The Washington critic., 1889-01-16
THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE,

A Synopsis of the Annual Report Sub
mittcd TO Congress.
Public Printer Benedict transmitted
his annual report for the year 1888 to the
Senate to-day. Besides tho usual statis-
tical information required by statute, the
report contains exhibits illustrating the
large increase in the growth OF the pub
lie printing during the past three years.
The conditions surrounding the execu-
ton Of the public printing are discussed
at some length, and the importance Of
the work of the office In its relations to
the Federal departments is dwelt upon.
The Public Printer states that the Of
fee under his charge has attained so com
plete an organization during the past
rent work before 1t, and that 1t has not at
abreast Of It's work.
The increase in amount Of work per-
formed Is shown to be fully fifty per
cent. During a period Of six months in
1888, the Office consumed 4,4l8, 1888
pounds of printing and wrapping papers,
exclusive Of ledger papers or paper and
envelopes furnished by Congresses and
the Departments for printing. OF en-
velopes alone, it is shown that over
20 ,000,0 900 were printed during the first
session OF the Fiftieth Congress for that
body. The increase in printing and
writing papers used is stated to have been
over sixty per cent. in the past three
years.
There has been an increase of over 5s
per cent. In book pages printed, and OF
over "a per cent. in bound copies issued,
Of the documents furnished Congress
during the past three years. There was
delivered TO Congress S19,60S bound
books during the last six months of 1888.
The average weight of material now used
daily 10 about twenty tons, an increase OF
80 per cent. over the average of three
years ago.
pacity of the office to do quick work.
the Record were delivered complete to
and the edition of the U. s. Statutes OF
the last Congress were delivered within
six weeks after its adjournment. The
output of completed work is declared to
be the largest ever presented as the re.
ouis VI q oihbiC yOui % WIN hS chiNe
is said to be gradually gaining on the de.
| layed work of other years.
AS an instance OF this II Is mentioned
that 583, ,645 volumes have been bound
and delivered to Congress during the
| past two years. of work which Mr.. Bene'
dict found printed and awaiting the
bindery when he took charge of the
office.
A policy of more liberal appropria
tions is advocated in order to bring ur
delayed work and to meet the growing
necessities of the public printing, The
deficiencies of the office in regard to me
chanical facilities and working space /:
forcibly brought to the attention of Con
gress, and reference made to certain i'm.
provements undertaken.
The report states that the increased
cost Of material used has been met ant
increased output of finished work OBJ
tanned without increased appropriation
nor of enlarged mechanical facilities
that the financial resources of the offic,
and the working force have been actu
ally smaller than during several preced
ing years up to 1887.
The report closes with the statemen
that all the Indications point to an in
crease rather than diminished amour
of public printing and urges larger ap
propriations.