Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-04-10
a 10, on CorruplIon az WashInglon.

The committee appointed IN the lower House of Con.
gress 20 Investigate tbe subject OF the public printing has
made its report which exhibits a mass OF corruption
The public inter receives more than lis work is worth
and then IS compelled distribute the gains for the sup
port Of party organs and to aud the election Of members
of Congress. TIE Washington Constitution and the
Philadelphia Pennsylvania were keptup in this manner
and the money was distributed under the personal super
vi.ioi Of ,ha President and Attorney General Black
over SlI 0-o were sent INFO Pennsylvania influence
the Congressional Districts at about the same time when
Str Buchanan wrote his hypJtitca Fort Duquesne let.
ter deprecltag Ia. use OF money control elections
The following is Tn testimony of Mr. Wendell, the
70 meg owner of tie Government organ which Will give
the peopl an insight INTO the way tleir money il spenJ
Uues,iou.-S,a all Ia, facts in connection with the
trauste OF ,h. Government organ TO Gen. Bowman?
Auswer-Wh.u I transferred the organ TO Bowman
t was called the Union aud he called 10 the Constitution
&c was stipulated that should pay from the proceeds OF
che printing # the P0sloice blanks $4,000 per aunum
uut the ensuing session OF Congress- when t sup
posed be would be elected the Senate Printer. Ny stp
aaou was 90 continue with Bowman so long the Ex
..1.iye work or WORK claimed under the b. al o, EXec
i've work and coming l51m the Executive Department,
which was chen given me should be left in my hands.
J-TLe Executive work is the work coming from the
p1s.olicc the Treasury, and the other Departments
A-The POstoi,ice Department alone. There is q law
I
io a the work of the Executive Departments, appended
10 which Is a clause which p-ogd that any work re-
glei tO- vi the city may be done out OF the
v and the Pos.0.ce printing has heretofore been
,darei 20 be 40 the disposal OF the President All the
other work bad 30 bf the law TO the Printer OF the
house or the Senate while that distinction made IN
he law in relation 90 the Pos,ohce printing do not
| snow the reason for it.
Q-Has the President been in the habi, OF dispensing
\ lis Postciice printing
At was done Oy contract until 1886. think then
the contract expired and u reverted 20 the Printer OF
Congress Judge Nicholson then Printer and the
\ editor OF Che organ aud iJ reverted 10 him.
Q-Ihat was in 1856
Al ttius &c was I'm 1856.
Q-Frou $50 who exercised the control OF the Civ
/ lrg cue Of lh- Posolice blank printing
A.-Ine President and Postmaster General, through
the Postmaster General; u December succeeding Mr. Bu.
cbluaus coming INFO power, he gave it to Mr. Rice for
time.
Odd YOU su5.coutract it from Mr.. Rice
A-lts sir, that tGe understanding, that should
continue 20 30 the work heretofore and have the
control OF it Rce received thak touy-,hree cents on
the dollar
Q-Was there any understanding when this work was
given 70 Rise, that any newspaper was TO be supported
out oti-t
At was understood that t was for the support OF
the "Peuasvyauia1" Such the understanding.
understanding between whom2
A-The UNDERSTANDING between the President and
tle FOS-mastey-GeueriL
Bv Mr. Hiudmau-How did Won know that?
A.-From conversations held with them. insisted
UPON having more of the profits Of the printing sup
port The Union, &c was one OF those rather unprohta
Ole presses-o-caus; ami Mr. Rice was yery clauorous
Co have shlr. OF the Peuusv ivluau and finally set
ttd on t1r.y-tbrce cents on the dollar then made
contract with Mr. Crowyl who did the work for me for
1rv-hve cents or nifty cents the dollar. He did il
portion OF the time for forty-hve cents, and por
ION of the time for City cents had also the ENecu-
i've binding which Rice thought ought TO satisfy
nee blt the profits on that not great and the
expense of the Union being very large, insisted that
should have al the profits Of the Postohce blank print
ing could not keep it however.
Question hy the Chairmln.-lou stated that $4,000
we're TO baaloSed out OF the profits Of the Executive
printing towards supporting the organ under General
Bowman
A-When parted with 4. in March last, I found that
bv paving Rice and Stevens could sustain the Union
from the profits OF the Executive work. therefore pro-
posed 70 give il any party that might be designated by
tle President
Q-Who did YOU make the proposition to
A-To the President and 70 pay $4,000 per annum
was my first proposition. Pending that proposition, Mr.
Baker the Collector Of Philadelphia down TO pro-
cure aid for the Pennsylvania, and finally had 10 ac
cale 20 giving S21OIU per annum-Sl 600 per annum
1i which Ar Baker obtained Tor the Pennsylvania.
have been informed ha, $4,000 OF the $4,000 was for
the Pennsylvania, bat my Obligation With Mr.. Bowman
Tor SD 600. That obligation existed-stlll eXists-and
there has been action had in relation to IL owing to
Mr. Bowman refusal % carry his part OF the engage
meUt which that should 10 the Senate printing 10
case he elected Printer 10 the Senate. paid Mr.
Bowman 5Oo in advance wuen lie took the Union and
balance secured 20 him by giving him orders on the
Pastoitee work which he could not draw.