National Republican., 1879-03-06
THE PUBLIC PRINTING AND BINDING

THE PUBLIC PRINTING AND BINDING.
No branch of the public service has been
so often and 50 thoroughly criticised and
investigated since its organization as that
which covers the public printing and bind
ing. The raid upon it has been constant,
determined, and unscrupulous in its efforts
and agencies, aud yet in all these years of
close scrutiny there has not been developed
single instance of intentional wrong doing
nor have rs many errors of judgment been
revealed as might have been expected in
business of that magnitude, which aggre-
gates unusual details, complications, and
intricacies to meet the strict requirements
of the law of its organization. Any one
conversant with the peculiarities of the es-
tablishment and its detail, and who under
stands the embarrassments that are thrown
around its management by circumstances
beyond the control of its chief officer, will
see that its conduct has been rs free from
serious error rs it well could bein the charge
of aiudgment that is not intallible.
The trouble with the Government print
ing and binding is that it presents tempt
ing bait to the cupidity of adventures, who
seek TO avail themselves Of the emoluments
of its extensive business, and who hope TO
derive some benefit from it when it shall be
divorced from the Government control
This spirit of covetousness broods over the
establishment and haunts the halls of legis-
lation. 1t disparages the present system
and sOws discomfort Herewith in the minds
of legislators Out Of this system of in
trigue has come investigation after investi-
cation for years. and yet there has been no
evidence produced that has established NAL
feasance in office or any serious errors
under which the Government has suffered
wrong. The investigations have been, with
two honorable exceptions, mere inquisitions
in secret, where the assailed have had no
fair chance of hearing or defense, The tes-
timony has been purely &c parte, without
opportunity for rebuttal or explanation.
Perluries the most wanton and foul have
been spread upon the record, to stand in de-
famation of its victims, without the slight
est opportunity TO meet and overthrow the
wicked statements made by the perjurers.
All this has marked these repeated investi-
gations that have occurred during the last
four years, while the officials assailed have
not in that time been afforded an opportu'
nifty to meet the allegations and testimony
under such privileges and opportunities q:
are extended to the veriest culprit in the
prisoners dock. For ten long years those in
charge of the public printing and binding
have been subject to these prosecutions, that
have been gOaded on by political hate au(
personal cupidity and malice.
The Congress that has just expired ha'
had committee Of Investigation engaged
during its entire term, almost necessarily
in searching for wrong in the conduct o
the public printing and binding since 1861
Mr.. FINLEY, of Ohio, acted as chairman o
this committee, who had associated with hin
Messrs. MANNING and BURDICK. Since MI
FINLEY made his report which is baseC
more upon prejudice than upon truth an,
Justice, and which was the result of a voy
age of discovery Mr.. BURDICK re
;, viewed the investigation in well-consid
a cred speech before the House of Repre-
sentatives, February p, 1870. The speecI
of Mr.. BURDICK is able, just, and conclu
sive, except with those who are so blinded
with partisan hate and personal greed O
e gain that they cannot discover truth an,
1 Justice, no matter how strongly emhlazene,
I upon the case, unless it points in thei
@ favor. The review of the case exposed tn
abuses that had occurred under the con
V tract system, and which had led TO tn
abandonment of that system and resOl
{ to that which now exists. After presentin
: these in strong colors, Mr.. BURDIcK mad
i the following statement in regard to
8 Mr.. CLAPP's ADMINIsTRATIoN.
# The further fact appears established tia
- during the eight years administration of III
s Government Printiug-Onice by Mr., A.
: CLAPP, Congressional Printer during the ac
II ministration of President GRANT, the otii,
was successfully aud economically cOnducte,
Il The printing was executed In highly sati
n factory manner. An unusual amount Of prn
Ie ing and binding was ordered by Congress du
:, ing Mr.. CLAPp's administration. The receip
- and disbursements were in consequence ther
n of large. No charge is made that the wor
executed at the Government Office was M
!. promptly and neatly executed. The test
mony shows that all property coming into h
hands was duly accounted for, On this poil
1t | Mr. DEFREEs, the successor of Mr.. CLAPP, te