The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-21

The Printing and Binding Plumber.
ADDITIONAL NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF THE PUBLIC
PRINTIN6-COsT OF SINGLE wORK-M0KE BAR
GAIN AND CORRUPTION.
TO TIE EDITOR HERALD.
wAsmsGroS, Jan. Is, 1858.
Twas perfectly well aware that my sketch Of the trans
actions which characterized the acquisition the public
printing lob by the firm of which Messrs Steedman Il
Banks are the nominal head parners published in the
HERALD of the 18Th would create an intense utter and
excitement among the persons banded together in that
sad secret combination. My letter contained facts of
an exceedingly occult and delicate description and their
unexpected appearance the columns Of the HERALD pro-
duced some such degree of CONSERVATION among
the guilty parties as would the sudden advent Of a well
armed body of police into underground den or
terfeers There hurrying to and fro and whisper
ing with white lips among them last evening and to-day
and anxious inquiries were at once set on foot to
discover who the audacious and adventurous ind
vdua who had thus successful in prying into and
letting out the whole world their most eaously watched
and important secrets understand that several quite
innocent parties taxed with the performance
much to their annoyance surprise, since they al
most much astounded by the appearance OF my letter
as those most deeply interested in the affair
Mean~ lille your correspondent protected by and enjoying
his incogno took careful note of the effect
produced by his revelations and has already had reason
20 believe that be- by the aid Of the HERALD has done
tho public most valuable and important service.
new light has broken in upon the minds Of such men
as Houston OF Alabama, ClingUan OF North Carolina,
Bocotk OF virginia and other high toned Southern gentle
men, who perceive that n this business they were
beguied by A. y. Banks, and were directly handed
over by him to one Of the most corrupting organza
tons which has existed in Washington. 1t will
not be surprising il some pretty sharp interpretations
dad IN Mr. L.
and possible that the effect of my disclosures will be
to initiate measures which, after all the intriguing
sorted to by tie pares will rob them at least of the rich
spells IN view Of which they have based their hitherto
successful attack upon the public crib The effect has
already been TO stimulate the committee appointed to in
qure into the profits OF the public printing TO direct their
attention scrutnzngy TO the subject and the con
illusions they have at orce come to are in the highest de-
gree satisfactory. learn that in view OF these gross
ansactons the scandal anc general GENERALIZATION arB
ing Ct the immense profits OF the pubic printing they
have pretty nearly resolved to report bill for the estab
lshent of Printing Bureau, accordance with the sug
pesons and recommendations often put forth in the ed
torial of the HERALD Thus while your own course
will receive thorough and complete ment, your
correspondent has the tstactioI Of doin little some
thing towards the good work Honest people are just be
ganing find out that the Herald has all along been
telling the truth and nothing but the truth about these
matters They ought to have believed long ago for
they had believed and acted the belief the parties in
this last great plumber scheme would never have had the
opportunity of engaging in and carrying through this
latest most disgraceiul transaction oil the Washington
lobby.
am not yet done with my revelations upon this sub
ject and others that nearly related 10 it,
While Messrs Steedman Banks x Co. are getting them
selves into fever at the exposure to which they have
been subjected am quietly pursuing my inquiries, aud
shall thus be able to supply the House committee and the
readers of the HERALD with further amount of interest
ing information. There still important and in
teresng facts justyng your estimates with reference
to the enormous profits OF the public printer AMI gong,
therefore, support the recommendation for the esab
Ishmcnt OF bureau, by means OF which these profits
will be OF from the lobby, and saved to the govern
ment.
Prominent among these considerations is the fact which
now allege, namely, Messs. steedmsn, Banks Co.
have lately offered dispose OF their contract for the
House printing TO Mr.. Wendell for the round of
$3.50 COO be paid in short cash payments-they, Of
course to be discharged from doing amy OF the work or
bearing Of the necessary TO the perform
OF the contract and TO receive this sum IN condera
ton Of merely assigning over the job OF course they
mean TO allow Mr. Weniel reasonable proht also, and
the calculation upon which they based this oer there
fore, must nave contemplated pickings in the shape Of
clear profits from the job the extent OF at least three
hundred thousand dollars This enormous sum, actually
in the grasp Of though really divided among the
combination will give the innocent public some little
idea Of the in which the treasury has year after
year been robbed by set Of graceless politicians
An additional item will Afford slight clue ms 10 the
by which these enormous profits are made. have
believe that in the estimate formed by Messrs
Steedmar Co. of the amount which Mr.. Wendell might
reasonably expect To pocket in the execution OF the con
tract to Congress Of single work ordered to DO
printed viz: 1.-The surveys OF the Mexican Boundary
Line, by Major Bartlett set down at 100000, The
work i TO include the usual amount OF photographic PIC
lures Of fossil remains rocks and parrots the letter
press is to be Of the finest description, and the binding,
In which Mr. Wendell has baud will, doubtless, be
cuted 10 afford the highest possible profit to the
PARTIES executing the work, which, when finished, will
be Of about as much value to the country old
file Of Greeley's Nac fUser. This Is the latest job
of the Seedmsn dispensatlon, snd the one upon
which they expect TO make the largest profits, and
in their offer 10 sell their contract 10 Wendell
IL the benefits, advantages, and fat streaks
OF this work which were most emptinely insisted on
Mr. Wendell had, Of course too much experience in the
business not t. confess the temptations Of the job aud
believe did not demur to the estimate of its capabilities
will now under the influence ofmy revelations be probably
postponed until the parties negotiating feel little souter
in the legs believe steedman Co do not now consi'
der themselves entirely safe in the possession OF the
printing as they did before the appearance OF the HERALD
Of the 18th,
to dverge upon another ycn which though not so deepa
the other affords rich yield Of scandal and offers some
more triypg ur,ratons Of the wpe spread corruption
which prevails in and about the federal capital refer
to the secret influences through which Mr. Boeer obtained
the binding OF the Senate and the intrigue connected there
with, in which the general ncorTupbity supposed TO
belong gentlemen Of the South receives an unlucky
blow through the conduct Of a southern -" Cheva
l,r Banks has already given Que Illustration OF the
fact that the high SPIRITED chyalry not all proof
against the seductive Influences which act upon
on. northern political ensra,,s .na ,rs AMI ~
the stripe should be thoroughly siitcd, other in
stances would doubtless he exhibited 10 the matter now
referred to am IN the possession OF facts which go TO
show that the high aud dgnihed IL tainted
with the general corrupng nueLces Of the lobby These
facts constitute second highly interesting and important
chapter, connecting Itself by link with that already re-
lated.
The printing Of the House and OF the Senate not the
only fat Jobs about the Capitol The binding Is another,
the profits OF which also considerable and at
Que time the thought Of the Ohio aud Virginia combina
ton for that also The lucky recipient az the Sc
nate binding, however as have ALREADY said, Is Mr..
Boelcr OF this city who l. understoM tohsve also sort
of connection with Wendell though OF what sort
able say. Botcler neither admins traon
democrat but the contrary, since the organization
Of the Know Nothing order has been violent red
moulhed leading member Of that party in Washington;
and the circumstance tat such has obta ned from
democratic Senate large slice Of the patronage
which supposed 20 be the peculiar reward OF the fa h
full is in Itself sufficient 10 excite series Of curious nqu
ries Happily am able 10 explain circumstance which,
10 the uninated, must inevitably abstruse; but
another exciting erToe Of Congressional and lobby in
uigue
Hon. > . from the state Of
. were mixed up together in certain mysterious,