Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-24
PRINTING OFFICE CHANGES
Views Of Senator Henderson ss to the
Present Policy.
He Thinks That Under Mr. Palmer's
System More People Were Employ
ed-PrOspects Of Increased Work.

The pressure upon members of both
houses of Congress brought by the victims
OF Public Printer Benedict's official cyclone
OF last Saturday continues with little abate-
ment. Each day finds a little army Of un.
employed men and women on duty in the
reception rooms at the Capitol, begging
the Intervention Of their Senators and mem
bers.
Little or no encouragement Is held out by
congressman. however. as they realize the
force of the logic Of the situation at the
printing office.
senator Manderson, a member OF the Sen.
ATE committee on printing. gave a Star re-
porter today an excellent view Of the case
legislator.
There can be no doubt" said he, "tha,
there have been many more people at work
In the printing office than could be ac.
commodated at the same time, or who were
needed for the work In hand | am sorry
though. that Mr.. Benedict has not seen his
way clear to continue to do as Mr.. Palmer
did, whereby the toaves were divided UT
among greater number Of men and wo-
men. Under MIR. Palmer's system of in
creaslng the force and working 1t with q
reduction Of hours, work at liveable wages
has been given to upwards of $500 people.
'Of course they have not been earning the
pay l should have been glad to see them
have all been able to pay expenses But Mr.
Benedict has seen fit to change the system
to point where fewer people can be en-
ployed longer hours at larger pay. Per-
hapS he Is wise, perhaps not. OF that We
cannot now judge. l am free to say OF
Mr.. Benedict, though he Is of an opposite
political faith to mine, that he is a man OF
great executive ability. He has gone at a
disagreeable duty without shrinking and
without delay.
Amount of Printing Reduced.
1T IS fact, perhaps not generally under
stood. that the amount of printing ordered
by Congress has been far less this session
than usual. This is largely because our at.
tention has so far been taken up by i'm
portant debates on the silver question in
the autumn and on the tariff at present, and
so there has been no chance to get at the
real work of determining those questions
that come before each session, as C
whether we shall print extra copies of the
annual reports, such as the agricultural and
others. When we do order these documents
there will be plenty Of work for the office
but until then there is really less work than
usual.
1T is very distressing that SO many men
and women should have been thrown out
or employment all at once, and it may be
that II would have been good policy to lie,
the extra people go more gradually; but OF
that Mr.. Benedict was the Judge, / am ir
hopes that when we get to the ordering OF
reports many of these people can be taken
back. They certainly should be given pref
erehce over new people, and am sure thai
the public printer. who has felt great dis
tress over the numerous cases of personal
suffering. will feel that this is just Steps
will be speedily taken to pay to those dis
charged the compensation coming to them
for leaves of absence due them under the
existing law. This wfl assume either the
form Of bill or an amendment to the
sundry civil appropria tion bill"