Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-02-03
CONGRESSIONAL PRINTING AND PUB.
LlCATIONS.

more universal comment by the public press
throughout the country, and, We undertake TO
say, OF grOsser misrepresentation and perverson
OF facts, than the National Printing Could We
by possibility bring ourselves to believe that
these representations and perversions were in
tsRti0RaI-that editors and correspondents
were actually acquainted with the matters of
which they pretend TO speak-then, indeed,
should We earnestly deplore the degradation of
the public press, which could so deliberately
undertake to mslead its readers. But we can
not believe it. Men mHSt be ignorant tOtaUv
So concerning the matters Of which they write,
and, although that ignorance is highly culpable
In those who pretend To circulate correct infor-
nation, yet il is far less so than would be the
deliberate attempt to deceive, based upon
actual knowledge.
Our attention has been often directed IN this
matter, but never more forcibly than by a let
ter which appeared in the Herald of Thursday
week, and to which attention is called by an
editorial article. The elitor of that imn,acu-
late sheet, by publishing the communication,
and more particularly BY endorsing il editori-
ally, has made himself responsible for its con-
tents, and, If ever any one fully deserved pub
lie obloquy as n blind leader" that same
Herald man is the one. The letter, dated at
Washington, contains misrepresentation which
are not only grossly incorrect but are so totally
devoid OF fact as to create a suspicion that the
writer was located at some other point than in
rect idea OF his subject, are, as we know, read
iiy ootainable, or else harsher conclusion, that
De intended deliberately to deceive
We make the following extracts first:
Prominent among these conside derations (al-
luding to the printing of the House of Repre-
sentatiVesl is the fact which now allege
namely, MessrS. Steedman, Banks 4 Co have
lately offered to dispose of their contract for
the House printing to Mr.. Wendell for the
round sum OF S2JOOOO, to be paid in short cash
Payments-they, Of course, to be discharged
from doing any of the work, or bearing any of
the expenses necessary to the performance of
the contract, and to receive this sum in consid-
GRAFTON of merely assigning over the Job OF
course, they mean to allow Mr.. Wendell rea-
sonable profit also and the calculation upon
which they based this offer, therefore, must
have ontemplated pickings in the shape Of
clear profits from the job to the extent of at
least three hundred thousand dollars
Now, if the writer of that letter had been in
the least anxious to speak from the book, be
could have obtained copy of the two last an
nual Reports OF the late Superintendent of
Public Printing, now before US, in which it is
shown that the entire or gross amount received
oy Wendell for the whole printing Of the House
OF Representatives during the Thirty-fourth
Congress was only about S26O, ,OOOi Can any
believe for an instant that such a proposition
as the one above named would be made by sane
business men, with such facts before them or
If made, be entertained for a single instant,
with such a precedent? Again he says:
IAN additional item will afford a slight clue
as to the means by which these enormous pro-
fits are made. / have reason to believe that
IN the estimate formed by Messrs Steedman
Co, of the amount which Mr. Wendell might
reasonably expect to pocket in the execution of
the contract, the cost to Congress of a single
work ordered to be printed, viz: The Surveys
OF the Mexican Boundary Line by Major
ctr
the fattest job of the Steedman dispcnsation.
and the one upon which they expect to make
the largest profits; and in their offer to sell
their contract to Wendell it was the benefits,
advantages, and fat steaks of this work which
were most temptngly insisted on. Mr. Wen
dell had, OF course, too much experience in
the business not to confess the template of
the job, and | believe did not demur to the
estimate OF its capabilities; nevertheless, a
hitch has ensued in the negotiations, which
will now, under the influence of my reyela-
tions be probably postponed until the parties
negotiating feel little stouter ia the legs
Now again, 4 reference to the reports would
have shown hlm that no such work as 90 Major
Birtietts Boundary Survey" was ever pub
llshed or contemplated by Congress Commits
sl0ner Bartlett published his narrative of the
Mexican Bounday Survey by private subscrip-
tion, and sold 1t for his individual benefit. We
have copy. Major Emorys Report of his
printed wide Superintendent 5 Report) at the
lst Session OF the 34th Congress and this we
charitably suppose 10 be the work alluded to
but, although not completed, yet the profits
VIII lnure to Mr. Wendell IA the printer of the
House Tor that Congress, and by the Superin-
tendents 3 estimates il is shown that the rnttre
amount which he will receive for all his labor
on the work will be about eighfeen khonSqua
dOHorS-a slight difference truly-only about
s2o2,OOO. We can hardly suppose that Wen
dell would base his offer upon this report, even
If Its printing was vet To be ordered
We know nothing Of the combinations to
which the correspondent alludes, they may or
may not be so; but the following extract can
not be surpassed for cool mis-statement:
The lucky recipient of the Senate binding,
however, as L have already said, is a Mr. Botc-
Ter, of this city.
appears that some time since, Mr. Boteler
and the Hon y = \ \
from the State of were mix
ed up together in certain mysterious but no
doubt perfectly honest business transac ton. the
result OF which was, as it is said, to leave
considerably in Boteler's debt Mr.. 4
however, became a member Of 4
Mr.. Boteler became. through what Mr. Weller
would probably call remarkable coinci-
dence," candidate for Senate binder. To
overbalance the fact that he was violent men,
Der VI the opposition. he had that " little bill
against = and
negotiations are understood to have been com-
menced on that basis. Boteler offered to can
eel his little bill, or the largest part OF it, in
consideration CT receiving the very comfortable
job he asked for, and matters were thus par
tally arranged, when Mr.. con
ceived higher notions of the profits he ought
10 derive from the job in question, and advanced
his estimates. Major Heiss, of the States, was
then called in, and told confdentially, without
Boteiers knowledge, that he might have it if
he would consent to divide the profits. 1t is
sand that went himself to Major
spot about the whole transaction appears 10 he
that the latter Indignantly declined entering
into bargain"
If any statement ever deserved, In our hum
BILE judgment, in its length and breadth, the
brand of base and deliberate calurnny, it is the
above. We know Of what we speak No one
who has been in Washington recently, can
mistake the Senator alluded TO. 1t is too dis
tincs, pointed, and we, who have sustained for
years past, the most intimate business relations