The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1860-04-11
From the Baltimore American.
THE PUBLIC PRINTING.


THE PUBLIC PRINTING.
The Committee on Public Expenditures in
the House OF Representatives, Of which MIR
Haskin, of New Yurk, is Chairman, have
nearly conpleted their investigation into the
manner in which the public printing has
hitherto been conducted, and frum the testl-
mony before them We gather the following
facts:
Cornelius Wendell testifies that he was
the printer de fdcio Of The last Congress; that
James b. Steadnan was elected Printer Of
the House, but never performed the duties
Of the office. Wendell doing the work and
getting sixty four cents out OF each dollar
received hy Steadman, who consequently
pocketed thirty-six cents on dollar OF the
money paid by Congress, without troubling
himself TO do more than TO receive the pay.
This was the arrangement al hrst, but alter
ward il was set aside, and steadman being
very ANXIOUS lnr munry," Wendell bought
him out entirely, five months after his elee-
tIun, aud paid him the round sum oil s54 900
asa bonus. Abnut year later, testlhes Mr.
Wendell, "ralher than have row in the
House about the matter, paid him 81 500.
Il was black mail operation with him; he
threatened To resign aud make muss gene.
raIly."
Mr.. 4. u. Banks. Of Virginia. Mr.. WASH
ling,oa Mclean, Judge Walker. and two or
three others, held minor interests ia the pro-
/ its OF the office 10 which Mr.. Steadman had
been electea-Mr. Banks 10 tile amount Of
one.h hall, Mr.. Mclean one third, aud Judge
Walker quarter interest. Nc. Steadman
at the time of his election to the House had
no facilities" nnne whatever for dong
/ the work which tie public printer would be
compelled TO.
The amount paid for printing Post Office
bl.nks, averages abuut $40 Coca year. lie
profit on this is S20.0OU. THIS Fat job, Mr..
I Wendell SAYS, is. since 1882. al the disposal
Of the Superintendent Of Public Pointing.
aud he has gwen il Ito the printer m1si
4 generally connected with the organ Of The
President that i, to tie printer os Tie
Union newspaper. or. as !; Is noa called, ihe
! Constitution. Major Harris. Of Missouri
was printer Of this /" organ" and Mr. Wen.
dell bought him out, Is lie also dad Stead.
man. for $4,000.
The Chairman oil tie Committee having
asked Mr.. Wendell a. to hi, motives % be
coming oaner Of the "organ !" The lul.
lowing testimony was elected:
Answer. The editor Of tie organ Is gene.
rally supposed 10 command the patronage d
the President There IS good deal Of til,
work az the disposal Of Tie PIesdent-sa,
an aggregate Of 100000 per year. mute D
less.
Question. At the disposal Of the Presi
dent:
h A. Yes. sir. That patronage the orsar
has commanded FOE years, it being impossi
bic to keep paper up here without Govern
meat support.
q. i this 900, 900 worth of patron.g,
|. you speak Of al the disposal u the Presidrn
personally!
4. Tie law provides that il shall be IN
. der the control ~ the Heads Of the Depart
ments but il the President signifies 70 hi
. Cabinet that he would be pleased % see 4
/ Is or e get il, as matter 81 course they vii
obey his wishes. II has been matter o
! custom for the President to dispose d i
Sir. Buchanan has done il, and his prede
ces.or. Mr.. Pierce. did il. never had AZ.
: intercourse with The Cabinet 10 the matter
8 my intercourse has been direct with Mr
Buchanan, and was 80 with Mr.. Pierce.
.. DO tie profits On that printing ave
rage fifty cents on the doIlarF
, A. portion Of il averages much more
| but the average on the whole 0l il Is abou
. thirty five cents on the dollar.
!, q. Was there ever any understanding
! between YOU aud the President, as 10 ~ha
portion d the profits should 20 towards sus
/ tanning the Government organ!
u "A. No. sir; cannot say that there wa
. direct understanding; understood il
/ aud suppose he did.
!. q. There was no distinct sum fixed upo
! out " the proll.i
4 a. No. sir; the understanding was tia
. the paper should 20 on.
D q. Aud that that patronage should sup
) port II
) a. Yes, sir never had anything 10 a.
about editing il.
From a written statement Submitted 4
the Committee by Mr. Wendell, IL appear
that the aggregate amount paid for printing
, binding, &c. by Congress 10 the last sI
years, was $500 ,655I2, or yearly ave
. rage Of nearly 100000! IN addition 20 this
the printing done for the Executive Depart
ments Of the Government. during the sam
Six yeafs, amounted TO 1914, 17s.es. III