Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-02-06
THE PUBLIC PRINTING,
Mr.. Rounds' Account Of the Wo1k 81
His Once for ore Year.

The snnual rapport Of g. P. Rounds, tbs public
printer, made direct 70 the Senate Is . care
fully prepared and Interesting document.
geographically, the printed report does much
credit to the institution Of whose operations
for the year II gives an account It contains =
statement OF the condition, amount and cost q
the public printing, binding, lithographing and
engraving; the amount and cost of all paper
purchased for the same; . statement of the
contracts entered into for the purchase Of paper;
all payments made during the fiscal year end
ing June so, 1885; the amount OF work ordered
and done for each department.; the number OF
persons employed In the Government Printing
office, and the time each has been employed
and the amount received.
THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD.
The Record for the second session Of the For
ty-eighth Congress made four volumes, COM
prising 3.046 pages. The number OF copies
aggregating 1900 volumes. Not pnfrequently
at the close OF the session it requires one, two,
1 Red for S the Rese
could be printed in one issue If members were
to file them with the public printer within five
mends that amer such adjournment revised
speeches be transmitted through the President
ofthe Senate or proper officer Of the House, re-
spectlvely. Under the present custom Qeaye
to print, ex-members have the privilege OF
printing in the bound Records such matter as
hss s BE
sine die.
LlrHoGRAPH1NG AND ENGRAVING.
The report states that experience shows that
it is not as a rule for the best interests of the
government to award the work of Autograph
ing and engraving TO the lowest bidder, as TO
give such work to firms without sufficient
plant. Invariably results in delay and inferior
work. Nor is the system Of contracting with
the lowest bidder for paper the best method for
obtaining such supplies as bids are submitted
much lower than the cost of production, and as
a result inferior paper is furnished. New regu-
lations requiring all samples to be thoroughly
tested by commission. have had a salutary
effect. The cost of paper OF various grades IS
reduction of about $242, 900 has been made in
the estimates for 1887, the amount estimated
being S2,434,653.6S.
THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES.
The number OF employees is regulated by the
demands for work upon the Office. The aver
age number at the dates mentioned during the
four quarters Of the fiscal year was: Septem-
Der 30, 1884, 2,09a; number of employees De-
March 81, 1855, 1923; number OF employees
June so, 1885, 2.255 OF this number about
500 are females les and 300 are males. The
of the force consists almost entirely of those
who have served regular apprenticeship, and
respective trades. The principal expenditure of
the office is for labor, with an average payroll
of about So, 700 per day.
TENURE OF OFFICE AND LEAVE OF ABSENCE
Ane teuuiS VI S1uptOyts, 0lT. lsouuuS says
should not depend upon congressional Or other
influence, and as long as they render faithful
service they should be protected by law. Their
usefulness must be impaired If they are con-
stantly disturbed with the thought that they
are subject TO Through or discharge without
cause. The public printer has endeaSored to
protect the employees and to relieve the office
OF the pressure for place, but he believes the
system which takes so much of his time is
wrong, and should be remedied by Congress.
He renews his recommendation tOr Is days
leave OF ABSENCE annually for employees, and
says that a bill making specific appropriation
for this purpose las was done IN the case of the
letter-carrers of the Post Office departmenD
would be an act OF justice to those who work
more hours for less pay than any other class OF
government employees When unfortunately
stricken down by sickness their pay at once
ceases. while in almost every other branch OF
the government under such circumstances en-
plOyes continue to be paid He earnestly re-
commends that a special appropriation OF
$4,000 be made for the purpose of granting
the employees of his office Is days leave with
any proposed legislation for leave on account of
sickness, as it is believed that burroughs grant
ed on that account might result in much abuse
of the privilege.
lie urges that a special act be passed appro-
priatiug al least $50, 900 tor additional storage
room. He recommends that safeguards be
thrown around printing for Congress, and the
Senate or House.
More confidential work was done during the
year than at any previous time within the his
tory of the office. and there was not a single
complaint of premature publication. In con-
clusion, Dir. Rounds pays high tribute TO the
ability and iaithfuneSs of his Immediate as
si>tanis and to the faithful work OF the employees