New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-09
HOW THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS CAN BE

THE COMPARATIVE COST OF GOVERNMENT
PRINTING BY HAND AND STEAM PRESSES.
Washington. Feb. (speciaD.-A memorial signed by
". J. Gibson ON behalf Of the owners and patentees
OF steam plate printing presses, recently put into cir
culaton here calls attention to some surprising Iacs
as TO the comparative COST Of printing notes ana Stamps
by hand as is done in the Treasury Department
and of printing by steam as Is done in all private es
Establishments. 1t is well known that the use OF stea
presses in the Bureau of Engraving and Printing was
discontinued in 1859 and the old hand presses were
then restored by the action of Congress- Among
other things the memorial says
More than half plate printing done In the Bureau
., Fnpra,ne and Printing are Revenue stamps
and are principally paste on packages OF tobacco
and on cigar These stamps are used but once IL
is estimated that will be 100000 sheets Of these
stamps printed during the next fiscal year Q5e2 Can
any reason be conceived why these tobacco and cigar
stamps should be printed on steam presses when IL
costs more -an twice much to print them by mana
Take for istance two-ounce tobacco strip stamps
There will be about 100000 sheets of these stamps
printed during fiscal year. The records OF tho
Bureau that the cost Of printing these stamps on
hand presses $40 % thousand sheets and on steam
presses "a per thousand sheets, making saving OF
SIS SO per thousand, or 57.5 per cent.
There will about 100000 sheets OF four-ounce
toblcco strip stamps printed during the same Time The
same that the cost OF printing these OIL hand
pntng presses was s14 % per thousand and steam
presses % ST. making saving Of 50 67 per thousand OF
600 per cent
The average cost thousand sheets printed upon the
hand presses was 1855 SIS 81 and the average cost
per thousand sheets printed presses was 80 2s
These figures not matter Of estimate ut ALL but
an exact calculation from the records of tine Bureau
Since these presses have been stopped me GOV
eminent has able get lbs work done The pro-
ducton 600 printed sheets behind the est
mate although the Bureau has worked overtime ever suce
h.e steam presses were abandoned
During the past six months from July l. leoV 70 Jau'
ary l. 1891 the Bureau worked its employees two and
overtime day. at additional pay Tor overtime
WORK three hundred Of the employees working over
time are salaries and 1t is question whether the Gov
eminent has right under the law. such employees
as receive salaries overtime work. This overtime WORK
detraets general efficiency OF the employees ana
from the quantity quality OF the work done during the
regular and greatly increases the cost oil production
Notwithstanding that has been working us EN-
ployes two hours half overtime day and has hahd
pross in every and corner OF the Bureau building
e. fell about one-seyentn in its estimated work.
1t been able to supply the treasurer WIN
sufficient notes and currency, the Commissioner Of
Internal Revenue with Internal Revenue stamps a.
needed. The law requires that three months supply
shall be kept on hand the steam presses were uscd
the employees not required to work overtime, ana
when they stopped there was the fuii supply Oh
hand it all been exhausted and the treasury mas
now 70 put the notes In circulation before Tie ihA A
thoroughly dry and the paper seasoned ana as result
burs and rubs OF, and the piper Is ori'~e SN
the notes out.
The Federal Manufacturing and Printing Company Of
New.York (Which the steam power presses) Is
Government TO all the printing aud engraving that Is
now done in the OF Engraving and Printing and
furnish all the $4,000 year less than II
now costs Government TO do it,
How can Congress justify itself by requiring the
peopes printing of Engraving and Printing
70 be done at cost s250oOo year greater than is
necessary
THE FREE-C COINAGE CONTEST IN THE HOUSE.
Washington Feb. tSpeciaD.-Repnblican Repre-
senatives have been urgently requested TO be and
remain in Washington this week The Democratic
leaders are trying TO whip their followers into line
and hold them together in attack upon the rules
OF the House for the benefit OF free silver and they
seem TO be hopeful OF success. While there Is not
much doubt that several Democrats will refuse TO join
In this attack the danger is serious enough TO demand
that the opponents of free coinage should be alert and
ready TO repulSe the attack which will be made at the
first opportunity
The members OF the Coinage Committee who are
not in favor of free and unlimited silver coinage have
been subjected 10 a good deal Of unfair and unjust
criticism IL is assumed and believed, apparently that
thcy are determined 10 smother the Senate bill In
committee and thus deprive the House Of any oppor-
tunity 10 consider and act upon IT, The majority OF
the Colnase Committee entertains such purpose
OK intention. What ii does insist on having is fair
consideration Of the bill In COMMITTEES with all the
light and Information which be obtained within
reasonable tine. The free-coinage men do not seem
TO desire any light information, and their
representatives In the Coinage Committee have steadily
~ srsbssnly fought ever effort TO obtain either