Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-03-12
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

vince all that 1t has been enormously over paid
for, and that the over payment has been but a
naked-bald-political corruption fund, in the
hands Of whatever party in politics may have
been able to secure it. The eagerness DISPLAYED
by the outside Republican party managers to OBJ
tain the House printing of the present Congress,
and the notorious bargains under which it was
finally disposed Of tell the tale of the determine
ton of the inside Republican party managers to
WELD the improper profits Of it for corruption
fund in the approaching Presidential election, for
the benefit Of their own side, if they can defeat
the contamination of the desire of those members
Of both Houses who propose to reform it,
We fear that the Democratic party in the Senate
will be as 10th to undertake the needed reforms
as the Republican party in the House; for in this
matter Of the use of the public funds to effect party
triumphs, one party Ii quite as blameworthy as
the other. We are no believer, either, In the
better economy or the greater integrity Of the pro-
posed Government printing office, as We have
frequently explained. That plan, il resorted to.
will at once prove to be only sort of shifting of
the purpose for which the corruption fund is to be
used: change from very bad purpose to much
worse one. Now, 1t is used to serve the ends of
great parties. Then, 1t will be used at consid-
cradle increased aggregate cost to the Treasury
to keep small politicians in Congress Thus, Con-
gress will keep the appointment of the EMPLOYEES
OF the public printing Office in its own hands, and
1t will fill the Office with broken.down typo-
graphical g strikers of Individual members
whose real recommendations for the stands,
will be not the capacity Of the applicant to do
falr days work for fair DAYS wages but
rather, his comparative ability to write putting
Washington letters concerning his member of
congressional to his district newspapers and
the amount of pothOuse ward and crossroads DO
ltical services he may have rendered that gentle
man. We do not believe that printers who rely
upon their proficiency and steadiness at their
| trade will thank Congress for the establishment
of any such hospital for the inca pable nominal
printers and real small politicians, who will ex-
clusvely reap all the benefits of it likely to 90 to
any of the craft.
Our remedy for the printing evil Of the times is
| the letting out of the work to the lowest bidder
and rigid enforcement of the bonds given for its
performance, as per contract; and we are glad to
perceive that the New York Tribune takes SINH
lar view OF the subject. We append hereto a
brief article upon it from that journal of late
date, which will he found full of matter meet for
| the reflection of Congress;
GOVERNMENT PRINTING Mr.. Gurley of Gin
cinnati, yesterday reported to the House bin to
provide for the printing Of GOvernment-Congres-
sonal and Executive-by means of Gopern,nspt
Printing Office, or Printery, as our friend Windt
more accurately calls it The details of this
| measure are not before US, but they cannot be
such as to commend 1t to our acceptance For
! Oar Government now does but two kinds of
work after the manner here proposed Those two
are the construction and repair Of vessels and the
manufacture Of arms Now We hold il absoluteIv
demonstrate that the Government could buy bet
| ter arms and ships by contracting for them with
the lowest responsible bidder at far less cost than
| 1t now incurs.
III. We have now tbirty-three States. with an
other quite ready to be admited-all Of them
doing liberal amounts of printing, vet not one of
them, to the best Of our knowledge, having any,
Office Ii this were really the economical and
advisable way is 1t not probable that at least one
| state would have stumbled into it ere this
Ill. IL we are to have National Printery ybv
not Paper Mills also? Why not Government farms
whereon to produce the food of our Army and
Navy? OF course, we must have National Pow
Gated by MIR. Gurley's bill, where shall we stop
~. MI. Guriey is reported by telegraph as as
sThe giving out of the work to the lowest
bidder has been fully and fairly tested and has
failed to meet the expectations Of Congress while
| the Government has been thoroughly feeced by
the contract system"
ALI which we most emphatically DENY
scrutiny will show that the Government obtained
more printing for less pay under the contract sys-
tenn than under any other that ever was tried
We dare Mr.. g. to initiate that scrutiny
But, SO far as there was failure in the premises
it was Congress that failed, no: the contract sys
assignee of the lowest bdder) for the printing of
the NXXIst Congress. and obtained the work
Congress paid him all his contract called for and
S5OOOO over OF course he put in bogus bid
next time, through an irresponsible subordinate
and took the work at half price OH purpose to
break down the contract system. Had Congress
security, and then held the contractor inhexibly
to his bargain. the contract system would never
have even seemed to break down But Congress
never even formed Joint Committee of the prac.
teal printers in either House. and instructed that
Committee to draft proper terms of contract or
appointed such Committee to inspect the work
and STE tnat the contractor fulfilled his engage
ments. And now the willful or needle IS negli-
gence of Congress is charged To the demerit of
the contract system. This is most unjust
V. A Government Printing Once would ineyi-
tably become National Inirmary for broken
down, rum-sodden, rheumatic, gouty. dilapida-
led, or inveteratel lazy editors and printers from
every part Of the country. Every Member would
have his quota Of partzan invalids to provide for
and would shut his eyes TO the general abuse so
that his particular protects should be provided for
Such a hospital of incurables-a refuge for the
lame, the halt, and the lazy-as that Government
l.Printing Office would soon become the world
has hardly seen. We trust Mr.. Gurley,s bill will
be knoc ked very stiff before it reaches a third
reading.
NORTH CAROLINA AND THE PREsIDENCY-We
have received from perfectly authentic and re-
liable source information in respect to the action
OF the Democratic State Convention of North
Carolina lately held at RALEIGH for the nurnosa