1130 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 
January 16, 1888—House. 
Mr. PornpexterR Dunn. I wish simply to ask a question of the 
chairman of the Committee on Printing. Iam satisfied there is some 
delay in printing which is inconveniencing this House, and I wish to 
ask that gentleman whether the rumor I have heard is true—that the 
Public Printer has alleged as a reason of the delay that large orders for 
printing have heretofore been made, and that he feels bound to give 
those prior orders precedence over the current work of Congress? 
Mr. J. D. Ricnarpson. I can not answer the gentleman’s question. 
I know that the Public Printer is engaged in the execution of previous 
orders. 
Mr. Dunn. I do not assert that such is the fact; I have heard such 
a rumor, and if the Printer is exercising his discretion in that way he 
is perhaps in error, because, certainly, printing connected with the cur- 
rent business of Congress ought to take priority of everything else. 
Mr. 8. 8. Cox: I think I can answer my friend from Arkansas [Mr. 
Dunn]. Asa Regent of the Smithsonian Institution I had occasion to 
inquire the other day in relation to the Smithsonian report for the year 
ending June 30,1886. It had not been printed. I found out from 
the Public Printer that the reason he has not been able to print the 
report of the Smithsonian Institution and the National Museum for 
the last two years is that he has been so thoroughly occupied in doing 
other work, including the current work of Congress. He has never 
neglected that current work; and by ‘‘current work” we understand 
bills and reports such as are necessary to assist us in the daily business 
of legislation. I think I can say, without any hesitation, for the Pub- 
lic Printer that he never for one moment neglects to assist the House 
in its business by performing as promptly as possible the ordinary work 
of his office. 
Mr. Ricnarpson offered a resolution and asked its immediate con- 
sideration: 
That the Committee on Printing be instructed to investigate what amount of 
delayed work in the shape of public documents of various kinds and of all other 
matter is in the Government Printing Office which was ordered printed by former 
laws and now remains unpublished. The committee shall report to the House what 
documents and other. matter deemed worthless by them are now remaining, and 
whether, in their opinion, the laws ordering such publication may not be repealed, 
and shall accompany their report with a bill or joint resolution repealing all laws or 
sections of laws ordering the publication of documents or other matter which may in 
their judgment be dispensed with. 
Agreed to. 
January 31, 1888—House. 
Mr. J. A. Hrestanp, from the Committee on Printing, submitted 
report (H. 207): 
The Committee on Printing, to whom was referred the House reso- 
