The daily gazette., 1876-05-17
ScandalOtss Frauds In the G0reru-
seent Printing Office.

A few days since, Mr.. Vance, Chair
man of the Committee on Printing,
mpde partial report on the subject OF
the Government Printing Office. The
report states that the congressional
printer has charged for work for the
executive departments an excess rang
ing from 80 to 1875 per cent. beyond the
regular rates. That he has been pay
| ing more than the ordinary retail mar
ket price for many of the articles pur-
chased for the office. That he has
invariably purchased supplies from
middlemen, allowing to them heavy
profit. That the prices paid for labor
are greatly in excess OF those paid by
other establishments. while the days
work IS eight hours against the ten
hours demanded by private establish
ments. And that as at present managed
the printing and binding for Congress
and the departments costs more money
than it would if done by responsible
private parties.
The waste gold leaf which, for the
last seven years has b zen appropriated
by the Superintendent of the binding
department, is estimated at $14.0Co.
The report declares that system of
unparalleled extravaganza pervades
every department Of the Government
Printing Office. In regard to the print
ing of the Congressional Record the
committee are of the opinion that it
would be in the interest of economy
to remove its publication from the
Government Printing Office and give
a contract to MIR. franklin Rives. The
report describes the book keeping to
: have been of co loose a character as to
be entirely unreliable, and says that
the congressional printer demonstrated
fully to the mind of the committee his
utter disqualification for the proper
discharge of his duties, and that his
4 suboIdiuatas ore very little better in
\ that respect than their chief. The ia
= ternal management of the office is rep
: resented as worse, if possible, than the
4 ! book keeping, and as being Of such q
4 character as would ruin the most sub.
. stantjal private establishment in the
country. This management comprises
: the lending of machinery and material
;, to private parties, the employment of
. men on account of political influence
= , who where totally unfit to earn their
Il wages, the payment of employees while
absent at elections, the selling of rec
y ords and documents ON credit in viola
: ton of law, the execution of work for
70 private parties, the forcing of balances
!, u and the Justification OF accounts. In
conclusion the committee express the
opinion that the work at the Govern
u ment Printing Office costs $500. 900 a
"a year more than it would cost if done
Ie by responsible private parties under a
u u prope' contract system, and that it Is
u wise to take immediate steps for the
Is discontinuance of the office. The
a committee also recommended that the
y proposition of Franklin Rives, of May
2, 1876, for the printing and binding OF
} the debates of Congress, be accepted
j and contract entered into to take eff.
feet at the beginning of the next ses
J sion, and that the printing and bind
ing of the department shall be under
|, the control Of the heads of those de-
q partments, and shall be executed under
! contract. The report closes with
rs resolutions instructing the Speaker to
~ certify to the testimony to the District
authorities TO the end that the congres-
"a sional printer may be indicted and
ie prosecuted, instructing the Judiciary
y Committee to inquire whether he is an
u officer who may be impeached, and in
u structing the Committee on Appropria.
tions to report in the Sundry Civil
u Appropriation bill sections for the
u abolition of the Government Printing
=. Office, and providing for the printing
and binding for all departments of tho
Government.
y The report was ordered printed and
recommiited.