Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-10-28
DOINGs OF THE BOUNDS GANG.
Running the Government Printing
Office on Star Route IS Business Prin.
ciples.0


To the Editor Of Tn EVENING STAR.
Once more infringe upon your valuable space
to discuss the singular manner In which MT
Rounds and his henchmen illustrate their Idea
Of running government workshop on business
principles You know we were promised In the
Critic, months before the appointment was
made, that Mr.. Rounds would conduct this
office on sound business principles, and we
naturally look Tor some endeavor in that drec-
ton. Suppose We take look into few of the
rooms OF this building, and see how the business
principle works.
The most shining Illustration which Mr..
Rounds has given was the employment of a
Kansas follower Of Senator Plumb. who was
given position as proof-reader at S4.24 day.
This man was so utterly incompetent that every
PROOF winch he read was again given to COM
petent proof-reader to read as if it had just come
from the compositor. So every cent paid him
was SO much money thrown away without any
return whatever. Nay, even worse, for this
dummy, like all readers. had copy-holder, at
$3.50 per day, whose services also went for
naught This example of business capacity cost
the government s7.4 per day. But, then, the
person thus favored was not born In this District.
so suppose it's all right.
In the specification room we have some more
business principle" The new foreman was so
fortunate as to be we'll acquainted with Mr..
Rounds, and hence succeeded in his aspirations
to become foreman of this room. As he did not
quite trust himself to ''go it alone" however,
new Office was created for his benefit, that of
assistant foreman of the room, and one of the
best hands. MIR. William H. Miller. appointed to
, the position. The salary is SIS a day, and is
that much thrown away, because Mr.. Miller
runs the room, a thing which Mr.. Rounds pro-
tege is paid still higher salary tor not doing.
So you see one of the two Offices is superfiuous
In this room, also, an additional messenger
who wasn't needed, has been appointed at -
per day.
In the bindery we find poor Harvey Roberts,
who is afraid to assert his soul as his own. Ii
he had spark of independence he would re-
fuse point blank to discharge his very best
hands at the bidding of the business manager Of
the Critic But what a man has not got he
cannot exhibit The rest of the departments of
this shop will receive my attention in due sea-
son, for ii particularZe too much in this COM
| municatiOn might take up more space than
would be agreeable to you.
The ssuilotine still operates among the en-
pioyes, am truly sorry to say, and the unfor-
tunate District men engaged here are kept in a
constant agony of suspense. Almost daily a
number of discharges are made, aud they are
consummated with such deliberate fendiSll-
ness that the man who instigates them should
be loathed and spurned by every honorable
man. What satisfaction can it be to decent
man to keep poor working men and women in
SUCH terrible condition of apprehension?
These words may sound strong. Mr.. Editor, but
II you moved about among the employees as do
you would deem them none too emphatic
have no doubt that the list of victims would
be still larger if it were not near the busy sea-
son. but what is not done now is simply de-
ferred, and advise every workman here who is
not fortified politically to put himself in light
marching order, for if the crew at present run
ming the office is not swept out of office by an
indignant Congress every man will walk the
plank. This shop. you know, is run Oh business
,y.Inn f.,=,S r
! judge, on which the star route business was
run. WIDE AWAKE.