The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1860-04-17

done on every occasion where the same
documents were ordered by both Houses
and the composition executed but once
we traced $4,000 which we found wa.
drawn every year for double composition
without going into the smaller items o.
printing, which would have run the amount
up " at least $4,000 year, that wa:
reformed by an act at the close of the last
session of Congress; | discovered rurthol
on looking into what was called the rcgu,
lar annual documents of Congress, OF
which the number regularly supplied to
the Honse +, think, 1850, and the Sen.
ate 1920, AID which documents are
bound in calf the most expensive binding
and furnished to every member of the
Government entitled TO receive "a copy
that S37 500 were expended every year
fer duplicating these documents | think.
if you would take into consideration the pa.
per used about the packing room, and The
twine and other materials used in putting
them up, that the cost for duplicating
them would run to $4,000; but l show.
ell by an estimate that $4,000 were ex-
pended alone for the paper and printing.
John Heart, the present Superinten-
dent of Public Printing, tesifies: | be
lieve this work could be done by the pub
lie ~ is own expense for fifty cents on the
dollar; | would be wlling-and this will
show my impression on the subject wod
be wiling as printer, to give bond and
security to xecut tho entire public print.
ing and binding at a saving TO the Gov
ernment of 100000 year on present
prices, and would then, if receiving all
the profits over and above that amount
consider myself making a good bargain; |
believe from $4,000 to $4,000 might
be saved 10y ihe Government executing its
own printing and binding.
And now let us see where the money
went to- From tho testimony before the
Committee, it plaialy appears that there
was some Foundation for our honorable
Presidents righteous Indignation at the
use Of money for influencing elections, as
expressed in his notorious Fort du Quesne
letter.
Mr.. John LarcomJe, the money clerk
and bookkeeper of Mr.. Wendell, the late
Public Printer, tesIities that $l4,l0S so
were spent in the fall Of 1858, part in the
Landy District, Pa, and part in j. Clancy
Jones in the same State; also large sums
TO Lstain the PennSylcaaian and the Ar
.qus newspapers Of Philadelphia. He stated
that he knew, of his own knowledge, that
the large sums sent into Pennsylvania
were to influence elections and support
newspapers.
Mr.. Wendell, being recalled and asked
il the President had been in the habit of
dispensing the Post Office printing, replied
that prior to 1856 it was done 10y contract,
but thai under Mr.. Buchanan it was done
by the President and Postmaster General.
The President gave it to Mr.. Rice, for
whom Mr.. Wendell did the work, and re.
ceiy'd forty three cents on IAe DOLLAR
Here is what followed:
q. Was there any understanding when
this work was given TO Rice that any news
paper was to be supported out Of it!
y. 1t WAS understood that il was tor Tie
support of the PeanSylcamaa--such WAS
Ito understanding.
Q. The understanding between whoml
A. The understanding between the
President and the Postmaster General.
@. By Mr.. lIinimaD. } How did YOU
know that!
4. From conversations lad with them;
Insisted upon having more Of the profits
Of the printing to support the Union, as
it was one Of those rather Improbable Pc
cuna,y organs, and Mr.. Rice was very
clamorous to have a share for the Penn
syl'anian, and we finally settled on forty
three cents on the dollar; then made
contract with Mr.. Crowcll who did the
work for me for fcrry.fve cents, or fifty
cents on the dollar; be did il portion of
the time for forty five cents, and portion
of the time for fifty cents; had also the
Executive binding which Rice thought
ought to satisfy me, but the profits on
that were not so great, and the expenses
the Union being very large, | insisted
that Should have all the profits of the
Post Office bl nix printing; could not
keep it, however
Q (By the Chairnan.) You st ted that
$50 900 were to be allowed out Of the
profits OF the executive printing towards
supporting the organ under Gen Bowman?
A. When | parted with it in March
last, found that, paying Rice and Ste
vens, | could not sustain the Union from
the profits of the executive work, and
therefore proposed to give it to any party
that might he designated by the President.
@. Whodid you make this proposition to
A. To the President, and TO pay $40.
OCO per aanum was my first propositions;
pcnding that proposition Mr. Baker. the
Collcc or Of Philadelphia, came down to
procure aid for the PenasylVanian. and
finally had to accede to giving $50 1000
per annum, $4,000 per annum OF which
Mr. Baker obtained 70" the Pennsyivaaian;
have been informed that $4,000 of the
$4,000 was for the Pennsylvanian, but
my obligation is with Mr. Bowman for
$4,000; that obligation existed, still ex.
lists, and there has been no action had in
relation to it, owing to Mr.. Bowman's re.
fusa to carry out bis part Of the engage
ment, which was, that | should do the
Senate printing in case he was elected
Printer to the Senate; | paid Mr.. Bow
man $4,000 in advance when he took the
Union, and the balance | secured to him
bv giving him orders on the tho Post Office
work, which he could not draw, having
no orders on it.
q. Was l. undorst ood. whe- Won trans.