Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-02-17
SPECIAL NOTICES.
IfNs GIBSON BROS BOYCOTT.

1
WASHINGTON. D. C., Feb IL. 1886
To THE PUBLIC:
| On the 23d of September 1885, the Messrs Gibson
Bros book and job printers, having positively refused
to pay more than for matter COM
posed in foreign languages, the members of Columbia
typographical Union No. 1O1, employed by them,
lett their establishment Through regularly consti-
tuted committee an attempt was made to induce the
said firm to recede from their position. inasmuch
no other printing firm in city sought to enforce
such scale. The effort proved futile Then, In &C
cordance with instructions of the Union the
mlftee inaugurated vigorous boycott against the
Gibson Bros. In prosecuting their certain
pamphlet came into the possession of the committee.
On that pam phlet the following letter was based
WASHINGTON, D. c., Oct. l. 1885,
To JUDGE DURHAM. First Comptroller Of the Treasury:
DEAR SIR:-The sworn statement of Andrew II.
Allen, dsbursing agent for the Court of Commission
ers of Alabama Claims. dated September 18th 1856
page 2. under the head "2-Priating" recites that
the printing given to the only satisfactory re-
sponsibe printer who sgnifed willingness to accept
the contract therefor at ninety cents the octave
(the lowest bid received), follows
Plain matter. fifty copies of each paper. in small
pounds to the ream.
R Tabular figure work on the same paper in bre-
yer type at double price of position for text and
the same rates las above) otherwise
one and onehalf rates. twelve hundred and forty-two
ems 10 the page small plea type. and the
enty cents for one thousand ems"
The sworn statement recites that the printing s'con-
sisted almost entirely of the character of the
described above in and b, dcays measured at taoelpe
hundred and Jorty-t,oo to the page The
accounts rendered by the printer carefully
pared and stated case by page 6y page Of
tho
am prepared to demonstrate that, instead of the
pages thus furnished under the contract. to
py MI Allen, containing twelve hundred and forty
TWO ems of small plea (the type in which they
composed), they contain but eleven hundred and
nnety-six ems eaeh inclusive of the tootslug, and
that there is difference of fortysix in each page
Tor which the printer appears 10 have been paid
without rendering equivalent.
1t will be further by reference to Mr. Aliens
statement, that shortly after contract was en-
tered into the compensation enlarged to ninety
hVe cents per page of twelve hundred and forty-two
ems. At these figures each forty-six ems before re-
ferred to represents
3el
S095-:1196x46-SO.O3 -
This small difference on each page it will readily he
seen when applied to a work of such magnitude as
the printing OF the Court of Commissioners of Ala
bama Claims. will foot up thousands OF dollars.
very respectfully, your obedient servant
JULIAN L. WRIGHT.
On the of January, 1856, the following letter
was received from Judge Durham:
TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
FIRST COMPTROLLER OFFICE
WASHINGTON ID. c., January 90 1856
Mr. julian L. Wright,
No. 1902 Marion street, Washington, D. C.,
Sir.
The accounts of the Court of Commissioners of
Alabama Claims being settled in this office
have notified Messrs- Gibson Brothers that there
IS controversy about their bill and in
with your letter TO of October last notify Won
tat the matter VIII be taken up for consderati On on
Friday morning, 22d instant, at ten O'clock and I
would be Obliged to you if still of the opinion
that there has been overcharge if you will be here
TO suostantiaie your statement at the hour above
named
Very respectfully
NJ. ]. DURHAM,
Comptroller.
On the 23d the investigation was BEGUN, and after
the shortage of 46 ems the page had been demon
straed by the representative of the firm
Oh GIBSON Bros present admitted the fact but claimed
That the number of ems the page did not enter into
their contract. which was verbal one He further
admitted that tabular matter was measured and
charged up in a specified manner Thereafter the
following letter was handed to Judge Durham:
WASHINGTON, D. c., January %, 1886
JUDGE NJ ]. DURHAM
First Comptroller of the Treasury
In view OF the position taken by the firm of Gibson
Bros relative TO their arrangement executing the
printing for the Court of Commissioners of Alabama
Claims, to-wlt:
That the number Of ems to the page did not enter
into the requirement, but that they were furnished
sample to which they conformed and were paid for at
the rate OF 30 cents and that extra ems were
PAID Tor at 20 cents per 900 ems set forth in Mr.
Aliens letter.
beg leave 10 insist if the said firm adhere to this
position that they have made excessive oyercharees
through fraudulent system of measurement To
ILLUSTRATES:
sheet OF doublemedium paper (the size used in
tnis work. measures 243S inches and will contain 81
pages. Allow inches all round for margin and we
have surface of 2O4 inches $3.50 square inches) to
be covered with the BREWER table There are 81 ems
Oh brewer to the inch Under the contract for
agreement as set forth in the letter of Mr. Allen and
ADM ned to be correct py the Gibson Bros. tabular
matter Is doubled. This will give 1852 ems IN the
square inch. $50 square inches multiplied by 1852
ems equals llOi6 ems. Allowing 80 cents Der page
OF liSo ems for 80 pages Il ,I96<32-3S272 ems)
we hnd that the e1trd ems be paid for at 70 cents
per LOGO ems amount to the difference between
3o.2.2 and 11O.l6O. viz Il 1888 ems Thus. the
proper charge for the table would be:
~ pp Of ,lS6 ems each al 95c $40 40
1l,SSS ems at Zoe per ]. OOO--..- 5O32