Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1858-03-27
The Public Printing-Its Cost and its
Management.

| In the United States Senate, on Wednes.
day last, when the resolution in regard to
printing the Patent Office Report wns under
consideration, Senator Cameron, OF Pennsyl.
vania, spoke as follows:
| Mr.. Cameron.-The cost of congressional
printing has suddenly increased SO largely as
to be now a subject Of serious interest to the
whole country. In lS47, only eleven years
ago, the whole sum paid for paper, printing
and binding amounted only to $65,69l 96.-
This was under the contract system, when
the work was given to the lowest bid
der. Some three or four years later, this
system was changed, at the instance, mainly,
OF persons interested in high prices.
The new system was mixed one. The
prices were fixed by the law, and the Gov
eminent under it has become the purchaser
OF paper and other materials. The Office OF
Superintendent of Printing has been estab-
lisbed, and that officer become functionary
of the Government, in many instances, ire.
spoDsibe to any authority, though nominally
responsible to the Committee on Printing OF
each House. He buys the paper, orders the
engravngs aud controls the expenditure Of
hundreds Of thousands Of dollars.
1t is not my purpose to inquire into the
manner in which the duties of that Office have
been fulfilled; much less is it my wish to i'm
pute wilful wrong to any one connected with
the management Of the public printing.
desire only to draw the attention Of the Sen.
ate to the enormous cost of the work, with
the hope that the present Committee will
be sustained in their lsbors of reirenchment.
The cost of printing, paper and binding,
from July l, 1856, to March A, 1857, amour.
ted to the sum Of ,25S,2l0 AZ. The binding
alone, for that period. it will be seen, was
more than sir times as much as the whole cost
Of paper, printing, and binding for the year
ls47. The cost for the year just ended,
have not been able to obtain; but it is pro.
badly over million and a half Of dollars.
A great deal Of this extravaganza of expen-
diture has arisen from the loose manner in
which Congress has ordered the printing oi
reports by officers of the Army and Navy,
and other functionaries sent upon exploring
duties. 1t has been common, as ! am told
TO direct the printing Of such reports without
examination, permitting the officer to com
plete his report while the work is progressing
in the hands Of the Printer. Such has been
the course with the Coast Survey, the Japan
Expedition, the Mississippi and Pacific Rail
road Report, and many others.
The Coast Survey report cost, for printing
and materials for the year 1856 the enor
nous sum Of $7s,44l 20. Gillis's has alrea
dy cost over 100000; and the estimated
cost Of the whole work as ordered is Sl49,
l0I 81. The Japan expedition report, which
has been completed and paid for, cost the
SUN Of S240,4s6 y. OF Emory's Mexican
boundary report, one volume has been prin
ted, and has already cost S007,5S0, the Sc
cond volume has been ordered, and is estima
ted to cost Sl04, ,5l0-making, 10 all, the sun
o S2l200J for that work. But the Pacific
railroad report is beyond all its associates il
mogniiicence OF price. Five volumes have
been printed; four more are in the hands o
the printer. The work already done has cos
S526,l IL; the balance is estimated to cos
$685., ,300-making a total Of SCI All; bu
the reality in the end will probably reach owe
O million.
Captain Wilkes report was the first of tn,
series Of splendid books" ordered by Con
gress and by what have shown, it will b.
seen to have been plentiful mother of cost
ly books. Its cost l have not been able t
learn. The expedition under the commsn
Of that officer, which was conducted by hin
with great ability, was q favorite with tn
, country; aud in their gratitude, the Congress
of the United States seemed willing to lie
him print the book to suit himself, and, be
lieve, to keep the copies when printed.
The Patent Office report has been favor
, has been permitted to overgrUw its prope
, dimensions. Originally one small and intel
estng volume of selected facts and trie
, opinions, it has become three volumes; on
devoted TO agriculture, and the others to il
y ventions in the mechanic arts. 1t should
condensed if its usefulness is to be continued
, Its cost for the year 1857 was $315, 800.
r cost the Government seventy cents q cop,
and it can be bought in any number, l al
r told, in the bookstores Of this city for fiftee
= cents-a pretty fair evidence that the nun
/. ber printed is much greater than the countr
needs.
!. The whole system Of printing books
Congress l consider as wrong in principl
and productive of no good All the wort
a which have been distributed by the Senat
# and House Of Representatives, if they po
sess value would be sought by the enterpr
=, sing publishers Of the country, and furnishe
. to the people at much less expense. Beg
!. ming with Captain Wilkes book, q rival
q has grown up for books Of that class, vii
expensive aud often worthless engraving
r that no judicious private publisher wou
J. ALLOW to cucumber his pages. Officers no
a think injustice is done to them, if Congre
declines giving them authority TO print al
- publish without control
Until within the last few years, Congre
n printed only such matter as was necessary
the proper understanding Of questions befo
\. them. The new system has brought abo
n this city and Congress host Of perso
seeking this patronage; and the enormo
"A sums expended have become an evil and
"A abuse which is attracting the attention OF I
- whole country. The present Committee
G Printing in the Senate propose to curtail
Ia expenditure without at present interferi
with the system; and | earnestly hope it "
meet the hearty cooperation Of this body.
Among the evils Of this lavish expendltu
- for printing is one, not among the least,
O. the labor it imposes upon the members
. Congress. 1t is not known abroad how mu
a =, OF each members time is consumed in distr
~ uting this work. consume hours daily
replying to letters claiming books, under
Il impression that they are furnished to us OF
q kinds, and without limit in number. AN
n books | have enumerated, except the Pate
a Office report, were distributed before ] ca
q. here, and answer twenty or more letters
day, asking for Perry's Japan, Gilliss' repo
the Pacific railroad report, &c. When
ce accident have procured copy, from So
ks friend or from the bookstores. to send amo
as my constituents, it has been followed by ma
bis applications FROM other persons having clai
upon my notice. No amount OF print
NIL IL inn ~ n