New-York tribune., 1876-04-24
PRINTING IRREGULARITIES.
Mr.. CLiPPs MANAGEMENT or THE GOVERNMENT
OFFICE 10 DE REPORTED AS COSTLY AND EX-
TRAvAGANT-A FEW SAMPLES OF 1T.

OFFICE 10 REPORTED AS COSTLY AND EX-
TRAvAGANT-A FEW SAMPLES OF 1T.
lBr TELEGRAPH TO TIIE TRITUHR.l
WASHINGTON, April 23.-The House Com
mttee Printing which has been engaged for several
months in investigation Of the management OF the
Government Printing Office. expects TO make pre-
lminary report within few days In this report tic
Government printer will be accused OF ineticency,
fraud and dishonesty in tho management OF his Office
The Democratic members of the Committee say that the
investigation has been Of the thorough character
and has included the examination not only OF the Gov
emment printer and many OF his clerks and employees
but also OF experts from NcwYork, Baltimore,
HARRISBURG Washington and elsewhere. They
say testimony demonstrates thesGrossest care
lessness and irregulaity in the management Of the
Office as well as repeated violations OF law. They give
examples the following:
The cash book at a certain date showed no cash on
hand although has been asccrtained that that day
no less than $jS 900 had accumulated from wastage"
account 1t was testified that certain cas book had
been used the Office since 1861, but tue Committee
subsequently ascertaned that his book was bound IN
a species Of American Russia leather which wac
not manufactured until several years after 1851
and also that most OF the entries in the book
purnoriing to have been made for number OF
years had been summarized and entered since the begin
upg Of the Investigation The clerk in charge OF The
Congressional Record accounts testified 10 having re-
ceved large OF money on account oi sales OF tha
document none OF which had been covered into the
Treasury as required by law Members Of the Committee
also say that H. H. Cspp, OF the Government printer
has been shown to have had deposit ut one time In
his own name bank controlled by person connected
with him by marriage $1,000 OF Government money
This offense II proved Is embezzlouent punishable by
law by fine and imprlsonmenL Mr.. Larcombc
financial clerk, Is said TO have testified that
no books were kept to show amounts realized
from "wastage," the accounts 81 which being simply
memoranda. A wellknown statiOner OF Washington Is
said to have tesed to the purchase from the printing
office 1000 copies Of Court Of Claims reports. lie
unable say whether he had paid for them or not
and Mr.. Capp could nd entry OF the transaction In
his books The Committee submitted to Theodore J.. DE
Yile or New-York and John X. Edwards OF baltimore
who are experts in bookb.ndng, number OF Volun
bound for Treasury Department and for when the
Government Printer had charged S1.soO Those gentle
men reported that any responsible private bndcry would
DO glad to do the JOB for $500, and would then maze
fair profit
The Democratic members Of the Committee say that 1t
is also demonstrated that false exhibits OF the cost Of
prutng The Congressional Record Revised Statutes and
Supreme Court reports been made for the purpose
O, making the expense OF doing this work In the Govern
ment Printing Oice appear less than that nj which II
could be done elsewhere, and that the deficiency has
been made up by oyerchargng on other items. The
Committee believe that under the loose system OF doing
business which has been prevalent In the Printing Once
frauds to the extent OF 100000 might have been com
mitted Mr. Clapp's friends the Committee, while ad
mitting great guaI and neXcusable extavasduce
In the management q the Office deny that any direct
evidence Of dishonesty the part OF the Government
Printer has been discovered