New-York tribune., 1873-12-19

would have passed last Winter w"no"'
word of debate, called forth some ehco"'"e
ing protests against the printing OF no mo-.
comparatively worthless documents. For the great
part of the extravagant printing Congress is drec'
responsible since il is ordered by special Joln' i
lutions. A fair example Of the manner IN whicn -"
public money is thrown away is seen ID the pf','D
Of the Agricultural Report. TO authorize an co'.o
of half million of which Mr.. Frenghuyseh '"'O
dueed bill yesterday. To say nothing OF 'lo W.
of printing and binding this immense nuh"'i W
books the postage upon them, winch the "o''
ment has heretofore had to pay is 40 cents Vo'is
$2O4OOO for the whole edition. Congress can s'up ~
these enormous expenditures, and VIII 40 IL ''
franking abuse is not revived.
Senator Sherman in tho course of the short debate
to-day said that he had received notice, as every
other Senator had that about 200 volumes OF pnol0
documents awaited his distribution, and these uo :,
not include those which were printed and pou,u
during the last session, nor the annual Reports W.
this year and the accompanying documents; o"is
those printed during the recess while Congress was
not IN session. Members of Congress almost nhani
mously declare that they will not pay the pos.ase
on these documents and if the frankng abuse Is ho'
revived there will have to be stop put 10 so
of this printing by order of Congress. or there WI"
be no place in Washington to store the DOCKS p,
duced. Congress is indirectly responsible ior 'po
enormous amount of money expended in prlnlihR
for the departments. 1t appropriates the money
without which it could not be done.
The departments make their estimates for fintine
separately from those for other expenses. ana 'hey
are increasing them from year TO year. Inc esu-
mates for the next fiscal year for departmental Pi
ing amounts TO quarterof million more tnan tneS
were for the present year Several Senators saiu "
day in the course of the debate, that much Oh 'he
money appropriated for department printing WAS
spent in making very expensive books whlen "ei,
printed ON fine paper, profusely illustrated, and
bound up in turkey morocco and gilt MI. Morrih
of Maine said that he had recently received the an
mai report of one of the charitable institutions OF
this district, containing many costly plates, ana
bound in the most expensive style. This Is not
solitary instance At least S1,OOO0O0 can be saved
during the next fiscal year in this item of PRINT
ing and if the ranking abuse should be revived
the Government printing Office would go on as oe-
FORE by order of Congress, flooding the country
with what are generally useless documents.
FXTR.vACANCE IN TIE HoUsE--A RESOLUTION
PASSED FOR PRINTING $4,000 COPIES OF lhE
AGRICULTURAL REPORT.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TEIBUNE.l
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1S-LOoking AT 1t from the
House end of the Capitol, the printing abuse prom
ises instead of being reformed. to assume greater
magnitude than ever. The members are already
clamorous for documents, and to-day the House
passed resolution for the printing OF 5lo,ooo
volumes on farming, known rs the Agricultural
Report These books will cost about 90 cents
copy making a total expense Of 100000 And yet the
Treasury is almost empty, and the country rs threat
ened with new taxes to replenish The apology OF
Mr. Donnan for the resolution was that the people
wanted the books No doubt they do and they would
like. too. Webstcr's Dictionary, Livingstone's
Travels. or any other book the members viii send
them; but why should the Government pay for
themf Mr. Willard proposed the sensible plan of
sending the reports to such persons only as are will
ing to pay their cost and the postage on them but
of course, the House did not accept any such eco
nomica and reasonable suggestion.