The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1886-07-24
GOVERNMENT PRINTING.
Condition OF Male and Female workers In
the French 1mprimerie Rationale.

Condition OF Male and Female Workers In
the French Imprimcric Rationale.
The ReucI 7ypogrdphiqne has been
issuing series of papers describing tho
condition of the workers in The State
workshops of France. Among Others,
the Tmprimeric Rationale, or Govern
mcnt Printing Office situated at No. 81
Rue vicillc-du-Tcmplc, Paris, comes in
for notice. This establishment possesses
the finest printing material in the
world. and an annual budget of 81 .40O.-
600 insurcs its constant renewal, us
we'll as the salaries of the managers,
clerks and workmen. Most of the work.
ers are paid by the piece. The higher
official staff comprises u general man
ager ut 1000 year; an under man
ager ut Sl,600; a superintendent over
the interior department work mt ~ 200;
an assistant to the latter Mt 5000. and ~
score of others, such ns cashiers. over
secrs, clerks. ETC., with salaries ranging
from $500 to 1850.
The establishment is divided into
three great services, named respectively
first division, second division and re-
serve, with superabundance of OVER
seers and clerks. The personnel of the
Office consists of clerks and officials,
220; laborers, 80; bookfolders, sewers,
perforators, gummcrs and females con-
nected with the drying room, $40; book
binders, l20; typefounders G5 males
10 females), and machine boys, l2O;
prcssmen, 40; compositors. 209, show
| .,,n tr,tn1 ,,f ,L
pied exclusively in the printing of Gov
ernment 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 80 Il day; compositors, on an
! average, about $3.50 II week: machine
men. between Sl.75 and 1921
u day; pointers (malc). on an
average, 81 day. The pointer is re-
spons BILE 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 81. % day
the typefounders about $3.50 IL week.
The wages of the females may be
thus class fled: Bookscwers, 80 cents a
day bookbinders, 60 cents rulers, 6s
cents ; casemakers, 80 cents gluers,
about Is cents pcrforators, 75 cents.
In the drying-room, where elderly
women are chiefly employed, they earn
6S cents. The female pointers make Sc
cents day. Fines somewhat diminish
/ fI,as Nv,
| A quarter of an hours lateness costs IL
cents; an absence of half tlay, 2C
cents; a whole day, 40 cents. The
females are fined at half the above
rates. Drunkenness, fighting and
smoking may all be enjoyed Mt u charge
of Sl.2 for each oilcnsc.
The pay of the laborers is supple
!, mented by means of an oppressive Gus
tom. They receive only SIG. % month
but the workers have to make on theil
behalf so-caIled optional contribution
under the name of gratuity-of foul
cents per man every week. Thus the
state, which gives $4,000 to n manager
forces its own servants to augment the
low wages of the porters whom it en-
plOys. After thirty years service th,
male worker is is entitled to pen ,ior
of $40 n year; the female to one o
$50. The officials receive half of thei
cmolumcnts, which means, for example
in the case of the manager, 300 ,
year. When worker has completed
twenty-five years service and reache,
| the sixtieth year of his age, he is equal,
entitled to the pension. Iniirmitie
contracted at work, along with twent,
years. service, give the same right. 4
third of the pension is revertiblc to tn,
widow when the marriage bond has cx
listed for ut least five years. This pen
sion and sickness fund is maintained b,
q deduction of three per cent. from th'
salaries, by the fines, and by q share o
the profits. The Bookmdker.