Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-03-29


The Committee on Public Expenditures
in the House of Representatives, Of which
Mr.. Haskin, of New York, is Chairman, have
nearly completed their Investigation into the
manner in which the public printing has
hitherto been conducted, and from the testl-
mony before them, we gather the following
facts:
Cornelius Wendell testifes that he was
the printer de- jtcio Of the last Congress;
that James B. Steadman was elected Printer
of the House, but never performed the du-
ties of the Office Wendell doing the work
and getting sixty-four cents out OF each dol
lar received by Steadman, who consequent
ly pocketed 81 cents on Il dollar Of the mo-
ney paid by Congress, without troubling
himself to DO more than TO receive the pay.
This was the arrangement at first, but alter
ward it was set aside, and Steadman being
very anxious for money" Wendell bought
him out entirely, five months after his cleo
ton, and paid him the round sum 81 S34,-
900 rs a bonus About year later, tcSti-
fes Mr.. Wendell, rather than have a row
in the House about the matter | paid him
81 500. Ii was . black mail operation with
him: he threatened to resign and make 4
muss generally"
Mr.. A. d. Banks, Of Virginia, Mr. Wash
ington Mclean, Judge Walker, and two o.
three others, held minor interests in the pro-
fits of the office to which Mr.. Steadman had
been elected, Mr. Banks t. the amount of
one-hali, Mr. Mclean one-third, and Judge
Walker quarter interest. Mr. Steadman
ut the time Of his election to the House had
no facilities-'none whateyer" for doing
the work which the public printer would bc
compelled 70 do.
The amount paid for printing Post Office
blanks, averages about $4,000 4 year. The
profit on this is SIC, 900. This fat Job Mr..
Wendell says is, since 1852 in the disposal of
the Superintendent Of Public Printing, and
he has given it Ito the printer most gener-
ally connected with the organ Of the Presi-
dent"-that is to the printer Of the Union
newspaper, or As it is now called tile Consti-
tuition Major Harris, Of Missouri, was
printer Of this organ" and Mr.. Wendell
bought him out, Is he did also Steadman,
for $4,000.
The Chairman Of the Committee having
asked Mr. Wendell as to his motives IN be-
coming owner Of the "organ?" The follow
ing testimony was elected:
4 nsa.ar T,bn cditor If tha organ i oaner-
ally supposed To command the patronage 81
III. nj Il ill., DISMISSAL q tbc President
sa,,' "a SIo0 onn ~ ,.oor nre
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