Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-03-09
HOW THE MONEY GOES.
Government Printing Bureaus Waste
Making Books for Junk-ShOps.

In 4 recent article on the reckless legisla-
ton OF Congress concerning the public print
ing, the New York Sun has the following:
The public printing now costs over s., 900, :
600 a year, and more than half of that large
sum, which represents the interest on $780,
100000 of four per cent. bonds, could be
saved by any proper system of administra-
ton without pinching the service in the least
degree. The indefensible prodigality and
willlul waste are what consume the peoples
treasure in this branch of the public SER
vice. Look at the manner of doing
the work. In the first place, both branches
OF Congress order printing indefinitely.
There is joint committee, to be
sure, which pretends to supervise these
orders, but no substantial control is exer-
cised. They give out the contracts for pa
per, and the more printing is authorized the
more paper is consumed. Behind the con-
tracts and their fulfllment lies a secret A
slight difference in the quality and the
weight of the paper might make a large
difference in somebody's pocket at the end of
the year. And the fact is undoubted that
many of the public documents contain paper
of different qualities, while the belief obtains
that this experience is not at all accidental
Who is the gamer cannot be positively as
serted, but the printing ring, in and out of
Congress, could shed good deal of light on
this interesting point. Independent of Con-
gress, all the departments are allowed
to order whatever printing and bind
ing they may require. A nominal
limitation provides no restraint whatever.
They go on, caring nothing for the pretended
restriction. How this privilege is abused
single illustration will make known. A late
secretary Of state was so much enamored with
his own work that he order. d 100 sets OF the
diplomatic correspondence during his whole
term, sometimes two volumes in a year, to
be bound in the best morocco and finished in
the best style, for distribution among his
personal friends. The binding cost about Sc
a volume. Ii he had put his hand into the
treasury and s'olen that money the crime
would have been exactly the one he COM
mitted. Yet he was a premier" There
is private printing office attached
TO the treasury, to the interior, and to the
postoffice dep artments, and t. the census,
under the pretense that these offices are nee
essary for confidential work, while the trea-
ties and the correspondence relating to them,
and other matters of executive session of
the highest confidence, are printed at the
government office. There nearly 1000
employee. connected with the printing estab
lishment, many Of whom are put there, and
sometimes most discreditably, by members of
Congress as an offset for their votes. This
patronage is one of the causes of the loose
expenditures, for which there is no
check but a sound public opinion
brought to bear on the offenders. A
very large part OF the documents pub
lished by Congress fad their way into the
junk shops and paper manufactures as waste
material. The more valuable publications,
which do not go into the hands of vigilant
members who are on the lookout for ali their
rights are procured by ring and sold at
enormous profits. This could Eot DE done
without collision on the part OF certain Off
Gals, who have shared in the spoils and
grown rich. Propositions now pending
before the Committee on Printing OF the
House alone which are estimated to cost over
81, 100000.