National Republican., 1888-03-28
NO MORE PRINTERS WANTED.
How Mr.. Benedict will Get Around
the Eight-Hour Law.

the Eight-Hour Law.
In the urgency deficiency bill that was
agreed to in conference and later on the re-
port agreed to in both houses OF Congress
was an item to enforce the eight-hour law
in the government printing office. Under
"The" Benedicts management of that Office,
as Is well known, large number of com
petent employees were discharged and some
Of their places were filed, but number of
vacancies were left and still remain. When
this session of Congress commenced the pub
lie printer found II impossible to get the
work out In the regular eight hours. Espe-
cially so was this the case in the type setting
department. Instead of employing printers
to fill these vacancies, he decided to compel
his employees to work overtime, and as a
consequence those engaged In this work
have been averaging 50 per day extra, and
this at time when many printers were
walking the street and glad enough to get
work that would pay them 50 per day with
out any extras.
The public printer was frequently waited
upon by men of prominence and urged to
fill his office up to the standard adopted by
his predecessor. But he waved them aside
and said he was running the office, did not
propose to crowd his employees, but pre-
ferred to let them make all they could, even
II they had to work all night. Finding that
they could not prevail upon him to do this
act OF justice, these gentlemen turned their
attention to Congress, and In the amendment
10 the bill referred to above believed they
had accomplished their object, as they rea-
soned that II the employees were restricted
to eight hours day that the public printer
would have to employ more men and thus
give to others what his regular employees
were making as extra time. But they
reckoned without their host, as Mr.. Bene-
dict has devised plan whereby he will
show the national legislators how he will
evade their wishes and run the office to suit
himself. A representative of the REPUBLI-
CAN secured an interview with the gentle
man yesterday morning and in it the scheme
was unfOlded.
On entering his presence the scribe was
invited TO take q seat and his business de-
mandcd. ~ called" said the reporter, "to
inquire as to what steps have been taken to
comply with the urgency deficiency bill to
enforce the eight hour law in your Officer"
VI don't know what you are talking about"
said he: ~ know Of no violation Of that law
in this Office. In fact, have run this Office
nearer to the requirements of law than 1t
has ever been run. would like to know
what YOU are referring to?n Somewhat
taken aback the reporter hesitated, and then
called his attention to the item referred to.
But for awhile Mr.. Benedict said nothing.
At last he seemed to be satisfied with think
ing and said that lie had not consulted with
his foremen on the subject, but as soon as
the bill became law none of his employees
would be allowed to work more than the
eight hours In fact, no extra work
had been done since Friday, the day
SITTER the conference report was agreed
to in both houses. He intended to establish
q night force Of employees, who would COM
mence work at o'clock each evening, when
the day force had finished. Did not know
how large force would be employed--it
might consist of twenty only, or perhaps
number one hundred The number would
depend on the estimate to be made by the
foremen. The force would be composed Of
day employees detailed for that purpose, and
their places on the day force would not be
filled by new employees.
At this point the reporter had the temerity
to call his attention to the fact that the in
tent Of the law. was to give employment to
more men. He informed the reporter that
he did not intend to make appointments for
that purpose. The only appointments he
would make were those that came up to fill
vacancies. He did not intend to crowd his
employees together In order to put other men
to work. His employees, he claimed, were
not dissatisfied with the old system, and a
delegation of them had waited upon him,
asking him not to stop them from making
extra time. iisemployes were all good,
competent men, and he was sorry that he
had to stop them from making this extra
money.
The public printer then endeavored to
show what wonderful measures had been ac-
complished under his management, but the
reporter excused himself and withdrew.