National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-05-20


that he meant IT, as 1t Is the only place where II Il
possible to spoil any great quantity assert and
amount of sis ID has been spoiled within The las
two years. That was paid for by the persons spoil
ing 1t. About $50 worth was spoiled during the
same period which has not been paid for as the
responsibility could not be fixed on the person who
did 1t, because II done by feeders at night sew.
eral of whom worked on the same form. know
of no Jobs returned to the Press Room from the De
partments spoiled Jobs are sometimes returned
for additional printing, for which the Office is not
responsible.
II is to beexpectcd that where 81 presses are in use
aud from 70 to 300 forms are put TO press daily that
paper should be occasionally spoiled.
Every pressman Is required TO account for every
sheet delivered to him, and should he spoil any Of
It, he cannot replace sheet without getting arequi
sition from the jacket clerk or for printing paper
from me on the wareroom for It, II Is impossible
for pressman TO cover up any paper he may spoil
without immediate detection. Yours, Nc,
o. III. REED
Foreman of Press Room.
Mr.. DEGREES; am pressman and have worked
In many of the best printing establishments In this
country, the University and Riverside establish
ments being among the number, and assert from
my own personal knowledge, that there is a less
quantity OF sheets spoiled in the Government
Printing Office than In many offices where not one
third of the number of presses are used and where
more care and economy are used. Yours, &c,
Paper is occasionally spoiled by careless
ruling in the bindery, but never to any great
extent, and always paid for. There never has
been printing establishment where errors do
not occur. / am informed that private Job
office in this city, one of whose proprietors has
uttered more false and senseless twaddle about
the management of this office than any ten
men in the District, recently paid over $500
for single job spoiled. Al
NINTH find that the present Public
Printer purchased during the last year 81 900
If nnnnnrnn tt,nn f,r tNl,ipl, bn
sixty-six cents per pound. can show to
this committee Il purchase of type made by
myself within the last thirty days, the same
size of type, but not one-twenty-ffth of the
amount, at discount for cash of 30 per cent"
The above statement Is q little over one-third
true Only S13,1S3.l1 worth of nonpareil
were purchased instead of 81 600 worth, as
asserted but greater amount would have
been if needed The type.founders of the va
rious cities agree upon uniform price list,
pledging themselves to adhere to it.
In the price-list of 1873 nonparcil is put
down at siXty-siX cents per pound. In De-
cember last new price-ist was adopted by
them, and the price of nonpareil reduced to
tifty-cight cents per pound. Since then Mr..
Hutchins says he purchased nonpareil at u
price much below what paid. 1t is quite
probable that, had l jewed around among the
various toundries, could have induced some
of them to cut under the regular established
prices: but | would not have taken nOnparei
made at any other foundry at any discount
could have obtained. Not because good tyne is
not made at other than Bruce's foundry, but
because it would not justify with Bruce's font
which has been used in the office since its
establishment, and will continue to be used
so long AS II regard for the uniform appearance
of the public documents is maintained, and be-
cause in continuing to purchase the same font
all the quads, quotations, &C., are saved.
Tenth-"I do know that he (Deirees) is sur
rounded by incompetent men, and if the testi-
mony elected is at all reliable, he has kept
himself surrounded by corrupt men, and were
there no other interests ut stake, it would be
of advantage to Government to give that es-
tablshment u thorough reorganization and
reformation" CID The following gentlemen
were selected to aid me in carrying on the inn
mense business transactions of tho office.
They occupy the most responsible positions in
it: Mr.. IIarcombe, the financial clerk; Mr..
Chlds the chief clerk Mr.. Twombly, the
Mr.. Collins, the estimate clerk Mr.. Hough,
who charges up executive work, and Mr.. Post,
the Record clerk, are in the office proper.
Major Davis, Foreman ofPrinting; Mr.. Roberts,
Foreman of Bindery Mr. Pencks, Foreman OF
the Folding Room; Mr.. Reed, of the Press
Room Mr.. Oyster, of the Record; Captain
Nealy, of the Job-Room Mr.. Eskew, of the
I pptOlhCdllOl AOpu NupIilh iNpulNl, VI thS
Branch at the Treasury Mr.. Elliott, of Elec-
trotype and Stereotype Rooms, and Mr.. Lin
coin, of the Machine Shop.
These are " the incompetent and corrupt
men" by whom | am surrounded. | have
known majority of these men for more than
sixteen years. They are known in this COM
| munity, and need no defense from me or any
| one else. To show the incompeteucy OF
| other gentlemen occupying responsible posi-
| tiOnS Inv whom | surrounded | nnSt refer
| to the proof.roadeIs. They have very few, il
| any, superiors. | have only room to give the
| names of those who have the longest expert
ence in reading on Government work Il. NJ
| Spedden and George Gregory, each thirty-cight
years; g. II. Lewis, thirty-two years; G. A.
! Waterman, twcnty-onc years; VI. Noycs
| twenty years f. B. Stitt, seventeen years
| William Young, thirteen years John Fur
long, eleven years, and A. L. Cavis, j. W. Work
| +. U. Stitt, n. Watkins, w. w. Deloe, j. w
| Sterner, j. 4. Scott and w. III. Myers ten
| years each. Ii they are incompetent long
time has expired before it was found out.
| Ina printed circular signed by Mr.. Hutchins
| placed in the hands of members of Congress
! the following reasons are given for the enact
ment of his proposed bill:
The removal of the incentive or opportunity t
| make of the Government Printing-Once politca
| machine, which 1t is ut present, and the reuoNa
| of the opportunity for making 1t campaign ma
| cnlne Wnelc documents can Dc pUUlcu NluOul
cost for one political party against the other Il
| the expense of the taxpayers, &c.
The Government Printing Office is not pc
| ltical machine III any Odious sense, | do no
know the politics of fifty men in the office.
| have never asked man about his pOiticl
faith. | suppose that large majority en-
ployed here are Republicans, though under
stand that there are Il great many Democrats
especially in the bindery. | will frankly say
| however, that il | wanted to emplOya cOmpoS
itor, and two of equal qualifications were t.
present themselves, / should give the Republi
can the preference. During Il long life anC
| with most extensive acquaintance with Dem
oclats, with whom | have always had and nov
have, many personal friends, do not know
one of them that would not in my position
reverse my action and take the Democrat
Political campaign documents have neve
been printed without cost, nor have they eve
been printed to any great extent, / Learn
from the books that the Republican Campaign
Committee in 1876 had speeches, taken from
the Recor printed to the amount Of S126.6j
and that the Democratic Campaign Commits