New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-06-01


J ton for tie work done. Was II not his duty then
AZ Chief Executive watching over the interests Of III,
counr, 10 inform the Teprese atives of the peope OF
this fact ~ that this large sum Of money shond b.
saved to the country Or was il his duty 70 have
thst large surplus expended and distributed among
4 srendares and seville partisans Of his adrinis-
tisiion
Mr.. BURNETT-It affords me much pleasure 10
answer, never was the defender Of corruption or
frauds No man this floor has gone further to cor
rect abuses not only connected wih the public print
irg, but everything connected with the administration
If the Government. Bot the Constitution has wisely
apporlioned and divided the power Of the Govern
melt. There was the Executive the Legislative, and
tie judicial Now, say that if there be any fault
recied with the subject Of the public plumber in
gaTd 10 The printing OF the Post0fice blanks, that
belonged Ia Congress, aud not 10 the President.
Nh. PRiOR-Tbe gentleman frankly claims to be "a
conecir OF abuses, and when | propose to remedy q
particular ahns- am rebuked by the gentleman.
Mr.. BURNETT-No, Sir; am merely claiming to
have the responsibility placed where il btlongs Here
is cbarge gravely made by the gentleman from New
1oik apainsI the President.
Mr.. PkfOR-lt is charged that il was the duty of
the Pre- dont to have corrected these abuses connected
with the printing Of the PoSt-Offce blanks But the
gentleman frankly denies that il was the Presidents
cuty interfere, that be had any control over the
ul ject. The gentleman denies that the President
responsible in any particular for any Of the abuses
growing ont Of the abuse Of the public printing.
Mr.. SHERMAN, REP Ohio AS understand the
subject the abuses COMPLAINED of as growing out of the
printing of the Posl-0fce blanks aud growing ont Of
The contract system of modern date. The Govern
ment fixed the rate at 81 a thousand ems. Now, 10y
the contracts made hy the Executive officers the work
is charged sometimes SIX times over. This Is the abuse
ind il which assented TO by Congress,
nor was II known 10 Congress- or IT would have been
rentditd. The abuse was confined to the Executive
Department
MIR. BURNETT-That does not touch the point.
Bu if the Executive officers have been guilty Of this
thing if it is violation of law such violations could
lie easily corrected. But deny that il is a violation
of the ACT of 1852 but is rather in accordance with it,
The Government had fixed The price at 81 900 ems,
ard upon the principle the Printer of the House
charged double under the same act. This system has
existed since the change in the law. The very man
elected by you as Printer charged in this way.
Mr.. SHERMAN never voted for Cornelius Wen
dell as Printer in my life.
Mr.. BURNETT-He coud not have been elected
without the Republican votes he received. ! come
back to the point | discussing. Now, TO the
duty of the President of the United States If this
lionse was not apprised of the fact that too much
money paid for the printing Of PosOfic blanks,
then II the duty Of the President call the at
tention Of the House to the subject. But say that
tie House cognizant of the system of extrava-
ggnce in vogue in connection with the printing, and
last Congress a Committee was appointed TO in
vesfiQate the subject and the President therefore
knew well that the House apprsed of the fact that
paying more Tor the wsTk than il was worth,
proposing a remedy. When the gentleman from
Virginia was as long in Congress as be was he would
know how difficult task 1t was 10 wrest the plumber
Of The putlic money from the hungry cormorants that
infested the halls Of Congress. Now, Sir say that
the President is not to blame in this matter.
MIR. PRYOR-The President knew that Congress
had appropriated a certain sum for certain purposes
which ten times more than the actual amount
expended on the work and / say il his duty, a.
chief of the Executive Department, in whose hands
this work was, 10 inform Congress of the fact, and to
ask il 10 amend the law. The gentleman from Ken
flx-u aff aud hp
President
Mr.. BuRSFTT-Tbe President only knew this: that
The House was investigating something III connection
with il.
MIR. PRYOR-Yes; the President knew that there
large surplus from the work, and he distributed
$40 600 Of it among bis supporters.
Mr.: BURNETl-The gentleman charges the Pre-
ment be trne that the President took twenty thousand
dollars Of the public money, and told friend in what
way TO distribute it for parzan purposes he lie guilty
Of corr upton, and ought TO be upeached Rat, Trlroio
is the evidence of this
Mr. PRYOR-Tbis is my allegation founded on
testimony That the President did say TO
the gentleman no does the public printing You have
surplus OF twenty thousand dollars more-l demand
that this be equally distributed among the editors OF
The philadelphia EUeHing Argus, TIE PenRsyi.
ronidn, 10 a Mr.. Medary, the editor OF a paper In
Ohio, and The Constitution.
Mr.. BURNETT-lf that testimony exists | have
not vet it. do not call it in question because
do not know.
Mr.. Pryor. speak that which know, for pro-
position was made 10 me.
MIR. BURNETT will not be diverted.
Mr.. PRYOR. am satisfied my friend, after chal
longing ne for testimony, will not now gag me-
Mr. BURNETT-I have not put a gag the gen
man. Now, Sir, do not intend to be diverted from
the roston | take that the President Is not censur
able for any fraud in connection with the printing OF
the Pos,Ofhce blanks, but that the whole fault and
responsibility rests upon the two houses OF congress
am not defending the Administration, but desire to
Tut on solemn record my protest against the President
Of the United States being charged win maj 1or
which be is not responsible. Ii was the Legs
lature not the Executive Department, that was re-
sIOnslbe for the fraud. The gentlemen from virginia
and New York find fault with the President because he
did not give his opinion upon this ect The position
of The President indeed unfortunate one IOr when
he gave hs opinion upon great pubc question ne ~a9
fo fault with and now h is attacked because lac noids
Lis tongue The gentleman from Newly ORR offers JOINT
resolution to reduce the public printing forty per cent
q Reduction which the evidence shows can be eecsu'
AS to the proposition of the gentleman IRON ONO r
Gurley), be looked upon az one ealcua'el 10 ge"uy
ell large the Federal patronage. None could deny th'
ii is would lie the result Of carrying out such PROPOSE
tiop who considered the number OF employ ees whieh
such gigantic establishment owned by the Government
" ould cfeae. Taking all things into consideration,
have come to the conclusion thai 1t - scheme
which the experience Of few years would demon,
sirate TO he not only corrupt, but which would
be 70 grossly corrupt as not only 70 smell
lad ia tie nostris Of the people, but would i9aAe
qg ntic inroads upon tie public treasury. For these
reasons he would vote against that proposition, But
il Ills connection wan the evidence spoken OF by Tue
gentleman from Virginia.
Mr.. PRYOR-I must first premise my re-
marks bv saving that i have made no
attack mon the President bat merely referred TO facts
which clamor for renress. The gentleman from Ken
tncky rose with some exhibition of indignation at my
Iresimy ton for running muck against the fresden!
tell ~ gentleman thai when choose TO do So ] will
readily Jun mu,k against the President as would
apairs tie poorest man in de community lam slr Tue
ndependent representative Of one hundred thousand ee
- ~ lis o1ntrx The necr OF the Presd- % and OIL