The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1881-12-24
The Greatest Printing. office I'm the
World.

world.
TO he Editor Of Tie Erenin0 critic:
This Government is emphntically "of the
people, for the people, and by the people," 1t
| is sustained by taxation, which reaches all
| the people, irrespective Of caste or condition.
The humblest arc forced by circumstances to
contribute to tho national support, either by
direct or indirect taxation. In view OF this
abstract fact, the benefits of government, UNI
dor n wise system OF reciprocity, should be
shared by the children of misfortune as well
as by the more favored. This line Of thought
is prompted by IN experience and observation
which teaches that the welfare Of the poorer
and weaker classes OF the American people arc
too often forgotten and neglected by tho dis.
pensers OF patronage and the benefits Incl.
dent upon public service. have in my mind
n case IN point Tho Government Printing
ofIice is among the great governmental indus.
tries OF this nation, and should be 40 operated
and managed ~ 20 secure the grea test amount
of benefit to the largest number OF people who
| are doomed by misfortune 10 secure n liveli.
hood by honest toll. Its location Is at the Ma
tional Capital. II employs from 1,5OO to 1000
males and females. The artisans comprising
| tho printers and bookbinders employed, are,
| of course, gathered from tho various States OF
tho Union, rs tho city OF Washington has no
resource equal to such n demand. This is as
should be. But the printing anG binding
has largely supplied heretofore. refer TO the
| folders, sowing women, press and railing ma
| chino feeders and laborers, which constitute
| full half OF the employees OF the establish.
| ment.
Itwould seem to be but wise and Just that
the Inter class should be benefited as largely
/ as possible by constant and rcmunerative en-
ployment, not only for their individual welfare,
but for the general benefit OF the business In
terests OF the District OF Columbia. The labor
l tttsr
| lection from the agents OF the Government. II
| IL thoir right, which cannot be disregarded
without violating the principles OF common
Justice ana bringing reproach upon those who
who are dependent upon the Government
Printlng-o1ice and Its rewards for subsistence
policy introduced by the present Public Printer,
under which large sums OF money have been
expended In the purchase OF what is called
labor.saying machinery, under which the en-.
| tobbers have been enriched, and the Govern
ment has not been materially benefited. Tho
architect OF this new policy, under the inspira-
| tion OF scheners and 1obbers, has enunciated
| the opinion that any Public Printer who would
not Introduce the machinery is UNIT for his
| position. This IL broad and sweeping, but, like
all prejudiced views, should, I'm the light OF ex-
perience and observation, be accepted, II at oil,
| with large grains of allowance.
Tho expense OF tho folding and sewing ma
chimes introduced into the Government Print
ing-office during the last four or fiye years has
no doubt reached nearly or quite 100000.
viii not insinuate that this large expenditure
| has contributed to the pecuniary benefit OF the
| Public Printer, but that It has brought large
| profits 10 others than the manufacturers of the
| machines there Is no shadow OF n doubt.
| Then, again, these machines have not proved
economical to the public service, and hence
| have not benefited the Government, while
| their Introduction has entailed want and
who had formerly enjoyed the rewards of that
| service. No machine has as yet been perfected
| to degree that 1t can fold sheets for book
| work anywhere near as perfectly as is done by
| the females employed In that establishment.
| For that reason they are not economical or de-
sirablo In tho work OF that great printing
house. Some fifteen or twenty years ago the
experiment OF machine folding was tried In
that onice and proved n failure. The folding
machines were thrown out by tho present
Public Printer, who then had charge Of
| the Office, and were subsequently sold
for old iron, involving heavy loss to the Gov
ernment. There may have been some improve
ment In that class OF machinery since, but
every qualified printer and bookbinder knows
| full well that machine-folding OF book-work has
not reached degree OF perfection whore II
can economically supplant hand-folding.
venture the opinion, therefore, that so soon MS
a Public Printer is appointed who is moi
Handicapped by contractors and jobbers, these
machines Will follow IN the footsteps OF their
illustrious predecessors to the Junk shops OF
the city.
Then, as to the sewing machines introduced
there, as / am informed, they do inferior
WOrk, buCn rs tn0 dOVernUlenL SHOulu mol
tolerate IN Its service. The Departments are
entitled TO the very best bound books that ar,
and skill can produce. The records OF the
Government are for preservation, and should
be enduring. 1t Is a demonstrated fact that the
ponderous blank books required for tho public
service, when sewed with wine by the machines
introduced for that purpose, VIII not stand
the test OF time and use, and must sooner OF
later BIO returned for reminding under tho pro
cess OF thanksgiving. This, then, is not In the
interest OF economy on the part OF the Govern
ment. 1t may help to impoverish the de
pendent women who have heretofore earned al
honest livelihood at that service which Is now
denied them. IL may enrich manufacturer,
and middlemen, but, the Government derive
no substantial benefit from such policy. The
working people arc made poorer by 1t, and tn,
business men OF this city suffer by this increas
ing poverty. The war, therefore, Is not only
against tho laboring class who have depended
upon this establishment for many years for
livelihood, but 1t extends to the butcher. TIN
baker, the grocer and the vendors OF goods
wares and merchandise, who have heretofor
supplied this class with the necessaries of life
1t Is that policy which Snakes the rich richel
the e eSo Of S m @ Of se PEG
pie, for the people, and by the people."
Not only was machinery, Improbable In IL
adaptation here, introduced into the Govern
ment Printing-ofice to invite the wolf to tn
4 door of the operatives, but tho new-hedge,
policy OF oft-repeated furloughs, without an!
legitimate cause therefor, has seriously Of
fected the business of tho city, inasmuch as 1
has reduced the means OF the employees AM
reduced the volume of trade In the necessarie
OF life which steady employment and Its re
wards aids to advance and prosper. In viey
OF these facts and circumstances It Is an uii
avoidable conclusion that the present manage
mont OF the Government Printingoifice doe
not consist with the well-being OF tho working
classes, or with the general welfare and pros
perity OF this city. 1t should DO reformed, ant
that speedily. TYPO.
why He Does Not Go to the Ball.
"Are you going to the ball this EVENING"