 be democrat he was,
after prosrsced struggle, elected Printer The Senst.
discarded Mr. Beverly Tucker aud elected Mr. Mich Jlson
OF Tenn, Who had become editor OF the Union
their Printer. Wendell M once set 10 work
and purchased large amount OF printing ms
trra, presses Sc and erected IN the vicinity
OF the Capitol a comm0dous building II Is but jus
toe 70 say that practical printers concede that the es
tablshmen by far the most complete aud extensive In
this country for the purpose II said n nave cost about
$4,000 An arrangement was speedily effected with Mr..
Nicholson the Senate Printer by which Wendell did the
work and raid Nicholson gross for the job. Mr..
Wendell also secured the printing for the executive depart
nen What amount q the profit Of the senate printing
be receives We do not know. But Mr. seaman the late
Superntendent ofPrntng gives the following figures
abe paid for printing -
frhttnE trnfft~f Sy'tfANS
Printing Tor Executive departments s5o,eos 80