The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-05-29
Our @lio.
UNCLE SANS PRINTING OFFICE.
The Largest Printing establishments in
the World.

the World.
Correspondence of the Democratic Advocate.
If visitor to Washington City fails to
20 to the Government Printing Office, he
misses seeing the largest printing establish
ment in the world 1t is situated on the
corner of North Capitol and FL streets,
about ten minutes walk from the Capitol
building, is four stories high, built of brick,
and occupies nearly whole square. In
this vast establishment are employed 2 300
persons, engaged in printing and binding
work ordered by Congress and the various
departments of the Government. An ex-
penditure of about 81 100000 per year is
required to execute this work. When it
is stated that during the year 1885 there
was received by the Public Printer, from
the sale alone of waste paper, gold sweep
ings waste in lettering books), documents,
Congressional Record, &C., S103,621.74,
an idea of the vastness of the establishment
will be had This money, according to
law, has to be turned into the Treasury, as
no other than the regular appropriation
can be used Owing to the introduction
of improved presses and laborsaving ma
chinery in later years, the running ex-
penses are much less to the Government
than formerly. The cost of paper alone
for this office is between 100000 and
$4,000 annually. During the past year
there was expended S104, 117.15 in print
ing the last census, and yet not much more
than half of this great work has been CON-
pleted. The payroll of the Office averages
about S5,700 per day. These figures are
given to help show the immenseness Of this
great printing office.
The greater portion of the work is done
by what is known as the 'piece system
that is to say, each one gets what he can
make Some of the women, the sewers of
books, gatherers, folders, &C., earn as little
as SO to S12 per month; others 81 to So
per day. The men (printers) who work
by the piece get so cents per thousand
ems, and those who work by the day 40
cents per hour. Piece-hands earn from
$1.50 to 81 per day, according to ability
and skill
There are about twenty women compos-
itors employed, who are paid the same as
the men, Some of these women are quite
expert, and compare favorably with those
of the opposite sex. One of them, Miss
Hasman, is classed among the swiftest
compositors in the Office.
FORTY DEVILS.
Like the ordinary printing shop, the
Government office has its ''devils;" there
are forty, in fact. Of course you know I
don't mean yeritahle Old Nick when 1
say devil-that is the printers name for
his apprentice. A curious name it is, too,
and | would like to know why so many
innocent youth should carry such an un-
savory name during the first four years of
their struggle for livelihood.
To work in the Government Printing
Office, either as printer, binder, or press
man, person must possess standard Of
skill required by the unions or societies
governing these trades. Owing to these
requirements, this Office is said to produce
some of the finest work known.
The office does not come under the civil
service rules, though the present chief
recommends in his last report to Congress
that it be classed as other Departments in
this respect
A high degree of intelligence and expe-
rience is required of printers and proof
readers, as much of the copy that is to be
put in type is miserably written and badly
spelled by men in the Departments who
are supposed to be specially fitted for their
work. The Public Printer by law is re-
quired to control the "style' of the Office
THE FIRST PRINTING FOR CONGRESS.
The first printing of the laws and pro-
ceedings of Congress was ordered by the
First Congress (under the present Consti-
tution), which met in New York City on
the 4th of March, 1799 A joint resolu-
ton of the two Houses provided "that 600
copies of the Acts of Congress and 700
copies of the Journals should be printed,
and the Secretary of the Senate and the
Clerk of the House were to contract for
the work. For a long period the printing
was done by contract, and the buildings
used at present as the printing Office were
built and occupied by Mr. Wendell, one of
the contractors, who did the Congressional
printing Immediately before the Govern
ment purchased the building and assumed
charge of and did its own work. Much
money is said to have been saved by the
change, and better quality of work re-
suited.
The first attempt to appoint printer to
do the work of the House of Representa-
tives was made in 1901. In the second
session of the Congress in 1903 we are in
formed that protracted discussion took
place as to the printing of communications
from the President and the Departments.
The expense was estimated at $4,000,
which was considered as extravagent. This
sum was finally expended for the printing,
after close vote on the question. The
printing for Congress was executed from
this time in very unsatisfactory manner,
we are told, until in December, 1918,
resolution appointing joint committee of
the two Houses to Consider and report
whether any further provisions of law are
necessary to insure despatch, accuracy and
neatness III tne pruning uone Ior the tWo
Houses" The committee consisted of one
Senator and one Representative, one a
practical printer. They visited New York
and other cities in their inquiry upon the
subject, and made lengthy report, which
may be found in the proceedings of the
Fifteenth Congress The committee rec
commended the creating Of National
Printing Office as likely to promote
lsnromntituda nniform;tv aoanracv and