Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-02-19
NUMBER So.

cuctioh. There were good ard sufficient reasorS
moving nim to an acceptance Of the terms proposed
state them.
Here are several persons hunting him down for the
puoc printing in hot pursu;; of The lob and under
o'uunS pih 10 make sure of success aud at time,
~ urn appsais 'or economy peculiarly needed,
'na '''!Sou a'os' irrs-iitab.. He has invested in
order 10 set up for the public printing. a cspita of
Sd OO0. II he loses the public prnnv he must sac.
rhce ms printing establishment n, some fifth or sx-.
OF IFS cost and rather than msks this sacrifc. ne
agrees as was moss natural 20 reduction of II! per
man would have done. '
Again: Under the existing system the public
printer is paid biennialy only. Of conrsa h. ia
often largely in advance to the State; sometimes AS
much as S3OOO while he set;isg every week in cash
with his own employees. This occasions 10 him =
heavy loss of interest. But under the recommenda
ton of the majority of the committee he is to be paid
Tor each job as it is done in consideration of which
prompter payment he might Well afford 10 Come into
the reduction of l2I per cent.
And lastly, though for especial reasons, Il was MOI
80 stated IN the msorfy report il nevertheless
understood that hereafter there should be one printer
.nr LOT ooth me house OF Delegates and the Senate
This consolidation will largely increase the amount OF
the pubic printing and enable the public printer TO
abate somewhat the old rates. He agreed to a mode
rate reduction it true, but was compens sted for il
by ofseting advantages and hsnce falls to the ground
the second speclous proposition of the gentleman from
Monongslia.
propose now to submit this whole matter 10 test:
w h'e: BIZ S 'fe most conclusive and which
'2fH'y a.'"f"F'' 'ne propriety OF very large
1lrn"n 5s''ri.rnH.' by the minority OF the com
h";,:' ns1e a. ~; 4 profit realised by the pub
lio printer.
If gentlemen who are 40 camorous for economy.
are correct IN their estimates the public printer
oe making extraordinary profits, and snassing ar
Immense fortune from the perquistes o. his POST
But what is the fact
Why'slr, !ron memorandum made from the books
OF the ONCE lind that the average excess of receipts
over expenditures for the whole office for ssr-r OF
eight years, does no. exceed 1886 wear From
this amount deduc. tbs interest on the s25 OUD u.
stock inves'sd and the wear and tear of materials
and there Is left 10 the public printer for all hi. risks
aud responsibilities for his extraordinary fidelity IN
the tuinlmcn; Of he contract with his State for his
large Investment, and unreintng labor and care rot
more than $3.50 per ennum! This ID not more vhsn
The reasonable profit on capital and labor expended
which, 4 seems to me, no just liberal man can be-
grudge him. Deduct 25 per cent, as my economics
friend from Monongaa proposes aud you ssve him
the paltry sum OF Sl7s2a not greater than The
salary OF many clerk and overseer.
Sir there IL no economy in III. n0rdnate reduction
proposed by the minority report. The true economy
ls, to select reliabs mana man of intseri, y sud
nehns-for your public printer, and 10 allow him far
compensation, such IA will enable him to do your
work well, save you from the annoyance Of st;er
demands Tor indemnity, aud protect you from aub.e
quent eXtortion.
l
this matter u the public printing lies. Ii in the
sunted reduction of the psy of your public prin'e-,
hot in the apportionmsnt of the printing among three
or four Irresponsible persons; not in letting the
lowest sdventurer that comes along but in tie WISE
recommendation Of the majority Of the COMMITTEE. e.
nave standing COMMITTEES on pria!iDg whose pro.
vince 1t she'll Do 10 supervise and watch general
y this department o the public service and per
ticuary 10 determine. from TIM time, what Go,u
inents shall be- printed, sud what NOT. Doubess,
much matter IL printed :ha. ought not 10 be. udi-
cious Discrimination in this regard will effect large
saving and here will b. economy genuine, srasial.
| tial economy.
Aud then consolidate the printing Of the two
Houses OF Assembly-bave but one printer for the
two-and another important saving il accomplished.
At present, we pay, IA 10 very many documents,
double charges for what the printers term ~om2osi
tion which it il we'll known, is the chief cos, in
printing. We pay the Senate printer his charge for
composition, and the House printer for nis, when
often, single composition would answer for both
Houses. Let these reforms be introduced in regard
TO the public printing. and then shall have indeed.
economy and rerencbment in this branch q. the pub.
| lio expenditure.
Oh course, Mr. Speaker, have nothing TO do with
the politics of this matter il any there be. have
dsavored TO do the right Of the case. am looking to
the public interests only. believe our prerca, sya
teln for the public printing the very best, the
efficient, the most economical; and unwilling 70
risk cnarRei ~, ,e-oieuti"s th" r.~~-s'----
bent, who has faithfully heretofore discharged h5
trust and Am willing to make him even liberal com
pensatiUn. In this case, al in all Others would Oh
serve high standard tor public otiice-seIect Of
preemnent fitness, and pay them accordingly Th.
il the policy worthy Of great Common eslh; and
il the public good-it ia the true economy.