New-York tribune., 1882-04-21
WASTE IN PUBLIC PRINTING.

WASHINGTON, April 2O.-The passage of def
cheney appropriation by the Senate late this
afternoon made the occasion for some interest
ing comments upon the present system and
the extent Of Government printing opera
tions. Senator Beck, who keeps a sharp
eye upon expenditures, opened the debate
by questioning the propriety of making appropria-
tOns every time they were asked for to enable the
public printer to send out useless and expensive
printed matter in large quantities. He cited the
unabridged messages and documents" eleven or
twelve volumes of which issued annually. He
supposed it was necessary to have them printed but
the quantity was vastly in excess. His proportion
of them sent to him in Kentucky. and he could
get nobody to take them Oft his hands.
Senator Anthony, chairman of the Committee on
Printing said the remedy must be sought order
| ing less work and not in cutting down the appro-
priaton. Congress had passed an act requiring the
public printer to pay higher wages for eight hours
work than he formerly paid for ten. This was one
of the reasons why larger appropriations werc now
necessary Mr. Allison said the regular appropria-
ton bill last year only contained an APP
preparation of $1,7OO,OO0, when it was per
fectly well known that there would be a def
cheney Senator IIoar said that, while the Govern
ment made lavish provision for printing works of
yalue vet they were left to be distributed upon 4
system which had no reference to economy or use
fulness The books were sent to members of Con-
gress and Senators, who regarded it as mark OF re-
spect to some friend or constituent TO send them
volume now and then. BY this method they were
to a great extent useless
He cited the census publications. which he was in
formed would number from twenty-four to thirty
volumes to be printed at expense OF 81, 5000
If distributed by members OF Congress- the carly
volumes would get here and the later ones there No
regulation existed by which public Libraries could
procure Government publications except by favor
of some member of Congress or Senator; and the
House of Representatives utterly refused 10 con-
slider any scheme for the better distribution of such
matter although the Senate had once or twice
passed such measures and sent them over 10 the
House.
Mr. Beck said the latest absurdity was now on the
calendar-a bill to print large edition Of the trial
of Guiteau. The next thing would he the Mason
trial, with fine engravings of Betty and
the baby Senator Hawley said that one
of the most striking evidences of the folly
of the present liberaity in printing, without hav-
ing some efficient system OF dstrbuti0n was the
fact that within few days after the completion OF an
edition of any of the valued and costly works which
were issued from the Government printing Office,
any number of copies could be purchased at the
secondhand bookstores In Washington for much
less than the books had cost the Government.
Agricultural reports for example, could be pur-
chased for ten cents volume. How the
fact could be explained, in any way not discredt-
able TO members OF Congress or senators e could not
understand, Nineteen hundred copies of every bill
introduced in Congress were printed. The paper
used was much better than any newspaper was
printed upon, and the typographical work was OF
the finest quality. Heads OF bureaus were unneces-
sarly proix in their annual reportS-an evil which
might be remeded by having censor appointed
for each department 10 examine all matter prepared
for printing and throwing out ali which was un-
necessary. The appropriation was passed without
ODD p)stlon.