The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-05-17
HOUSE.


journed.
..-I.faa HOUSE.
Mr.. Vance, of Ohio, chairman Of the
Committee on Printing, called up the re
port of that committee on the govern
ment printing Office. He reviewed in
detail the pointr as. set forth in the re-
port, and stated that for the last seven
years the est of government printing
amounted to $ll, ,907, $50, an average OF a
little over $l,7O0,OO0 year. This
was at least $500, 900 year more than
it ought to have cost. He averred that
if the printing had been let out under a
properly guarded contract system, It
could have been done at a saving of q
quarter of million Collars, leaving u
fair profit to contractors. He did not
desire to charge the responsibility ON
any one. Perhaps this was one of those
things that might have occurred anyhow,
but in his Judgment ii the books mad
been regularly examined, these over
charges and other Irregularities could
not have occurred.
Mr.. Ballau made a minority re-
port, taking the ground that the
Congressional Printer was an officer of
Senate and therefore not amensble to
the jurisdiction Of the House. The
House had no more authority to inquire
into the manner in which the Congress.
sional Printer performed his duty than
it had TO inquire into the manner in
which the Secretary or Sergent-at.Arms
that badly performed his duty
in his opinion too. The testi-
mony failed to show case
iustifying any harsh criticism or con-
dsmpatiSn 40 OF the Congressional printer
frauded of one cent, and in no instance
was it even pretended that the printer
or any friend of his prohted one cent
from any contract, business arrangement
or transaction of his office. The
witnesses were relied upon to es-
tablish the charges against the
printer, had such manifest in
terest in changing the policy of the
government with regard TO its own print
ing and binding rs to greatly diminish
the weight Of their testimony. He ex-
pressed the conviction that the majority
of the committee had not only forgotten
the primal object of tie investigation, but
had beed largely influenced by desire
to reinstate Franklin Rives in
the position even at much higher rate
than theyIsre now paying. He expressed
a belief that the present system should
be adhered to rs tho most economical,
convenient and satisfactory.
Mr.. Bslloa said that as to the cost of
the Record being incorrectly reported,
he intimated the strenuous effort to
place that work in private hands
showed that there was some interest be-
sides that of the government that was to
be looked after. He SAID his conviction
was that the Congressional printer was
an honest, upright and faithful public
servant. needing counsel and assistance
rather than censure, and that the most
unwise thing that the government
could do would be to surrender
its ownership and control OF the print.
ing office or any o: its departments, and
become dependent on and subject to pri-
vate contractors.
Mr.. Singleton, member OF the CON-
mittee, supported the majority report,
and said that he preferred three charges
against the Congressional Printer.
/. Want of proper qualification and a
total incapacity to fll the office.
2. A gross and unpardonable neg elect
to and in the management Of the office.
8. Embezzlement Of the money Of the
United States.
He proceeded to justify his charges by
extracts from the testimony.
Mr.. Ballou interrupted him TO say
the Cong gressional printer had not done
one fraudulent thing, but was sn honest
man.
After some further remarks, the dis.
cussion closed and the House proceeded
to vote on the resolutions reported by the
Committee on Printing.
The first vote was on the resolution d.
rec,ing the Speaker TO rtify to the
proper authorities Of the District of Co
iumbIs the testimony taken relating To
the conduct of A. Clapp, Congressiot al
Printer. 70 the end that he may be in
dicted and prosecuted. The resolution
was adopted. Yeas, 1877; nsys, "A.
The vote was on the resolution IN
structlng the Judiciary Committee TO In
auire whether the Congressional Printer
il an officer who may be impeached. 1t
was adopted without division.
The resolution lnstruciing the Com
mit.ee on Appropriations 70 embody IN
the sundry civil appropriation bill, sec
tions changing the present system OF
guyernment pointing. vas recommitted
to the committee. .ss
On motion OF Mr. Hsmlin, the frs,
resolution was modified 50 as 10 refer
testimony to the authorities OF the DIS
trict for preparation.
Mr.. Hoge offered . resolution ipstruct'
ing the Judiciary Committee TO inquire
what additional legislation is necessary
10 secure 70 secure 10 State when party
TO a suit In . L nited States Court, prefer
| ence in trial over civil eases pending Be
tween private parties Adopted
The House then went INTO Committe'
of the Whole, with Mr.. Springer in the
chair on the pstofiee appropriation bill
On motion Of Mr.. Csn non. Of Illinois
the section as 70 postmasters compenss
tons, and as 10 box rents, was modiieS
so as 70 provide that st ofhcss vhs''
boxes are not tupplied. AAd osned h
the postmaster, be ihaIl At least rece's'
S7O0 per snnum for box rents, If 80 muei
shall have been collected
On motion Of Mr., HaIiDan, the com
missions OF pos.mAsten on AL osne
postal revenues were limited 70 81 ,W
instead OF $1,000 49,