Mr. LAFLIN. I will say further, in reference to this matter, that the attention of the Committees on Printing of the House and of the Senate were caled by the Surgeon general to this subject, and I will state that at the invitation of the Surgeon General both committees have had interviews with him and have examined these reports as far as they are prepared and each committee has come to the conclusion to recommend the adoption of‘ the amendment which has been read; and it is to their utter surprise and astonishment that we find here, s rung upon the House in an appropriation hi 1, an appropriation of $60,000 to ublish the 1st vo urne. And to publish it ow? Just as the Surgeon General chooses to publish it. He may give the contract to whatever party he pleases, to any friend of his in the UnU.S., and upon whatever terms he pleases, Here is a provision involving an expenditure of at least from 300 to 500,000 dollars, according to the calculations of the Surgeon General. 'Ihat is the lowest calculation made, and it only provides for an edition of 5,000 copies. Are we prepared now, without knowing how many copies are to be published and on what terms, to leave it at the discretion of an officer of the Government, independent of the laws of Congress as they now exist, to contract upon his own terms and with his own friends for the publication of a work involving an expenditure of at least half a million dollars? It is not yet determined that Congress will publish it. But I will state to this House a still further reason why the ComPrintg did not report in favor of publishin this work, in addition to the large amount 0 money that is required for the purpose. That reason is, that it has been intimated to us that if the Government will furnish this information, the material for the work, there are private establishments in the U.S. who would publish this work for the benefit of the world tree of cost to the Government. It is really a question in the minds of some whether this information shall be given to the public at the 'private expense of the individuals that are most to be benefited by it, or whether it shall be given to the public at the expense of the Government for the benefit of certain favorite individuals connected with the office that will have charge of the publication. Ialso raise the point of order that there is no propriety in this clause at all.