Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-02-19

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sY.a ), 1.r Professional .,..,e- IL ;iia i:" 5 %.
this Question. riy only aim being To get M the irnh
tile Whole truth and nothing but the truth IN t!:'s
! matter. do not come her. much To de:cii the
public printer as 10 throw light upon The subject oil
printing.
Muct' moro, Nr Speaker, might ba said upon ms
particular branch of the aubjec. in answer TO the
nnnernus objections raised by gentlemen on the
other sidd and IN reply TO questions propouuded oy
other gentlemen but enough has already been SAID
10 '!uciLa'e the subject. We will therefore proceed,
very briefly, In examine one two other points, aud
| then Dismiss the subject.
l. is no, my purpose to give to tho reports of the
Joint committee OH the public printing all elaborate
aad critical examination but simply to refer 10 them
in general terms. This committee, are informed,
have given to the subject most searching lsboroua
and faithful investigations; sending Tor persons aud
| papers" taking the dispositions vi number OF mas
ter printers and in every other legitimate way, bring
ny out the facts in the ca.e and the result of the
whole matter is, that the majority nave arrived at the
conclusion, that the present rates ought 10 % re-
duced about l2i per cent, wh!e the minority OK ths
committee think they ought to be reouced - per
cent In the conclusions Of the majority OF the com
mittes, concur in the msn. Under existing GiF
cumstances, when strong disposition i mani.es'eu "
car;ail all useless, unnecessary or e1'ravaSaht
di.ures, and, indeed, TO extend The pruning hnIe W
every branch of the public survic, IL may u" p''f
TO APPLY the princir:s TO the pubic printer; H"u
doub; not sir, he viii -; chee.tay aceulsS'e :
the necessity Of such reduction; bur, must oe per
mitted say that il would be grossly UNJUST 10 apply
the knife printers alone; st 1t be extended
to all the public officers in the sans proportion and
I will 90 with gentlemen 10 any reasonable extent
But in my judgment, after giving to the SUBJECT the
most mature and careful reflection aud investigation
OF which am capable, this House will act uJuity To-
ward the public printer by adopting the report OF the
minority Why not, if this principle ia to be 50 rigid
y applied him, apply it TO all the basement officers
your Treasurer, Auditors, Register OF the Land
Ofiica and the rest Why not let them out 10 the
| NOT bp a
TO the public treasury Gentlemen may reply. that
competent and efficient officers could not be Induced
TO accept those responsible posts If you reduce the
present salaries and that it would be bad policy To
| introduce so radical a reform. Such would most
| likely be the effect. 1t would unquestlonably lower
the standard of qualification in our public o;ilcers ana
prove detrimental in small degree to the most ir
| portant interest of the Commonwsah-the proper
management of her financial affairs. | submit to this
House sir that it is matter OF no little Importance
that we should have efficient, competent, honest
and responsible public printer such rs the present
occupant Of that oc. hss proved himself TO be IN an
eminent degree and it is fairer to say that other
prusrs arc willing 10 undertake this work at the low
rate recommended by the minority of the committee
than it would be TO lot out the basement offices, re-
.rrsd to- to the lowest bidder II it is necessary 10
nav adequate salaries in order 10 secure tho SERVICES
Of competent gentlemen, the rule applies 10 this ques
ton of the public printing with no less force and per-
| tDancy.
Que word as to the profits realized by the public
|
| isct The gen,en III from Monongsia, in his speech
upon this subject, 10 my opinion greatly exaggerated
or l should rather say, oversated these prohts. lie
declared that he could take the public printing as
now executed, at the price recommended In his re
port and sell private printers Of sl5,OoO per an
num- aud that he would leave wide margin for pro.
