Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-01-17
Central Pacific Railroad
FOrty.FOurth Congress First Session.
House.

Washington, May II.
Mr.. Vance of Ohio, chairman Of the Committee
| on Printing, made q partial report on the subject
of the government printing. The report states
that the congressional printer has charged for
work of the executive departments excess
ranging from 80 to l25 per cent. beyond the regu-
lar rates; that he has been paying more than the
ordinary retail market prices for many articles
purchased for the Office; that he has inv arably
purchased supplies from middlemen, allowing
them heavy profit; that the prices paid for labor
are greatly in excess of those of other establish
ments, while the days work is eight hours against
ten hours in private establishments, aud that at
present managed, the printing and binding tor
Congress and the departments cost more money
than it can be done for by responsible private par
ties. The waste gold leaf for the past seven
years, which has been appropriated by the super.
intendent of the binding department, il estimated
at $l4, 100000.
The report declares that q system Of unparal-
leled extravaganza pervades every department Of
the government printing office. In regard to the
printing of the Congressional Record, the COM
mittee is of the opinion that it would be in the in
terest of economy to remove its publication from
the government printing office and give contract
to Mr.. Franklin Rivers. The report describes the
book keeping to have been OF so loose character
to be entirely unreliable, and SAYS that the
gressional printer demonstrated fully to the mind
Of the committee his utter disqualification for the
proper discharge of his duties, and that his subor-
unAteS are very Iltte DetteT III tuat rcspcCt tnan
their chief The internal management of the Of
| fee is represented as worse if possible than the
| book keeping, and as being of such character as
| would ruin the most substantial private establish
| ment in the country. The management comprised
| the lending of machinery and material to private
| parties; the employ ment of men on account of
political influence, who were totally unfit to earn
| their wages; the payment of employees while at
elections the selling Of records and documents on
credit in violation of law; the execution of work
| for private parties; the forcing of balances and
| the Justification of accounts.
| In conclusion the committee expresses the opin-
ion that the work at the government printing
office costs $4,000 year more than it would
cost if done by responsible private parties under
a proper contract system, and that it is wise to
take immediate steps for the discontinuancc of the
office.
The committee also reco nmended that the
proposition of Franklin Rivers, of the the % day
of May, 1876, for the printing and binding Of the
debates of Congress, be accepted, and q contract
entered into to take effect at the beginning of the
next session, and that the printing and binding for
the departments shall be under the control Of the
heads of those departments, and shall be executed
under contracts
| The report closes with resolutions instructing
the speaker to certify to the testimony to the dis
trict authorities to the end that the congressional
printer may be indicted and prosecuted instructing
the Judiciary committee to inquire whether he is
an officer who may be impeached, and instructing
the committee on apr OPERATIONS to report in the
sundry civil appropriation bills reasons for the
abolition of the government printing office, and
providing for the printing and binding for all de-
partments of the government.
| The report was ordered to be printed and re-
committed.
The speakers leave of absence was extended
| for ten days.
| Adjourned