The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-04-23
THE PUBLIC PRINTING.

the Public Money-Fat sinecurSs and Snug
Pc ceGtaEes, &c.
The select committee appointed under the resolu-
lions Of the House, OF December 3, 1857, to examine
into the laws in relation to the printing for the
House OF Representatives prices paid therefor,
and the duties of the public printer; and who was
further directed by resolution of December H. 1857,
to inquire into the prices paid for the binding of
Congress and the Laws regulating the same and into
the prices paid for engraving, and for the paper
used for the printing of Congress- and for the publ
cation and binding of the Congressional Globe, and
who was further instructed. by resolution of January
10, 1855. to examine into and report to the House
what change, if any, is required in the existing
laws providing for and governing the public print
ing connected with the executive departments or
bureaus beg leave to make the following report
1t became necessary to the committee in order
properly to discharge the duty assigned them criti
caly to examine in connection with " the laws in
relation to the printing of the House." the manner
In which the printing, binding and engraving of
Congress is at present done and ascertain its cha
Iscter, whether efficient and economical or the
verse, with the general management of those great
interests; and, if possible, to devise a system by
which the public work in those several departments
can be done in way to obvate any defects which
might be found at present to exist.
Under the existing laws the Senate and House OF
Representatives for each Congress elects each re-
spectiyely public printer, 20 do the printing OF
each, at certain established rates Of compen-
station. Each house has its binding executed
under the direction of a Committee on Print
ing; and for each Congress there is appointed by
the President, with the advice and consent of the
Senate, superintendent of Public Printing who,
mr. a
acts its behalf in purchasing paper, delivering
1he same TO the public printer, and keeping an
count thereof-in receiving from Congress the ma
nuscripts and other matter ordered to be printed
delivering the same to the printer or engraver-in
receiving the same when executed from those par.
ties and from the public binders, inspecting it, and
in certifying the accounts therefor. How, under
these arrangements, have the printing. binding, en-
craving, &c, of Congress and the Executive de-
partment been done? Have they been done well
and with just economy? and are the established
rates for printing and binding either higher lower
than the public interests require These questions
will be best answered by statement of facts.
THE PUBLIC PRINTER.
The public printer elected by the Thirtythird Con-
gress, and the public printer OF the Senate for the
Thirtyfourth Congress- contracted respectively with
third party to do the required work reserving to
themselves large per centage, which was as a net
reward or profit for simply taking, under the name
of public printer the printing OF Congress, and sub
letting it to another who did and is still doing, the
work for them. The public. printer elected by the
House for the Thirty fourth Congress did the re-
ouired House printing himself; and in addition as
sub-contractor under the Senate printer did the
work of the Senate for that Congress, as he did all
of the printing for the public printer of the Thirty
third Congress, and he is now doing the work for
the public printers of the Senate and House of the
present Congress. The same party is printing the
Post Office blanks q sub-contractor under the
gentleman having that work to do.
The per ceutsge paid by the contractor referred
to to the various public printers designated emolu
ments OF their mere sinecure officers, amounted to
more than s2l 900 during the month of January last,
and will average nearly $4,000 per month. This
includes allowance of per centage upon the House
printing for the Thirtyfourth Congress-the SUBJ
contractor mentioned public printer of that body
did the work himself and thus was saved payment
for privilege The gross amount thus paid as per
centage bonus for the privilege OF doing the
work by the sub contractors TO the government Off
Gals varies but little from s240O 900 per year at the
same time he realizes over and above that large
profit handsome reserve profit for himself.
The printing for neither the Thirty third nor the
Thirtyfourth Congress is yet completed. but i still
in the Of execution therefore the aggregate
of per centage named as being paid by the subcon.
tractor 10 the officials is the per centage that
printing. on the printing for the present Congress
and for the printing of Post Office blanks. which is
separate from the Congressional printing. and
amounts 20 nearly $50 900 per annum.
THE PUBLIc BINDING.
In the matter Of the binding of Congress and of
the departments a similar state Of facts has been
found to exist. The House binding for the Thirty
fourth Congress may be taken a fair illustration
OF the in which that work has generally been
done. That binding was contracted TO be done at
q per cent les than former prices.
The gentlemen who secured that contract from
the House Committee on Printing sold the contract,
or reet the work TO be done. TO gentleman in this
city, for the consideration of twenty per cent
the gross amount OF binding done, and
this subcontractor again sublet his con-
tract TO another or third party in this city for
the consideration of onehalf OF the profits on the
work done after the deduction of the twenty per
cent which was reserved to the public binder
original contractor Upon information which your
committee not disposed 10 question IL believed
that the twenty per cent reserved TO the public
binder has already amounted 20 s33 600, and that
the second or sub-cOntractOr has received a very
considerable out Of the profits which have been
made on the work, after the payment Of the twenty
per cent to the original contractor. And 1t is but
simple justice 20 the third party second sub-con-
tractor who did the work, to add that he has been
20 well satisfied with the residum of the profits,
the one half remaining after the payment of the
twenty per cent that he has felt il his duty TO do
the work in a better manner than much of that
heretofore done for Congress.
This particular illustration has been selected, not
with view TO find fault with the first contracting
party, but as apty showing the general practice Of
parties assuming TO do the public work, who obtain
contracts and then use mechanics TO execute them
under a reserve from the actual operatives of large
The binding btu q he sens1 The Thirty.fourth
Congress WAS given TO ageman OF this city at
rates per cent higher than the prices allowed for
the House binding Tor that Congress. Under the cir
cumstances and after what has been said relative 10
the profits made by the various parties interested In
the House binding, il would be useless TO inquire
into the exact gross profits Of the Senate binder
who, your committee believe, is not a practical me-
chanic In the business into which his contract led
him.
The binding Of the Senate for that Congress. al.
ready paid FOR amounts 10 about $3.50 600 and much
vet remains 20 be done.
The gross amount Of binding for the Thirtythird
Congress il s53s,45S 59-that for the Thrtyi0urth
Congress 1865 ,032 SO.
In addition 20 Congressional work there is q large
amount Of binding annually done for the different
executive departments and bureaus. The prices
paid In the departments and bureaus are much high
or in comparison than those established by Con.
gress. The binding done for the departments and
bureaus rs Of different character, and IL il done
without any contract and with little or no regard
Tho nn.l ~ the llanL Ln.L. -