Ats at that. II such De the case, then some OF US
who have undertaken 10 investigate this matter, have
been most egregiously imposed up0n and that, too,
by those who have right to know all aboutit. The
gentleman doubtless believes that this statement OF
bis is substantially true, he would not have made
1t to this House: but with all due Difference To him,
I have not been abe to arrive at such concluslon
! on tho contrary, have douo. the public printer
oud be- glad TO find gu, that his annual profits have
netted him ons.third tina, amount. As the gentleman
submitted no figures show how it is possible that the
printer can realize such enormous profits Oh the oap
tai invested !; is ~ be feared that he has placed too
much stress upon eiatemsnts, made IN general way
by printers or others who have not investigated ills
question, and Who may, perchance, feel some per
NAL interest In defeating the re-rscon OF the pro
sent cubic printer. Aud here lei cay, III Justice
to that geutle,nuu, TINT most oheerfully, and uu
quafedy acquit him OF any intentional mIsrepreseu-
taiion If The facts in the case. know him to be i'll
capable u; such thing aud especially when he has
given this House the solemn assurance tiiat ne Is
both tho personal aud political friend Of the public
printer.
The first step toward reform, III my humble
! judgment, would be that there Shall be bat one
Puoic Printer, who shall execute al the work
| required TO be executed for both branches Of
! the General Assembly, Instead Of eIecrins s5pa'
ra.s printer 10 the Senate, as IS now cpGe.-
! In The second piece, something nigh. b5 saved
TO The treasury by the appointment OF joint com
mittes Gu printing, composed, !! practicable, Of
practical prIn,-r., wIoSe diy it shall be 20 determine
-ka. shall be printed and RGc il shai be executed.
Hundreds Of dollars annually expended iCr the
printing Of superauou' and useless matter, that might
| lie saved ~ the public Treasury, without iuhcilng
any kind Of detTimen: upon any branch oi the puoiia
service.
Mr. Speaker, desire to cay few words upon
other point, and ;hrn shal! have washsd my hands
Of this Question: refer 10 the origin o! this coniro'
versy with particular reference the present pubic
printer. II did not originate in this House. as every
intelligent gentleman upon this floor, who r-aG fhr
newspapers very we'll knows but II originated among
the politicians O, tie State; aud the lmnedlaa. aud
haz nothing In saying, tLe OILY occasion OF II. was
the courss pursued by the Editors Of the "En4uirer
relative to the Senatorial question But Tor the TACT
that tho Editors OF that paper occupied position
deem ed hostile to the election Of Nj. Hunter, the
idea Ct taking the public printing from MIR. Rtchie
would not hive been started in The public nswspa
pers. Sir, when the proposilinn Was first put 10
tangible FORM by the friends ct Mr. Hunter, oppose
it, because, 10 my judgment, il was uDia't 10 Mr.
Ritchie, AMI inaugurated species Of prescription
heretofore unknown among the Democracy OF tir.
gus. Il ia but just to cay in this connection, that MIR
Hun.r had :cl, within The limits OF this Sete, more
ard-nt@u uncomprOnislng supporter Than myself
yet Il. the same time, unwilling 20 strike down
the public printer because, forsoo;h, he saT proper
10 differ from me- and thos" with whom acted, upon
this uu .son. When this question wa fret started
nothing was said the beet Of my recollection about
the salary Of the public printer Tho reduction OF
I'd. p,ofis the pubic prIn.in. GENERALLY; that was
an after thought; bat The solo o Of the mover 10
this matter 10 strike NJ tho public printer. But
Mr.. Speaker, do not lInpugn the motive. OF thos.
gentlemen who introduced :his question Of tho pub
lic printing 20 tie consideration ii this House
make no charge against nny gentleman Of persona'
hostility toward the public printer; i'iulEe the
hope ut least, that su.t motive Ectuaicj any one
would not go behind III, record TO enquire INTO this
mater, but prefer leave every member to arrive
at his own c0nclIslons, fro the character OF the dis
cuss,on which hs., fortunately progr srd to close
In conclusion, desire, most sincerely, to ibHnN
This House. and every member Of il, ior the patient
attention which they have given me.