New Orleans daily crescent., 1866-02-01

The House met at II NJ. Speaker Cage prGsid-
ing eighty members present.
Prayer by Rev. Dr. Hedges.
Leave of absence for ten days was granted to
Mr.. Davenport.
PETITIONS, MEMORIALS AND RESOLUTIONS.
Mr.. Austin offered resolution that Mr. Gates
bill to define the duties and fix the compensation
of State Printer introduced yesterday, and on mo-
ton Ct Mr.. Elan, referred to the Finance Commit
tee, be recalled from that committee and referred
to the Committee on Printing.
Mr.. Ste, as a member of the Finance Commit
tee objected to the motion. He regarded the bill
as connected with the finances, inasmuch as it in
vOlved expenditure. The committee was engaged
in ascertaining all the expenditures of the State
and wanted this bill to determine what the eX-
pense of printing should be. From 1926 to 1886,
the Printer had received fixed compensation of
$1,000 year. In 1886 it increased to $4,000,
but in 1885 a new law went into operation, and had
not only increased the expense for printing, but
left it impossible to determine what the amount
would be for any year.
Mr.. Austin said if he was not greatly mistaken it
was established rule that every subject intro
duced to the House, if referred at all, should be
referred to an appropriate committee. This was
parliamentary usage and parliamentary courtesy.
standing Committee on Printing had been
| appointed under the rules, and that committee
was properly entitled TO the consideration of all
measures relating to the subject of printing, and it
was reflection upon the Committee to refer such
measures elsewhere. The Committee Printing
had been investigating and was still investigating
such subjects came within its province, and
was as capable Of coming to a just and enlight-
ened conclusion the Finance Committee.
The reference of the bill was certainly very remark
able. Who ever heard before of bill relating to
printing being referred to Finance Committee C !
He doubted if any gentleman on the floor ever
heard of such reference before, whatever
his parliamentary experience might be. 1t was an
! anomaly. What the motives of gentlemen were,
who were SO anxious to impose upon the Finance
Committee 50 many burdens, he could not know.
If the object was to reduce the expense of print
ing, the Committee on Printing was quite as well
qualified to conduct an enquiry to that end as the
Finance Committee was The members Of the
Committee on Printing had as much at heart the
interests of the State, and were much concerned
for its prosperity as the members of the Finance
Committee
Mr.. Elan, as the mover of the reference
objected to, explained that he was en-
tirely disntereSted in this matter had no private
end to promote, and before God he could declare
that all lis acts i'll that body had been for the pub
lie good. Having thus solemuly assured the House
of the purity of his motives, he entered into an
argument showing that under the act of 1864 the
cost of printing was greater than it had been un-
der the act of 1855. He interrupted in his ar
gument by the Chair, upon the suggestion of Mr..
| Tucker, that upon motion to recall bill from a
committee, the merits OF the bill not open to