Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 2, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 March 1859 — Public Printing Frau s. [ARTICLE]

Public Printing Frau s.

Mr. Taylor, of New York, from the committee appointed to investigate the accounts of the Superintendent of Public Printing, made a report in the House, on the Ist inst. They say that the books are so negligently and loosely kept that it is impessible”to arrive at any definite knowledge of the business dope in the offc.e. The accounts in some instances appear balanced, when such is not. the case,-kind considerable sums have been collected on the same under the directions of the pri/soiit Superintendent. The Certificates issued for engraving and lithographing do not agree with the accounts kept by the parties w ho did the.work. They exhibited their books and swore they hail been paid for all the work done. The books .show the amounts received by them, yet it appears that certificates were issued to several parties for greater amounts than appear on their book's. In one case the difference is 'slo,ooo, in another over $6,000, the difference being against the Government. I’he paper accounts do not agree, several hundred reams being unaccounted for. The committee say in fact there tippears to have been a singular falitr about the books and accounts connecte d with these matters. Few of them could be explained, and none entirely satisfactory* -They unanimously report that the facts show conclusively that there existed a combination for the compelling all con-tractors to pay their way for contracts,' and that this was the general belief among contractors, and the payment of contracts,! either in the way of a. loan, commission or pel - centage was general. The contractors found it necessary to employ certain agents at Washington to attend to their business, and pay them largely, as a general thing, before they got work. They say they did not know that Seaman was interested in the matter, but it was certain “that they got no work until after they employed particular parties. The contractors were all led or forced to employ the same agents, alfhougii they had no previous acquaintance with them. The paper contractors employed a public printer t-o act as their agent for which they paid about three a id a half per cent. The printer employed a clerk to do a little work at a s dery of SI,OOO, while life printer received, for doing nothing—from six thousand to ten thousand dollars per annum. Engravers and Lithographers found it to their interest to employ tlie public printer! to act as agent to look after tiieir interests! and receive the money to be paid. The committee report that they traced be- i tween $35,000 and $40,000 into hands. Some. SIO,OOO in others. About $30,000 direct to Mr. Seaman, most of which last sum was given by way of bonus, and is still remaining unpaid—a small portion was paid by contractors direct, as a per centage. I he committee found two or three agreements to pay money direct for contracts,l"’o in favor of Mr. Seaman, at d one in favor of the printer, but found one including the largest sum, by reason of the refusal of one of the paper contractors; in a second case, the money was paid, not to the printer, but. to other partie.-, not known to the witness. As to the third contract, for t.venty per cent, on account of Lithographing, the committee could not ascertain whether it was P id or not. The combination referred to existed for all contracts going through Mr. Seaman’s uttieo. Ihe committee say the testimony in the case forces them to the conclusion that some intimate and confidential relat’on existed between Mr. Seaman and the principal parties involved, and that they were not ignorant of the action and interest of each other, from facts found. The committee feel constrained to submit the following resolutions for the consideration of the House: Resolved, That A. D. Seaman, late Superintendent of Public Printing, has been guilt)’ of improper and illegal practices in the discharge of his official duty, and in violation of the provisions or the act approved the

d a y of August, 1852, creating the office of Superintendent, and deffnino 1 the duties thereof. Resolved, That the testimony in the case be certified to by the Clerk of the House of Representatives, and sent to the District Attorney for the District of Columbia. Adjourned.