The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-01-30
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speech of the gentleman from Missouri until to-day, mo-
body had evinced the slightest interest III It, When
the proposition 10 appropriate sisoOoO 10 pay con-
tracts made by order OF the House was brought up
instead of discussing that matter, examining IT, and
Ii,sscnting Il in such shape 10 make an impress
sion upon the country they had entertained the House
with speeches upon Kansas Mormonism, and other
subjects until the time had nearly expired for debating
IT, If the duty of the Committee Printing TO act
in conjunction with the Senate committee, examine
the contracts and present their views IN the shape
of reports, ia regard to all matters proposed 10 be
printed, TO the House in order that the House might
give its Judgment and until that judgment was pro
nounced not dollar of the public money could be ex
pended 1t the duty of the Committee OF Ways and
Means ON the other hand take the estimates of the
departments and ascertain what contracts had been
made, and what of money is necessary to comply
with those contracts and then TO report bill to the
House for the purpose of meeting the obligations which
the had incurred through its duly consttu
ted agents But it centended by the gentleman from
Kentucky and Others that the Committee OF Ways and
Means should recommend where these publications ought
to stop, that the House could act upon that recon-
mendation 1t would be recollected during the last
Congress when that committee took charge of the sub
ec referred to it by the Secretary of the Treasury in re-
gard marine hospitals the report of the committee
not concurred in by the House They were to be
punished not legislatng, but year ago they
were punished for atteRptng to put end to IT. II it
wrong then, was it not equally wrong now ii 1t
right, why they not sustained by the House
Mr.. CAMPBELL, of Ohio, thought that the gentle
proyiso alluded to by the gentleman from Virginia In
regard to the marine hospitals,
Mr.. LETCHER to the action of the House
under which these expenses made necessary and
which he thought would illustrate with ceaness the pro-
prety of the report of the committee upon this bill He
asked whether when the House ordered the printing OF
Gilliss report they intended to fulfil the contracts that
made or whether AS the gentleman from Kentucky
proposed after the contracts had been made they should
then undertake declare that although portion
done the balance should not be completed.
Mr.. STEPHENS. When was it ordered
Mr. LETCHER At the first session of the Thirty third
Congress.
Mr. STEPHENS asked whether by any sort Of construc
ton he presumed that the House intended to print any
thing but the report then made,
Mr.. LEICHER replied that his friend from Georgia had
walked up very late When the commercial relations
ordered to be printed it said that there would
be but volumes yet his friend did not arrest the pub
LEGATION of the third and fourth. Why was this passed
along quietly until the attention of the people called
to it,
Mr. LETCHER then reviewed the action Of the House
in ordering the publication of the Pacific railroad report
and the report of Major Emory and their cost to show
that the House bound to complete the contracts.
phe first volume and the third and fourth of the
mercial relations had been printed 1t had got into this
House under resolution offered by the gentleman from
Illinois, Mr.. WAsnBURNE and said that it would
only make volume of three hundred pages. He read
the resolution from the Journal.
Mr. STEPHENS asked whether the gentleman under
stood that resolution to authorize the publication of
thing but the matter then prepared
Mr. LETCHER replied. all Information subsequently
acquired The first resolution directed the report to be
printed and provided that all subsequent information
should be annexed to what then furnished. When
that resolution into the hands of the committee they
reported back that the whole cost would be 81 50 per
volume whether not there than volume.
What meant by that declaration, if there no
doubt as to the number of volumes
Mr.. NICHOLS, of Ohio said that the cost of that
printing based upon statement Of the Secretary of
State
Mr.. STEPHENS remarked that he did not believe it
embraced thing except that reported upon by the
mtee and never sanctioned the gathering up of those
other materials to make four five volumes
Mr.. LEIUIIER said these volumes had been increasing
during the last session well the present When the
deficiency bill up at the last Congress, why did not
the gentleman from Georgia raise his voice against the
publication Of booksi That WAS the time to stop it, He
hoped that the action of members would proclaim that
there must be retrenchment and reform They should
hold the heads of departments responsible for all reports
which they recommended to he published. In conclu
sion he said let the House up clearly and meet the
responsibility If they authorized either committee to
make these contracts, and the work had been executed
however economical he might be- and everybody knew
he had been yet when the credit of the
involved by the votes of the House his head
he should be prepared, member of the Committee of
Ways and Means now, and at all other times, to vote
the amount necessary to fulfil its obligations He
ready to meet that responsibility before his people, and
knew that they would approve his course.
The debate here terminated. ... I.H.
Mr.. PHELPS, being entitled to the floor, moved that
the committee rise for the purpose of going into the
House, and extending the time for debating the bill.
Mr. SMITH, of Virginia, suggested that the five-mp-
ute debate upon amendments would be all that would be
necessary.
Mr. STEPHENS remarked that the only way
pIish this object would the committee do
thing with the bill. and report it to the House,
Mr. PHELPS said he had every confidence that unan
nous consent would be given.
The committee then rose, and
Mr. PHELPS asked unanimous consent for a further
r. All -.
Mr. CAMPBELL, of Ohio, suggested whether it would
CUSTOM when the rules in regard to debate could be
forced
Mr.. FLORENCE opposed that suggestion on the ground
that the previous question might be moved and debate
thus cut off.
Mr. SEWARD, of Georgia, objected to the motion ;
when
Mr. PHELPS again moved that the House go into com
nittec which motion agreed to- n
Accordingly, the House again went into committee,
bIr DAVIS of Indiana, in the chair
Mr. PHELPS, Of Missouri, then proceeded to address
the committee in explanation of the bill He said that
his colleague Mr. LEonER had already given the views
of the committee in reporting this bill with
daton that it do pass .f fa
of the law to send the manuscript to the printer The
law required that 1t should be filed in the Office Of the Su
perntendent
Mr.. PHELPS replied that it was and that he thought
Congress had been guilty of violation Of the spirit Of
that law in ordering the printing of Gilss report be-
fore 1t written He did not believe that they could
stop these works, and make any considerable saving to
the government and the committee actuated by the
principle that if they elected print and engraver and