The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-03-28
THE CONGRESSIONAL PRINT spOlS.
Pickirgs and Stealings from the
Public Crib.
y,ypENSE OF GEN. BOWMAN AND JOHN C. RlVES.
The Printing Incumbents Opposed to q
Government Printing Office.


The following is the testimony Of General Bowman and
.,ohp R,ves before the House Committee on Public Ex-
penditures IN relation TO the Public Printing
George ". Powman, examined by the Chairman.
A. reside in This city, on street. between Tenth and
Eleventh. am editor and proprietor Of the Constitution
@ How long have you been Printer to the Senator A.
Since the l7th OF January think that was the day on
which elected the 18th of January OF the present
year
Of the C0nstisuony A. Since the 18th OF April last.
What the rates paid the Senate Printer for print
ing documents Of the House, A. The rates embaced
the Published act OF 1852 they paid for according
20 the rates specified IN the act OF 1852.
Q. Can you state the amount that has been paid you
since you elected Printer to the Senator A. have
Doyou perform the public printing yourself, or have
You contracted oas A perform the paeac printing
discharge or oversee everything pertaining TO the
public printing; employ Mr. Riyes TO execute the work
mechanically for me- for which pay him at the rate OF
s7s cents on dollar Of all printing that shall be
cuted passed by the Superintendent OF Public Printing
O. Were you any time the Superintendent OF the Puo
Nc Printing A. Yes sir Sapernten dent Of the Public
Printing for about one year and half thiak.
Indirectly; Il you will permit me, ntea Jed 70 state
furthqr IN reference 70 the nterrogaory about my attend
ing the duties Of the office have clerk employed at
salary OF 81 5c0 70 be increased to 81 0oo the lst
q April whose special duty is 70 attend to the clerical
services my office Of Printer 10 the Senate; visit the
printing cfce sometimes sometimes twice, and
times three times day, sometimes late a. night, exsmin
g the printing in all departments nom the pressroom up TO
the upper room generally call day 1t the Office OF
the Clerk Of the Senate and ascertain whether the printing
has been properly executed and returned. make 1.-the
for It's delivery. and DO everything TIA, would do II
owned the Office and the material IN which and with
ns Attention would the be-
longed Mr. Rves has no interest in any shape or
form, by contract transfer or IN any name, 10 thst
for TOR special sum, TO be paid by me 70 him for
executing the work
work. A. He furnishing all the msterias-yes sir.
@ Who are the editors Of the Cansaution? A am
ne editor aud proprietor, and VIM. NJ Browne OF New
Are theee the only persons recognized the editors
Of the paper A. There newspaper paragraphss and
reporters the Office but there persons connected
with the editorial department except those named.
control the paper entirely
BY the Charman-Are the profits Of the Senate print
ug any part those profits appropriated towards
tanpg the newspaper known as the Constitution, or any
ssher newspaper
The witness, interrupting-By my election - Senate
Printer there was no appropriation made IN any way TO
the support Of newspaper out OF the profits thereof
BY the Chairmsn-Are you practical printer A.
am and have been for thirty years; worked with Duff
sress in 1880 served regular apprenticeship to the
trade in Virginia, and edited one paper in Pennsylvania
O. Please state to the committee your opinion in rea-
Ton TO The proper reforms required on this subject Of the
public printing II you hsve formed any opnion on the
subject A. Well, sir, with your permission will state
10 far reforms have already been effected during
the period Superintendent Of the Public Printing.
FOR nsApce when appointed Superintendent Of the
Public Printing discovered tnM about thirty
thousand dollars year were paid for what
Printer was elected for he sen..s and Printer the
,,snerred to r Tendc and he osc sass the Printer in
fact for both Houses Of Congress- For Instance the Mes
sage documents would be ordered by the Senate and
eerbcate would be BY the Superintendent Of Pub
70 Printing TO Mr.. s.eaimsn, IS Printer OF the
Message and documents Thus pay would p
Asuse Printer and thea bill would be presented BY
Wendell, the name OF Mr. Harris, the Senate Printer,
- the composition and printing Of the Message aud
n<nts for the senaie and thus the work would be
tvce charged and paid for; this done every
casen where The documents were ordered by both
Hs-..f, and the Complication executed but once ws
Traced 3e5 coo which found drawn year for
Of p1nting, which would have the 10 q.
Seast SO eco year. that reformed by act a. the
CeSof the Inst session Of Congress; dscovered further
erookrg into what are called the regular annual docu
ents of Congress- OF which the number regularly sup.
Piled the House s, think, 800 and the Senate 1920
bipdipgand furnished to every member Of the gov.
eminent entitled to receive copy, that $37 800
the p ep
about the packing room and the Irvine and other
rails used in putting them up. that the cost for dupca
estimate that 437 900 expended alone the paper
and printing; that stricken off, another reform
which suggested to the Senate was, 10 omit the maps
and charts accompanying extra numbers Of the Message
and documents which ordered 10 be sent out for cir
Ses .n9.ss ,u a.
and bringing the matter 70 the attention Of the Senate
conm&ec they agreed TO strike them out and only publish
the MAPS and charts the regular numbers Of the Message
and Documents thus saving Of $4,000 was elected
there then on looking the Message documents
discovered that they were making three four volumes
Il seven hundred pages EACH Superintendent, OF the
Public Printing, brought that matter to the attention
he Joint Committee on Printing Of both Houses sud the
senate At their last session. agreed 70 strike out ali the
satisfies from the extra numbers, and only publish them
n the regular numbers which were to be preserved a.
<Ha~~ Hc 6todh nv sha thc~n
vas saving there Of s20oco the and the House
has this present session adopted the same principle
urged the matter upon the attention OF the Houes nit
tee the last session. but the chairman declined
gest the reform Mr.. Smith, who was chairman OF that
81 pSy' 70 l on the
these statistics should 80 to the country; but has
been adopted and by this reform saving has been
fected to the government en- the Message and
alone, Of a. least $40, 600 year.
q mat 10 the number OF copies ordered fer both
NJ year Of $40 coo, and see by statement OF the
chairman Of the House Committee on Printing, lately
ne on.e ne Ss reform ssucsa o. the oS u
document per year $4,000 n least; when
came into ,ss office the per. md Of
accounts were kept in very loose manner, indeed,
esosdtnasiiy for instance, paper amounting to
hundreds OF thousands OF dollars had been received by
man employed In the printing Office - 9 wachmAn who
vas the habit Of receiving from vessels and from
snS .So ~da tear OF s%s
q the outside sheet OF the printing paper AMI write upoa
T. Received BY such vessel or such train Of cars so
many reams OF SO, IS. or rs pound paper, as the
might be- and address that the supsrnte
ofhce found do not know how many OF those notes
or pieces OF paper lying arouni loose In the oee bat
cnoush TO make . scrap book; collected them all In .
scrap book, which kept in the Office and which was
there when left
@ Do you know the name Of this man A. thipk his
name was Wallace; this immcnse amount Of paper
found was in the sole charge Of this irresponsible man.
who bad connection with the government; but wss ia
the employ Of private individual and found that he
wss in he habit Of sending the paper from govern
ment warcroom 70 the wettng room this wArsroom wa
within few few feet of the printing Office aud was aei
BY Wendell, and by him rented to the government on
discovering this fact dismissed Wallace aai took the
hey Of the wayeroom iAto my own posssesou aftsr
wards deputed clerk In the office 70 the rcceip,
all the paper and think was present u every Invoice
payer delivered to weigh, examine, and zee haM
pouded with the sample, and came up With the require
menus Of the ooutrsct; where It failed in tho weight
The paper Of good quality ana otherwise agrcsd With