L/lf d^x> fd/>v Duke University Libraries Report of the s Conf Pam #307 4 . REPORT SlfPERI.^TEi\OEiVT OF PUBLIC P8ini.\G. Bureau of Public Priminc., 2 Richmond, Va:, April 26, 1864. \ Hon. GtioKfiE Davis, Attbrncy Gemral : Sir : The operations of this bureau have been seriouslv embar- rassed for' some time past. Messrs. Smith, Bailey & Co., who wer« executing the printing for the Treasui-y Department, have refused t'. receive any further orders, and that Dopartuient is now without a. contract for its printing. ' Messrs. Ritchie k Dunnavant, contractors for the ^n,Y and State Depajftments, assure- me that they will be com- pelled, in a short time, to discontinue the reception of g^ders for work, if Congress does not adopt some measure of relief. The act of February 27, 1861, allowed the printer to Congress seventy cents per thousand ems for composition, and seventy cents per token for press work ; and the heads of Executive Department.^ were authorized to contract for the printing for their Departments at rates not higher than those allowed the congressional printer. Ac- cordingly, contracts were made by all tl^ Executive Departments at those rates. These contracts, however, expired months since, and the Departments, with the exception of the Post Office Department, failed to renew them; but the contractors still continue (with the exception above stated) to perform the work, although at considerable loss. At the date of the contracts, printers were receiving thirty-five cents per thousand ems, now one dollar and fifty cents is the price paid them. Contractors, therefore, are receiving seventy cents per thousand ems and paying their employees one dollar and fifty cents. It cannot be, expecred that they will long continue to do this. Some .measure of relief should be immediately adopted. At the last sessioai of Congress, a bill, on the subject of printing, passed the House of Representatives, but was not taken up in the Senate. A joint resolution was approved ou the 5th of January, 1864j giving authority to the Joint Committee on Printing to make a tariff of prices for the printing for Congress, but these prices do not apply to the printing for the Departments. I would suggest, as a matter of relief, a similar resolution in regard to the printing for the Executive Departments. This would obviate all difficulty. No gen- aral law in regard to public printing can at present be framed to act with equal justice to the Government and contractor. The wages paid by the contractor to-day may rise twenty-five or fifty per cent, in three or six months, or may fall in that time in the same propor- tion. In either case jt would scarcely be just to hold either party to the contract. If such a resolution was passed, the Joint Committee on Printing could, from time to time, alter their tariff of prices to conform to the ruling prices pajd for labor. In this connection, I as'k your attention to the suggestion contained in my annual report cf the ISth of November, 1863, and recommend ''the policy of authorizing the head of this bureau to apportion the |»rinting of the Government (except of Congress and the Post Offico Department) among the several printing establishments of this city, without the formality of making a contract. There are frequent complaints made of the delay in delivering printing ordered. The riffht to