New-York daily tribune., 1858-02-02
FROM FLASHING TON.
20 of This N. Y, Tribune.

Correspondence of The N Y Tribune.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 80, 1858.
1t is hoped the discussion on the Printing Def
cheney BILL which is to be resumed in the House on
Monday will let the daylight into this prolific source
of corruption and fraud. The figures are almost ap-
palling to contemplate, will readily be seem. The
printing bill for the XXXIId Congress was $780,
PSF 80; for the XXXIIId Congress 81, ,699,3Sl 81,
and for the XXXIvth Congress, S2,339,O O8l q,
thus nearly doubling itself every two years. But
this is not ALL At the beginning of each new
Congress, deficiency bill was brought IN for
that which had expired, and for the three years
above stated as follows: For the XXXlld Con-
press. S127 596 40; for the X&Xllld Congress,
x625 OOO and for the XAHlNth COngress-the Dill
now pending-SI9oUoo. NO "ohoeI ~ innuc'lce' arc
always ready Oh the floor to sustain these expendi-
tures Nor is it surprising that printers, binders,
.nnerintendpnts and the like, who have been all
banded together, should have amassed immense for
tnnes in a few years. One of the claims set up by
Mr. Wendell for reelection as Printer to the House
and urged in the Democratic caucus, was an appro-
nr;stioD of $40 600 to aid the Presidential election,
and 10 carry Congressional Districts. lie could
well afford such donation, when every dollar OF 1t
was leeched from the public Treasury. So too, he
and Others in the same combination could afford to
buv THE Union establishment, using il lever to
advance their personal interests by pushing forward
ostensible editors to share the spOils They could
afford also out of the profits, to erect one OF the
LARGEST and most complete printing establishments
in fhe United States, where the work of Congress
il ,ov done. notwithstanding the election OF Stead
man and Harris as Printers to the two Houses.
These expenditures have grown out of the mOst
trashy and worthless publications, and have swollen
from non accountability, on rather from a comoina'
lion between the printers and binders and the per,
sons appointed by law to protect the Puonc inter-
ests If ia questionable if single man III the whOle
country but the proof.reader has ever read any OF
these hinge tones. which are only endurable for
tbe;r llpstrations. The hnwieldy volumes on what
are called sCommercial Relations" are positively
offensive for their gross stupidity ignorance and
audacious pretenson. They are compiled mainly
from the imperfect correspondence OF our COnsuis
abroad and newspapers, but Will ont ether SYSTEM
intelligence or skill They have never been recOg
nized M authority. and cannot be too soon aban-
doned-since there is no necessary connection be-
tween the volumes, which is pleaded for cOntlnu
snce of the Japan Expedition Ellis's Exploration
and others.
There is project now on foot to sell the printing
| aud binding establishment owned by Wendell
| Mcclure & Company to the Government for snug
million, or thereabOut in order to set up national
printing Office This is the biggest job yet proposed,
and will enlist the efforts Of that patriotic lobby who,
while professedly denOunciDg corruption, are en-
poyed TO carry it through Congress under the most
eatipg of false pretenses. We shall see who will
vote for this swinde or at least the country will
have chance of seeing if ever the yeas aud nays
are called. Let gentlemen III the House remember
that Although Congress was cheated under tne
contract system it practicable to carry II OUT with
out being exposed to future frauds And 1t If not
undertaking too much to say that the printing bind.
| ing, engraving and lithOgraphing can be executed
| for one half the prices heretofore paid IN better
style and with promper delivery, if the proper pans
are taken. ,
Mr.. Stanton's address TO the people OF the United
States which appeared this morning, has created
sensation Its clear statements dyeSted OF all par
nsan or passionate feeling, are calculated 10 exert
| influence upon Congress, and, just at this moment,
when the Lecompton contrvance Is about u be SUD-
| mitted, must touch the Administration keenly AL
ways known AS prominent politician in the South,
and still avowing his sympathies and partiahties
with that section, Mr.. Stanton cannot be assailed, as
others have been, for being governed by sectional or
| selfish preludlces. His course was prompted under
a sense of personal integrity, having witnessed the
| frauds and Outrages which committed while
that of the Administration dictated nv the rep
| resentatiOns Of agents. who from the very outset
| were the instruments of desperate and reck-
less faction. Between the two, it is not difficult 10
suppose which testimony the country will accept as
| the more credible.
| Nispiyings are expressed whether Nicaragua will
rstify the Cass and Yrissarr Treaty. No adyices
have reached the Department here, but some pri-
yate intelligence throws doubt over the result The
son assigned for the hesitation is the belief that
.La trestv w,s made as cover for the interests of
one of the Transit Companies, and that frsssrri.
the necotistor, wns direct beneficiary 70 the ex-
tsnt oi thoussnds which are freely named here. II