The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-05-17
BY telegraph
ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORT
TO THE DAILY INTELLIGENCER
CO N G 3 E S s..
HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, May 10.
The Public Printer.

WASHINGTON, May IL.
The Public Printer.
Mr., Vance, OF Ohio, Chairman Of the
Committee on Printing, called up the re-
port OF the committee on the government
printing Office. He reviewed Ia detail The
points as set forth in the report, and
stated that for the last seven years The
cost OF government printing amounted
to 81 ,007 $50, an average Of little over
81 100000 a year. This was ut least
$500, 900 year more than 1t ought t0
have cost. He averred that II the print
ing had been let out under properly
guarded contract system, it could have
been done at saving of $500, 900, leaving
fair profit to the contractors. He did moi
charge the responsibility on any one
Perhaps this was one OF those things that
might have occurred any how, but in his
judgement If the books had been
regularly examined, these over charges
and other Irregularities could not have
occurred.
Mr.. Ballou made minority report,
taking the ground that the Congressional
Printer was an officer Of the Senate, and
therefore not amenable to the jurisdic-
tion Of the House. The House had no
more authority TO inquire into the man'
ner in which the Congressional Printer
had performed his duty than il had 10 in.
ouire into the manner in which The Sec
retary or Sergeant.at.ArmS Of that body
had performed his duty. In bis opinion
the testimony failed TO show case iuSti.
flying any harsh criticism or condemna.
tion Of the Congressional Printer. In no
instance had the treasury been defrauded
| OF one cent, and in no instance was it even
pretended that the Printer, or any friend
OF his, profted one cent from any
contract business arrangement or tran
saction Of his office. The Witnesses re-
lied upon TO establish the charges against
the printer had such manifest interest in
changing the policy OF the government
with regard to its own printing and bind.
ing as to greatly diminish the weight ot
their testimony. He expressed the con-
viction that the majority Of the commit.
tee had not only forgotten the principal
object Of the investigation, but had been
largely influenced by a desire TO re-
instate Franklin Rives in the posi-
tion, even at a much higher rate
than the Government is now paying. He
expresses the belief that the present sys-
TEN should be adhered TO as the most
economical, convenient and satisfactory
Mr.. Ballou said that as to the cost ol
the Record being incorrectly reported, he
intimated that strenuous effort to place
that work in private hands showed that
there was some interest beside that OF the
Government that was to be looked after,
He said it was his conviction that the
Congressional Printer was an honest
and faithful public servant, needing
counsel and assistance rather than cen
sure, and that the most unwiSe thing
that the government could do would be
to surrender its ownership and control
OF the printing office or any OF its depart.
ments, and become dependent on and
subject TO private contractors.
Mr.. Singleton, a member Of the COM
mittee, supported the majority report,
and said that he preferred three charges
against the Congressional Printer: First,
want OF proper qualification and total
incapacity to fill the office; second, gross
and objectionable neglect in the manage.
ment OF the office; third, embezzlement OF
The money Of the United States. He pro-
ceeded to justify his charges by extracts
from the testimony.
Mr.. Ballou interrupted him to say that
the Congressional Printer had not done
one fraudulent thing, but was an honest
man.
After some further remarks the discus
sion closed, and the House proceeded to
vote on the resolutions reported by the
Committee on Printing. The first vote
| wps on the resolution directing the
Speaker to certify to the proper authorl-
ties Of the District Of Columbia the tes.
,imony taken relating TO the conduct Of
A. Clapp, Congressional Printer, to the
end that he may be indicted and prosecu.
ted. The resolution was adopted-l37 10
"a. Party vote. CgEls
The next vote was on the resolution in.
structing the Judiciary Committee to in.
quire whether the Congressional Printer
Is an officer who may be impeached. II
was adopted without division. fel.
The third resolution, instructing the
Committee on Appropriations to embody
in the sundry civil appropriation bill,
sections changing the present system ol
government printing, was recommitied to
the committee. l.r... Z q
On motion OF Mr.. Hamilton the first
resolution was modified so as 10 refer the
testimony to the authorities of the Dis
trict for prosecution.
Mr.. Hoge offered a resolution instruct
ing the Judiciary Committee 10 inquire
what additional legislation is necessary
to secure State, when party to n suit
in U. s. court, preference in trial over
civil cases pending between private par
ties. Adopted. .s IL
The House then went into Committee
Of the Whole, Mr., Springer in the chair
ON THE PosroPFIoE APPROPRIATION BILL.
On motion Of Mr.. Cameron, OF Illinois,
the section as to postmasters compensa-
tions and as TO box rents was modified so
as to provide that at offices where boxes
are not supplied and owned by postmas-
ters, he shall at least receive 500 per
annum OF box rents, II so much shall have
been collected. ieH
On motion OF Mr.. Holman, the COM
missions Of postmasters on all other
postal revenues were limited TO 81 200
Instead OF 81 800.
On motion Of Mr.. Holman, the com.
pensation 10 railroads for carrying mails
was fixed at five mills per lineal foot
when run at a speed not exceeding %
miles per hour, and 9 mills when run at
. rate Of speed exceeding % miles. With.
out proceeding further, the Committee
rose. ..r. +.
WHAT LAWRENCE wouLp'nAvE DONE.
Mr.. Lawrence stated that II he had
been in the House yesterday when the
vote was taken on the silver bill he
would have voted for it, although he was
originally opposed 10 the silver resump-
ton measure. He thought that the coun.
try would probably learn by this means
that gold resumption in 1879 was totally
impraclicable. ? ril
CONSOLIDATION.
Mr.Lewis offered resolution instruct
ing the Committee on Rules 10 inquire
INTO the propriety Of consolidating the