The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-14
A VICTORY FOR REFORM.
ELETEN MILLIONS SAVED IN THE
SUNDRY CIVIL BILL.


The scnntc Rccedine from Most Of its Amend
% mcnts-An Important Measure that Unha p
ply Failed In the Conference Committee.
WASHINGTON, July 13-The Conference
Committee on the Sundry Civil bill practically
concluded It's labors to-day by agreeing upon
all the "a points Of differences between the two
Houses, save that one which repeats so much of
the Enforcement act relates to Davenports
election machinery. This unsettled issue the
Conference Committee agreed TO submit to their
respective Houses to see what further action
thereon should be taken. The Senate conferees
yielded most Of their amendments Increasing
the appropriations. As the bill passed the
House, a reduction OF si2,OOOOoo on the appro-
pri lions Of last wear effected. The Senate
added appropriations which amounted to 3D.
10000, so that the bill "a It passed the Senate
only effected reduction OF ts3O,OOO on the ap-
proprations OF last year. In the Conference
Committee the conferees on the part Of the Sem
ate Yielded about t2g0,OOO and the confreres on
the part OF the House yielded about $4,000, so
that total reduction of about sll 10000 will be
accomplished " the two Houses agree to the
report of the committee.
THIS result II cause for graduation, and the
country Will In due time award high praise to
the sturdy, unfiinching Chairman OF the House
Committee on Appropriations who, by his zeal,
courage. and ability. has contributed so much
To effect this great reform. There II one great
reform which ne was not able to accom- pllsn,
stood by Its pet JOB, and because also one OF the
conferees on the part of the House, from prob
ably the best OF motives, Welded to the arRu-
ments Of the advocates Of the Senate job bers.
! refer to the Government Printing ONCE. The
bill as II passed the House provided that the
ONCE of Public Printer should be declared va
cant, aud that the President should appoint a
rersOn STYLED the Public Printer TO oil It. THIS
was agreed TO by the senate; but there were
other aud far more important reforms ur-
gently called for in that department.
provided for. one Of these provided
that the printing Of the debates OF
who should Give $1,000 ponds for the faithful
performance of the work. ms was stricken
out. he House should have adhered to 1t, for
u has been demonstrated that this work can be
done at a saving Of at least $5j00O each Congress
by private parties. The bid Of the Rives Broth
ers In ls,3, and the price at witch they now pro-
pose to do It Il certainly $4,000 less than II
costs the Government a the Government print
81; once under Mr.. Clipp. The books OF the
are responsible persons, and they and their faith
er. the late John {, myes, printed the debates
during that long period there never WIS dis
pute over their accounts. John &. Ryes or1Rt-
mated the present system Of verbatim reports.
Another reform In the Till as u passed the
House was that the printing OF all kinds Tor the
various departments OF the Government be let
TO the lowest responsible bidder, the Govern
ment Printer being required to bid. and IL he
WIS the lo"est, the work was TO be done at TIE
Government establishment The Investigation
ofths Government printing ONCE this winter by
the House Committee on Printing shows that
the Government has been most outrageousy
swindled for many years In this printing. The
| prices which ths Government Printer claims
ihis work cost are In almost every instance from
25 To- lOJ per cent higher than responsible parties
agree TO do the work. II ever clear case was
made out, the Committee ON Printing OF the
| House made one against MIR. Clapp. IL was
shown beyond question that work was system
attcllly charged at much higher rates tn IN II
could possibly cost that frauds IN the purcha se
| Of materials were prictlsed; that work
| done for private parties and the mones received
| therefor never accounted for: tn ~ there was a
| large dencit In Mr.. Clapp's cash account; and,
| nnally, II WAS demonstrated that the concern
was tn oroughlV rotten from top to bottom.
The House should stand by the Committee on
| Printing, which made these disclosures, and do
all In it, power TO remedy the evils polluted nut.
| The Government printing Office Is DIX fraud
aud ought 10 be abolished ana should judi
| cious system Of awarding the work to private
parties DO adopted NJ least 100000 year could
! be sNed. There are private parties perfectly
flmiliaf with THE business VINO Will agrec to take
| all the work done by the Government Printer at
the prices he swears tue work costs. aud do IL
| for one fourth less, and give $jO00O bonds to
faithfully perform the duty. the House ought
TO disagree TO tnis part Of the conference report.
which practically leaves the Government print
| ing fraud intact.