The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-03-29


BY the publication of the testimony taken before
the Committee on Public Expenditures, an essen
tal service has been rendered the country 1t is
IN cxaggeration to call the facts thus furnished
u.s. startling revelations, for in reality they are
only corrOborative of what was already generally
i'no'~n. Whnnarn- H~.~----' - lii:
printer who had never in his life had the remotest
connection with a printers office, it was, of
course, understood that the business of the Gov
eminent was less considered than the claims of
the successful candidate. 1t was evident to every
body that the public money was being spent,
either to reward politicians for their past labors,
or to enable them in the future to advance the
interests of their respective parties. No one is
surprised, therefore, to learn that there has been
the grossest extravaganza, Encouragement and
we may also add corruption in this branch of the
public service. But such information as the people
were possessed of on this subject was too meagre
and too vague to permit them to deal intelligently
with the evils of whose existence they were so
well aware. Until they were able to show the
extent of these abuses and to place the RESPONSE
bility for them on the proper shoulders, they
could do nothing save deplore in general terms
the wasteful msapplication of the public funds by
the Government. Now that the rumors upon which
the country has so often specuated, have resolved
themselves into one definite and tangible form it
is to be hoped that public opinion will manifest it.
self so promptly and decidedly that thosein author
ity will be compelled to adopt speedy measures to
prevent the recurrence of such manifestations as
have now been laid bare. That they will do so
can hardly be doubted, but, unfortunately for them,
any reformation that is effected will be generally
attributed, less TO the integrity of its authors than
to the fear which has overtaken them upon the
exposure of their misdeeds. For any improve
ment therefore, in the system of public printing,
we will be indebted solely to the publication of
the evidence by which the scandalous abuses at
present connected with it have been exposed.
How large are the profits of public printer can
scarcely be imagined by less lucky member of
the craft. Mr.. WENDELL testified that ont of
$1,000 paid him for printing done for the House
of Representatives, during the Thirty-fourth Con-
gress, about forty-fve cents in every dollar were
clear profit. Out of S2l2, 900 paid for work done
for the House during the succeeding Congress, the
net profit was about forty cents in the dollar
Now for this state of things the members of Con-
gress are unquestionabv responsible They have
made n continual cutlery about the mismanage-
ment and corruption pervading other departments
of the government, and they have persisted year
after year in throwing such patronage as they
can command, into the hands of some inefficient
and INSCRIPTIONS partisan, without troubling
themselves TO provide any sufficient checks to
secure the Treasury against the most ex-
t0rtionate demands. In the earlier part
Of the session of the present Congress, numerous
representatives detained at length against the in
iquitous misappropraton of the public funds, and
threatened the appointment Of the investigating
committees which have since then been so busy.
1t was but few weeks after these pure and patri-
otto announcements that they elected Gov FoRD
public printer, man, says Mr.. DUFREEs, "not ac-
''quainted with the business" The usual result
has followed. Gov FoRD has handed over the
business to Messrs. LARcoMBE & ENGLISH, who are
TO do the whole work and find ''the necessary
materials, cash and other MEANS" and pay The
Ex-Governor "twenty per centum on the gross
aggregate amount to be received by them fol
the printing. 1t is useless for the House to seek
under such circumstances, to induce the people tc
hold the PRESIDENT wholly responsible for the
mal-administration of our financial affairs The
pot has never yet improved its position by calling
the kettle black. But Mr.. BUCHANAN himself is
far from blameless, however little it may become
Congressman to take him to task 1t is proven
that since the contract for printing Post-ofice
blanks expired in 1856, the PRESIDENT and the
PosT-MAsTER GENERAL have had control of the
matter The job was first given to the editor Of
the Government organ in Washington, and in
December, 1857, it was given to Mr.. RICE,
of The PeansylCanian, with the understand
ing that he was TO share his profits with
The Union. During the Thirty-Fifth Con-
gress the amount paid for printing Post-ofice
blanks was $40, 600 per annum, of which one
half was clear profit We find then that twenty
thousand dollars per annum was, under the drec-
ton ofthe PRESIDENT, dsbursed among politicians
and political newspapers. How much of this
might have been saved if the work had been fairly
given out on contract it is of course impossible to
state. How much corruption has been engender-
ed by this mode of managing public affairs will,
In all probability never be known But that mani
fold frauds inevitably result therefrom none know
better than Mr.. BUCHANAN. 1t is no less our de-
sire than our duty ospeak respectfully of him and
his office. But as journalists we are compelled to
record the fact, that the petty and disreputable
means resorted to IN Washington to support polit-
icai parties, and in which the PRESIDENT has con-
descended to participate are viewed by the coun-
try with increasing contempt and disgust.
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