New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-18
I PUBLIC PRINTING REFORMS.
TO BE PRESSED DURING THIS CONGRESS.
COST OF THE PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION OF
DOCUMENTS.
tBY TELEGRAPH 20 TIE TRIBuSEI

the subject OF public printing and binding and the
distribution OF public documents This Is one Oh "'
most important measures with which THIS 'onsrVS'
will be called upon to DEAL and It is hoped that 1t may
receive the careful intelligent consideration WHICH
It's importance merits and demands. The report 10
accompany the bills shows that the special commit
tee, Of which Senator Henderson was chairman
Mcssrs. Russell and Richardson being the members on
the part OF the Iousehas performed its duties WIN
singular thoroughness and the BIZ is monument to
their zeal and industry.
Times have changed indeed since Senator Bayard, OF
Delaware denounced as piece Of ncxcusable extrava-
gancc the printing Of 500 copies OF President Jei'er-
sons first message, which, with the accompanying
documents, made octave volume of 100 pages ana
cost the enormous OF $500 70. lie insisted that
$50 copies would be enough What would he say II ne
could see copy, say Of President Clevclands free
trade message of 1887, with the accompanying docu-
ments--a fat octave OF 065 pages Of which there were
printed $4,000 copies at cost VI $4,000 Dui1ng
the first thirty years after the adoption OF the Const
tuition the cost Of the public printing and binding was
Hight. In 1894 IL stlll inconsiderablc that 1t
was included with such other contingent items as fire
wood and tho total cost Of the lid Congress, ncud-
Ing NE pr.ng and binding for all the Departments,
amounted to only a17 ,461 81. Until 1910 the work
done under contracts with the lowest bidder and
BY force not exceeding forty persons In that year
tho wages paid to journeymen printers we've $40 week
during the session and 30 week during the recess and
time every person employed In the Government Print
ing Office receives thirty DAYS leave OF absence with
pay each year, the app opraon for which amounts for
the current TO $50 900 and for night work avery
employc receives 90 per cent in addition 10 his reg
ulaf wages, the appropriations this account for
the current year amounting to S34, 800.
1t goes without saying that printers receive more
than $40 week now For day work. printers receive
30 cents thousand ems, 40 cents hour for
time work. Boolblnders receive 10 cents hour:
and for all employees, eight hours constitute days
work.
The era Of frugal expenditure on account Of public
printing ended I'm 1919, when the Democratic party.
then In power In Congress. provided that each house
should elect printer The cost OF the public print
ing Immediately jumped from $1,000 to $4,000
session. and remained there until 1879. when another
reform took place, under which one third of the
money appropriated covered the actual cost Of the
public prntlnr and the other two thirds went 10 the
fortunate person who obtained the contract. In 1910
evidence taken by investigating commtte showed that
during the preceding years the contractors hal
poclSetcd profits amounting to siG7 4Gf 40 CT at the
rate Of nearly S67, COO "A year. ~ course this dis
closure caused n profound sensation, for SG7 900 q
year a staggering income half century ago; and
yet II took six years TO establish another REFORM
which a return 10 the contract system.
The expectation that this would insure economy and
prevent frold not realized and I'm 15J2 there was
Il
plan which enabled politicians to control the work
and farm II ont 10 practical printers for small per-
ccntage Of the amount appropriated by Congress. As
example Of the system In vogue at that time II Is
mentioned that practical printer Undertook T. do all
The printing Of the P0s1ice Department FIR per cent
OF the amount appropriated and allowed TO tho
political printer. The Democrats elected u printer
with the positive. express understanding that he would
devote generous percentage Of his profits 10 partisan
purpose. and the report OF investigating committee
showed that In order TO swell these forced political
contributions. much OF tho printing given out
secretly, at extravagant figures. In some cases six
times q fair rate was paid and tho stolen money
was turned into the Democratic campaign find. In
four years Cornelius Wendell thus contributed no less
than 100000 for political purposes. In ad
dillon to that lie paid TO the political
printers elected by the Senate and House,
and who suble their contracts TO him, 100000 in the
period. besides lending 10 impecunious political
friends, $4,000 more.
Happily the present Congress is not called upon
10 deal with fraud dishonesty, but to establish
reforms which have become necessary owing 10 the
nadeluacy u existing laws, to vicious methods which
have become established nobody knows how, and
been too long tolerated and to the enormous and
ever increasing demand for the free publications issued
by tho general Government 1t has como TO pass
that tho United states has become only the pro
p.letor OF the biggest printing and binding establish
mcn but the most extensive publisher In tho world
rs publications cover extremely broad range.
including deficiencies and an item OF S2j0,O0O for
printing and binding for the Census BUREAU the ap
preparations for public printing and binding for the
current fiscal year amount to no less chan S36l9.si0.
than third of this large Is for printing ana
than third OF OILS large sum Is for printing ami
binding for Congress, including the records Of pro
cecdings and debates. This sum, large IL Is, does
not Include The cost of distribution OF public docu
mens, which, If the cost of mail transportation be
t..l-
year.
is the game worth the candc7r is a question
which great many persons have ask d and Will con
time 10 ask. The demand for public documents j.
steadily Increasing. and is Intelligent and Legitimate
There Is apparent probability therefore, that
the Government will cease TO publish documents for
isoc III, rILuton ana the most Congress hope 10
do is TO stop unnecessary and wastafal printing and
guard against careless aud useless distribution.
The abuse, in the present system, want system.
in the d ,trlbuon OF documents have been frequently
exposed these dispatches II the bill reported by the
special Committee shall bccOm, II law, most az tAcse
abuse, may he corrected and prevented and thousands
OF donr, need eNpcnsc avoided. The recomnenIa
tons the committee In regard 10 "rh- CongrseionaL
Record" a. well as 10 ohcr publications., are an III
Inc line OF economy and good administration. TT
o6y % c ccpd e' thc S" did, they
would thank the committee tor discovering way t.
It's publication begun in 5T3. at the organization
Of the Mild Congress The poceednss OF that Con
he,nc p.3i In the Lth Congress the number OF vol
umcs had increased to fifteen and the total number Of
uarcs TO ll75i. and In the List Congress. despite
nmocrutic complaints that freedom Of debate MAD
been destroyed. the number Of volumes was seven,
toen and the total number OF pnges In excess OF
l. 900 The cost OF The Record OF the Mild
Congress WI, about $4,000. For the Lth Congress
II wns about S2s2 900. or at the rate Of @lilQoO
vcsr These figures will be- dsagrccablc revelation
to a good many Tribune readers who have not had
occasion or opportunity become acquainted with the
transcendcnt merits and immense value Of this great
nrhlcaton They will be glad TO learn that the pend
me- hill clio he's the JOINT committee printing with
authority while providing that 1t shall be substa,
tally a verbatim report Of proceedings to take all
needed action for the reduction Of unnecessary bnk'
Mr White If the o'hcE reporters OF the debates
- ,ho House, In letter 10 the special committee
nclntcd ont how by judicous pruning and without
P..i,., ~ vnlue rs n recOld OF rvt nrnrephngS Of