Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-16

eminent ownership of its own workshops
In fact. j believe In government ownership
OF railroads, telegraphS, mines and every
other necessity of the people. When new
or improved machinery makes its appear
ance l do not think the government should
wait till some one else has demonstrated the
limit of the machines usefulness, but should
be the very first to make use of the in
vention, even at the expense of making
some Improvements and doing some expert
mental work itself. Equip the government
printing Office with the machinery and other
advantages enjoyed by a ffrst-class publish
ing house and no contract bidder could
touch either the price or quality Of the
work turned out. But the public printer is
compelled to wait the sweet pleasure OF
Congress for his improvements, with the
result that the office is always Handicapped
for facilities. Make that office what the
greatest printing Office in the world should
be and there will be an end to the growing
of people, either in or out of Congress.
What is Said ut the G. p. o.
call at the government printing office
found Mr.. H. T: Brian. foreman of printing,
in his office, busy, usual. Mr.. Brian said:
"Ycu may say for me that no contract could
ever be drawn which would not admit oil
extra charges without number, and it would
be found an expensive experiment TO make.
Careful estimates have been made from
time to time in past years, and 1t has al
ways been found that the work was being
done very much cheaper than 1t had been
previously done under contract. Both the
Congressional Record and the patent office
specifications have been Investigated several
times by committees of Congress, and in
every instance 1t has been shown that the
present method was preferable to the con-
tract system. Another investigation would
only confirm the previous reports favorable
to this Office
Mr.. II. C. Espey, foreman Of binding. said:
Il am satisfied that an investigation shall
be made II the Senate wants 1t, so far as
this department is concerned. l am a p-ac-
teal bookbinder by trade, and am sure that
for the number of hours worked the guam
tity and quality of the work turned out OF
this office will compare favorabiy with any
competitive concern working under same
conditions. 1t must be remembered that IN
Gle Sam is liberal with holidays leaves of
absence with pay and short hours l doubt
if there be private bindery in the United
States which is today buying materials SO
cheaply as is the government. The compe-
ttiCn for material contracts is very sharp
and prices are always low-So low, in fact
that it seems impossible for contractors to
comply with the specifications under which
they are bonded. But they do ii, even ON
small margins. l suppose for the purpose of
adding to the volume of business done and
for the advertisement it gives them in the
trade
Why Change Would Not lie Sue
cessful.
Mr. s. H. Bell, an old-time employe of the
government office, and known among
printers in Washington as an encyclopaedia
of facts concerning that department, said:
Ives, see that some one wants to call up
that same chestnut again. The same cry
has been raised several times during my
connection with the Office. In 1879 a syndi-
cate composed OF Stilson Hutchns, Gibson,
the printer: the late Frank Hatton and sew
eral others offered to take this Office OF the
hands OF the government pay a large sum
for the use of materials and machinery and
guarantee to save several hundred thousand
dollars annually to the government. Their
proposition was not accepted then and
would not be now. 1t is absurd to talk
about doing the work cheaper than it is now
being done. The plant is an expensive one
and yet there is no capital invested calling
for dividends. Paper and other materials
are bought by contract from the lowest bid
der, and there is absolutely nothing to pay
for but the materials and labor. TO reduce
this cost to the government would make il
necessary to take it from one the other
OF these two items. The one is already at
the lowest notch under the sharp COMPETE
ton OF late years, and the other would not
ike to stand the reduction necessary to eff
feet the saving promised by the promoters
or this scheme to have the work done by
contract Mark my prediction: That reso-
luton Will never see daylight again. Both
printing committees have been all through
this question several times and are thor
tlun, and nothing more"
Nevertheless, the promoters of the resolu-
ton SAY that they do not propose to let IL
rest IN the committee pigeon hole and will
endeaVor to have 1T considered early in the
next session of Congress.