New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-05-31

NJ n. URKETT-The gentleman says shst the Presi-
dent has exercised the privilege Of Distributing this
money among the favortes and supporters Of bis Adj
minisiratiop will he tell the House if he was follow
ing the exanph of the President OF the United States
wien he fHn.lA NJ gave the contract for binding TO
man from bis ov, district?
Mr. HASKIN- Well that ia no, under consideration
row. Laughter. B1t am free to eonisss that
like to take care of my friends and do not think any
member of the House VIII find fault with me for It,
Mr. BURNETT 90 not upbraid the gentleman for
assisting his friends, bun i occurred TO me tha ne hh1
done the very same thing himself as that winch ne au
charged against the President
Mr.. HASKIN-The contract gwen with regafs 10
the boOkbinding will be found 70 the interest OF the
country.
Mr.. BURNETT-Let me ask ano,ber question.
Mr. HASKIN-Not now.
Mr.. GURNEY rep, O.)-They have given out
the binding contract at great reduction from the price
paid by the Senate for the same work
Mr.. BURNETT-It was, however, well known that
the printing let out at higher price than they
could have got il done for.
Dir. HASkIN-Wha the gentleman states has been
proved before the Senate Committee TO be untrue.
Mr.. FLORENCE-I like the gentleman's candor:
His philosophy il good and il upon the same sound
philosophy that the President worked. Laughter.
a man should never neglect his own household, anu
the gentleman (hIr. Haskinl ought to remember that
while the President was helping his friends, the gen
tlenian from NcwYork was not unmindful OF HIS
Mr.. HASKIN-The Executive Department had the
power OF preventing the printing of duplicate blanks
but this they had not done, but went on paying for
these duplicates at great cost to the country. The
Committee Public Expenditures proposed 10 remedy
this evil The public printing is closely aud intimately
blended with the law making power, and they had IN
view of the necessity of the case, proposed joint
resolution containing three propositions. The first
was that hereafter no person shall be elected
Printer of either House who is not practical prin-
ter The last Printer of the House not prsc-
teal printer, neither was the present. and it a
contradiction Of terms to call them printers at ALL or
10 give them such work 10 perform. They might
well elect shoemaker to be the Printer Of this high
and responsible body. The second proposition was
that the person future elected Printer should enter
into bonds for tie faithful performance of his duties
This was absolutely necessary, when il was remem-
bered that the public printing amounted to millions in
one or two sessions. And this course if adopted
would keep away paupers and political oalcrs, who at
present swarmed round the Capitol at every session.
aided and assisted by small newspaper editors from the
distant villages of the confedeTacy In future
but good practical printer should be elected 10 this
responsible post
The third pro oston was, that the public printing
should lie reduced 10 be brought within the oper
alton of the law of 1852 inclusive of composition and
press work which could be done the rate of 40 cents
upon the dollar as at present paid for It, The Com
mee have agreed TO JOINT resolution embracing these
three propositions, and if they adopted they will
effect a saving of $4,000 per anum on the public
printing alone The people OF the county demanded
this reform and he therefore hoped the House would
adopt the resolution
Copton was read concluding that Mr. Lords contract
with Messrs Larcomb x English for the execution OF
the prnting is i'm violation of the act of Congress, and
declaring that the Office of Printer to the House is
cant.
Mr.. GURLEY advocated the bill from the Printing
Committee providing for the establishment Of Gov
eriiruent printing Office.
Mr.. CtOPT0N Dem, Ala was opposed to a
Government Printing Office, because he believed it
would largely increase the Executive patronage, and
not effect a saving of money. AS to the reduction at
present proposed by the majority of the Committee,
was too large. twenty-five per centun was sufficient.
But better than either of these plans the letting
out of all the public printing TO one person-the lowest
| responsible bidder If this plan had been adopted
wears ago, millions would have been saved to the
| Treasury and much scandal and disgrace been pre-
vented This scheme would leave the political organs
of every party 10 take care of themselves because it
| would put an end to all printing plumber. Among
other authorities IN support OF Government Once he
| quoted Superintendent Of Public Printing Heart
garding that gentleman as an able and honest man,
| who takes singular pride in his profess
! ion. and acts with q single eye TO the
| public interest. lie with pleasure bore this
| testimony 10 political opponent. He defended the
| President from Mr. uaskns charge Of usurpaiion of
power and violation of law and in reply 20 some ex-
! plantations from Haskin said the entire manner was
simply this the printing patronage distributed
among tie Presidents friends, and not his enemies
Az 10 the testimony of Mr.. Wendell he sought 20 do
indirectly what he had the boldness to do directly
He thought the charges of corruption against the Pres
dent Attorney General, and Others in connection with
the printing Of the Post-Ohice blanks, came with bad
grace from that party which, with the exec pti0n of
Mr. Adams of Massachusetts, nominated in caucus and
supported for Printer a who offered, if elected To
give half the profits of the printing for Republican
| elec;ioneerng purposes. No question taken.
| Adjourned.