The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-08-11


consideration very frequently make re.
ports favorable or unfavorable for the
purpose OF satisfying the demands of
claimants and lobbyists who make
daily personal appeals for action upon
their bills. AS matter of fact no re.
ports should be made in any cases un
less action can be had by both Houses
OF Congress. Then there are thous.
ands OF reports of the Executive De-
partment printed which might as well
remain upon the archives Of the de-
partments in type. written form, be.
cause their publications serve no pub
lie good. During the closing days of
the last session of Congress Represent.
ative Stockdale, of Mississippi, advo-
Gated the increase of the number of
copies of the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD
donated to each Representative from
twenty-five to forty-four daily. 1t was
shown by the chairman of the CON-
mittee on printing that the adoption
OF the proposition would carry with it
a $O5,ooo increase, and the debate
upon the subject grew very warm. The
proposition, however, was finally re.
jected. If carried it would have re-
suited in the practical waste of Sos.
900 per annum.
The common people of the country
are not interested in the excessive
publication of the CONGRESSIONAL
RECORD 1t is very fine thing to
have, bound and indexed at the pub.
lie expense for the use of statesmen
and newspaper men, and it makes a
handsome addition to the library of a
gentlemen. But if five copies were daily
given to each member of Congress, in
stead OF twenty-five, it would be suffi-
cient for the statesmen and if they
needed more to send to the various
people in their districts they could
purchase and pay for them out of
their own pockets.
The present Government printing
office was not founded until 1861 when
MIR. John ID. Defrees, of Indiana, was
appointed the public printer by Presi.
dent Lincoln, after Congress had wor-
ried along with other less convenient
and satisfactory systems since the
Government was established in 1880.
For many years the printing was done
on a small scale, the House and Sen
ate each paying for their own work
out of their appropriations for con-
tingent expenses" For about twenty
years prior to 1916 the Senate and
House elected public printers who
were salaried officials. The duties OF
these officers were to make economi-
cal contracts and audit accounts for
such printing only as was absolutely
necessary. In that year, 1916, when
the annual expense of Congressional
printing reached the enormous sum OF
Sos, 1000, it was decided to return to
the original contract system. But in
1861 the public printing cost $780,.
900, and the Office of superintendent
of public printing" was created by act
of Congress, with a salary of $1,000
per annum. Strange as it may ap.
pear, Horace Greely was an applican,
for the position, and so was Henry J.
Raymond both of them destined to
become the leading journalists of their
day, and one Of them a candidate for
the Presidency Of the Republic.
The law of 1861, creating the Office
of public printer, is still in force, and
under the system then commenced
the Government printing Office has
grown to the present proportions.
The salary. which is $4,000, is very
small, and no superior man could be
induced to accept the Office but for
the honor ofthe position. The public
printer gives bond in the sum Of $780,.
900 and is obliged to abstain from any
connection with or interest in any
printing, binding, lithographing or en-
craving establishment, SO that the en-
tire time, attention, ability and energy
of the public printer must be given to
the Government for $4,000 per an
mum. And yet, the duties and res.
possibilities of the place require the
services of man who is possessed Of
as much executive ability as would be
required of the incumbent of cabi-
net position. h
The public printer must be a man
of absolute incorruptibilIty and ster-
ling integrity. If he is not, he is al
ways in danger of misdirection, for the
temptations of the position are very
great. The following story is illustra-
tive: "I do not like that man," said
Captain Meredith, chief Of the bureau
of engraving and printing three years
ago, as we passed a prominent charac-
ter on the avenue. ''It was supposed
early in 80 that l would be appointed
public printer. That man came to
me and asked to be appoinred chief
clerk of the Government printing
office, saying he would make me rich