New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-01-18
allowed to cut and carve the measure 10 sui
themselves, it might as well not pass at all
GOVERNMENT PRINTING.

the author of this idea; therefore the sentiment
is not merely of this generation HOW cur
forefathers of the middle ages managed Is
mystery, but we presume the palnpses' "ue
Illuminated scrolls were as full of mutual admi'
ration and vanity as the burden of our present
printing. Let us sing praises to that discreet
vandal Omar, and may he come every n'e
thousand years and burn our Libraries Inc
most painful object in the old world Is tne
British Museum. In this country, Mr.. Spohord
and his Congressional Library should be Cd,
iects of national sympathy. TO be compelled
to take every book printed, and keep and
label and docket it away, is dispense
ton more exquisitely torturing than any ''a'
God ever visited upon the obstinate Eeyptl"iiS.
We are fast realizing the extrayagant orlen'ai
metaphor about scrolls as large as the universe
and leaves as numerous as those OF the forest.
Since our Government took into Its own
hands the printing Of the Departments we nave
an idea of the force of this passion. When o
stranger visits Washington, he is painfully
oppressed with sense Of public printing Inc
main curiosities are Steamed Oysters and
"Pub. Docs" Every person has Pub. DOC
appearance-a general impression OF beng
loosely bound in sheep or calf, and smelling OF
clue and paste. When we go into the Senate
and the House, there Is Pub. Doc. glamor over
everything, which is only heightened by the
speeches of some of the members, and the presid'
ing officers rafting off parliamentary law ike an
auctioneer, as though he were managlnga Dooh
trade sale. When Senator speaks, he Is gen.
orally surrounded with faggots Of Pub Docs.' as
though he were about to be burned and these
were the fuel. Mr.. Deirees runs the fuD'
Doc. machine. To borrow Washington ira
dition rs applied to the head Of the Agricultural
Department the expenses of the Pub. Doc. mil
"havc exceeded his most sanguine anticpa-
tons" To meet the supply, the Congressman
have invented franking machines, for the teem-
inc Defrees poured out his Pub. Docs so pro-
fusely that the readiest writers in the land could
not frank them. So we have Pub. Docs. flying
on the wings of the mail to the East and west
like migratory birds or locusts settling upon
every house and dwelling. The Pub. Doc.
plague has been blessing to the trunk-makero
and BARRIERS and pastry cooks.
The Pub. Doc, influence extends into the
Washington journals. From the frequency
with which the subject is mentioned, we have
an idea that the joy and dream OF Washing
ton editors life is to have 6 chance at the
Government printing We were informed
yesterday that The Inteihgencer' Ga rare old Pub.
Doc was debarred from the War Department
branch of this business, and with as much pre-
eision and solemnity as though the Secretary Of
War had arrested Gen. Lee or announced
another victory Then, again, we were gravely
informed that "a Republican editor applying at
one of the most important Departments last
week for the official printing, was asked if his
paper would adopt the Presidents policy.
The intimation was made that Oh no other
terms would official patronage be given
out" Now this becomes solemn
matter. Why this mystery Who was
1.-the Republican editor" and which the - i'm.
portant Department." Do our rulers in Wash
ington really believe that it makes the differ
ence of picayune whether the Washington
papers support the policy" or not If they
do, what is there in Government printing that
The InteHigencer should be held up as an ex-
ample of Administrative vengeance by being
deprived Of the War Department share What
value has it that Republican editors should
creep on their knees through the long dark,
gloomy corridors OF the Departments to beg for
it, Our idea of Government printing is that it
is very stupid, dreary trash, not worth lis room
in living newspapers. something to run away
from and not to seek. Instead of condoling
with The Inteiigexeer, we feel like congratu-
lating it. Ii the Government printing muir
rain should ever attach this precious sheet
of ours, We shall pray most devoutly for a
Secretary of War, and that in his eyes we may
seem as The National hteAigencer
This is one view OF the Government printing
question. The other is economical and moral.
Our figures on the subject are imperfect. but
We venture to say that Pub. Doc" and "Goy.
printing" cost as much as the education of the
freedmen. Is it not wrong that any branch OF
the Government should have the power to con.
troll editors by giving or Withholding certain
class Of advertisements Ii Government print.
ing is business, then it should be managed on
business principles. and given to the best and
cheapest advertising mediums. fit is a luxury,
or source Of corruption and intimidation, then
we submit that it is improper and as much a
squandering of the public money as though the