Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-07-15
GOVERNMENT PRINTING.

Condition OF Male and Female Workers In
the French Imprimerie Natfsnale.
The Reveis Typographiqne has been
issuing series of papers describing the
condition of the workers in the State
workshops of France. Among Others.
the Imprimerie Rationale, or Govern.
ment Printing Office situated at No. 81
Rue Vieille-du-Temple, Paris, comes in
for notice. This establishment possesses
the finest printing material in the
world, and an annual budget of 81. 40O,-
600 insures its constant renewal, as
well as the salaries of the managers,
clerks and workmen Most of the work
ers are paid by the piece. The higher
ofhclal staff comprises general man
ager at 81. 900 a year; an under man
ager at $1,000; superintendent over
the interior department. work at 81, 200;
an assistant to the latter at $500, and a
score of others, such as cashiers, over
seers, clerks, ETC.. with salaries ranging
from $500 to $3.50.
The establishment is divided into
three great services, named respectively
first division, second division and re-
serve, with a superabundance of over
seers and clerks. The personnel of the
office consists of clerks and officials,
22O; laborers, so; bookfolders, sewers,
perforators, gummers and females con-
nected with the drying room, so; book
binders, 120; typefounders O5 males,
10 females), and machine boys, 120;
pressmen, ITO; compositors, 209, show
ing total of about l, 200 persons occu-
MOD aVn1,, Sixalxv II, tha r,rIntIncr nf Gov.
eminent work. The working day of
the skilled workers is ten hours, but the
laborers have to work eleven. The
male workers receive six cents an hour
extra for overtime; the females have to
be content with four cents. The read
ers earn, thanks to extra work, between
S1.75 and 50 day; compositors, on an
average, about $3.50 week; machine
men, between $1.75 and 1925
a day; pointers (male), on an
average, 81 day. The pointer is re-
sponsble for any. paper that may be
spoiled, and he has to do the spoiled
work over again without any remun-
Grafton. The book binders and press
men make between 81 and $1.25 day;
the typefounders about SO. so week.
The wages of the females may be
thus classified Booksewers, so cents q
day ; bookbinders, 60 cents rulers, GO
cents casemakers, 80 cents gluers,
about IS cents perforators, Is cents.
In the drying-room, where elderly
women are chiefly employed. they earn
69 cents. The female pointers make 80
cents day. Fines somewhat diminish
these by no means eXorbitant earnings.
A quarter of an hours lateness costs 10
cents; an absence of half day, 20
cents whole day, 40 cents. The
females are fined at half the above
rates. Drunkenness, fighting and
smoking may all be enjoyed at charge
of $1.25 for each offense.
The pay of the laborers is supple
mented by means of an oppressive GUS
tom. They receive only SIG. 25 a month,
| but the workers have to make on their
behalf a so-caIled optional contribution
under the name of a gratuity-of four
| cents per man every week. Thus the
state, which gives $4,000 to a manager,
forces its own servants to augment the
| low wages of the porters whom it en-
| ploys. After thirty years service the
male worker is is entitled to pension
of $40 year; the female to one of
$50. The officials receive half of their
emoluments, which means, for example,
in the case of the manager, 81 500 a
year. When worker has completed
twenty-five years service and reached
the sixtieth year of his age, he is equally
entitled to the pension. Infirmities
contracted at work, along with twenty
years service, give the same right. A
third of the pension is revertible to the
widow wf,en the marriage bond has ex-
listed Tor at least five years. This PEN
sion and sickness fund is maintained by
a deduction of three per cent. from the
salaries, by the fines, and by share Of
| the profits. Bo0knadker.