New-York tribune., 1874-06-10
THE PUBLIC PRINTING INVESTIGATION.

REPORT OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE CHARGED WITH
THE INvEsTIGAuoN-THE PRESENT SYSTEM AP-
PROVED AND ITS CONTINUANCE RECOMMENDED
A MINORITY REPORT PRESENTED.
IDr TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUSE.l
WASHINGTON June 9-SeveIal months ago reso-
luton was passed by the House requiring the Com
mttee on Printing to conduct investigation as to
the manner of reporting and printing the proceed
ings of Congress, and whether the present system
was the best and most economical, or whether the
work ought not to be let by contract. The report.
with the evidence. was submitted to-day. There was
also minority report by Mr.. Waddel, which Is par
ticularly sharp and interesting.
The majority report shows that the work OF re-
porting the proceedings of Congress and printing
The Record has been done within the rate of expenses
named in the estimates of the Public Printer, and
that even better result is promised for the future
that Messrs Rives e. Bailey, the proprietors OF The
Globe made immense profits, and that it was Judi
cious to make the change. The report is very long,
and gives the history Of the origin of reporting the
debates, and the several systems under which 1t
has been done, and comes to the following conclu-
sions
FIRST that the reporting less for each House
for each Congress- the present system than at the
last Congress- Second that the printing at the Govern
ment Office costs s25OOO less than before for the same
quantity Third that the present style Of printing the de-
bates though somewhat expensive is more desra-
bic and satisfactory Fourth that the comparative cost OF
paper less by t27 under the present system than
heretofore for 1904 and II 32 copies Ffth ina,
the proposal OF Rives Bailey for binding was 6.ll6
cheaper than the Governments price, Sixth, that the
cost debates OF the present Congress- the number
beng, as now fxed, at 1O,s5O II the work reaches
1904 pages, will be s2l35Os, &16l1S2 less than
the same work by Rives Bailey. Seventh. that the
cost Of additional facilities for the Government ofhce
will be small Eighth, that it would not be economical
10 enter into contract with Rives Bailey. Ninth,
that the expenses OF printing the debates ought TO De
kept separate by the Government Printer. so that he
could at any time report the exact cost to Congress
The report recommends the adoption Of resolution re-
curing obedience to ninth proposition by the Gov
ernment Printer.
The report of the minority, dissenting from the
majority report, recommends that contract be
made with Rives g. Bailey, whose argument, 1t Is
said. cannot be answered Ii is claimed that the
cost of the debates is above the Printers estimates;
that the Government Printers testimony conflicts
with his report that Riyes 81 Baiiey's offer Is less
than the present cost and that 1t Is almost impossi
bic to ascertain OWING to the manner of keeping the
accounts what is the actual cost of publishing the
debates On the last named subject the following
language is used:
Scarcely any one who has examined the subject VIII
deny that 1t is emlnenty practicable for the Puoc
Printer to conceal the in regard to the expenses OF
his office even to the extent OF making fortune yearly
and it has long been. II it is not now true that the only
security upon which the Government is compelled TO
rely against colossal frauds in the management OF this
establishment is the personal integrity OF the Pubic
Printer Such temptation Is neither morally healthy
for the Public Printer desirable for the interests OF
the Government.
The minority report is opposed to the continua nee
of any Government establishment.