Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-16
UNDER CONTRACT SYSTEM
The Proposition to Have the Government
Printing Done by Outsiders.
Views for and Against the Project
Why the Reproduction of Congress
sfOEal Proceedings Costs So Much.

i done under the contract system Ey private con
between private and public work of the same
class
The above resolution contains but fifty
words, and was introduced into the most
deliberative body on earth by Senator
Gray of Delaware, Tuesday August 4, a
little more than one week ago. 1t is the
latest phase Of the contest over the tight
for new site and building for a govern
nent printing Office. Public Printer Bene-
dict and each of his predecessors for several
administrations have been warm supporters
of almost any Plan which had for its ulti-
mate object the securing of sufficient room
and the erection of a suitable building IN
which to conduct this immense industrial
workshop of the government. But the de-
teIniined effOr. On the part Of some who
Ecssess real estate to secure the selection of
some one or other of the sites offered has
for this session at least, defeated all legis-
!ation locking TO the relief sought by the
puDlic printer. And now comes this inno-
cent little resolution of inquiry as to the ad-
Elsability of having all government prn ting
and binding done by contract The resolu-
ton is receiving conside -able attention from
printer Representatives and Senators AID
.Ias created an unusual excitement among
the printers and binders employed in the
government printing office.
Fer and Against.
Senator Gray, when approached by a Star
reporter with a request for a statement as
20 the object of the resolution, replied: ."The
charge has often been made that every page
Of reports printed at the government office
costs twice as much as it would have done
under contract with private publishers
This department expends millions of dollars
annually; and if this money Is being wasted
IL Is time that steps should be taken to cor
it CHI I,o
onstrated that the office is economically
administered and for the best interests OF
the government, then there Will be less op-
position to providing suitable quarters in
Wnlch 10 do the work. The investigation
Will do no harm il everything is as it should
De. And If IL is not we want to know it,"
another Senator, practical printer, and
IN whose judgment most Senator's have
great coincidence in such matters as this.
out no did not wish TO be quoted by name
az this time, said. Il car see nothing to be
gained by such an iDveStiga ton as that pro-
posed by the resolution of senator Gray
tEdt ONCE mas been investigated before.
and, aside from some personal and political
scandals unearthed. amounted to nothing
III Always appeared to have been conducted
ABOUT as Well as any very large establish
me mt could be. especially when it is consid-
cred that places are given there for political
service at home, rather than for skill at the
art preventative. The government now
owns the plant. and with reasonable appro-
accommodate the service. / would not on
pose an investigation if any considerable
number of Senators desired it, but | would
Of rose any proposition to have the work
ione by private parties under contract"
POpulists Favor Ii.
But there are several Representatives and
Senator's, principally from the west and
southwest, who will favor the change. In a
little gathering of populists the other even
xx-,c sf<l,..
opinion seemed general that the printing
and binding was now costing the govern
n'ent more than 1t ought to. There is bad
somewhere" said one Repre-
Il believe that every thousand
ems OF type set in that building costs three
prices. The fault may lie in the depart
ments where the copy is prepared If So 1T
should be corrected. Professors and others
who furnish copy should be compelled to
eGit II before the type is set, and not edit
the proof sheets. l am informed that more
than One-thrd of the force of printers work
by the hour, and their time is devoted very
largely TO making corrections not charge
arie TO the compositors, and which have to
De paid Tor extra as rings being altera-
tons from original COPY This would not
De permitted were the work being done I'M
der contract. Then, too, have been through
the once many times. and there always
az peared TO De very large number of peo-
pie standing round doing nothing--assist-
ants, helpers. labOrers and so on If the
government is to run a workshop 1t should
be conducted on business principles, or It
should not be run at all. Almost every
move made in connection with the Office
savors of job of some sort This would
be avoided were the work done under con-
tract by responsible, bonded contractors I
shall certainly support bill providing for
the change If it is presented during INV
term of service"
How Printers Look at 1t,
The LOO printers in the office, however,
are a unit in opposition to the change: and
as many of them are there as a reward for
some party service at home, it is fair to as
sumo that they can control some influence
against the change. There are about GOO
printers In Washington outside the gov
eminent office, among them many who have
worked In the big office in the past and
nope TO DO SO again. 1t Is taken for grant,
ed that they will oppose any change But
rlost OF those on the outside to stay, and
the vast army Of unemployed printers
throughout the country who never hope to
work IN the government office, will assist
to the best Of their ability the effort to
nave the work done by contract One of
this latter class, speaking on this subject
since the Gray resolution was introduced
said: Why should not such work be done
by contract? The experience of MIR. Wanna
maker, when he was Postmaster General
In submitting schedules of printing needed
Tor MS department, to outside bidders, after
III 81 SelllItS close estimates from the pub
lie printer, and thus getting the work done
by hrst-class houses in PHILADELPHIA at a
saving of one-tnird to the government, is a
fair sample Of what could be done with
most of the departmental work. Mr.. Childs.
chief clerk of the census, testified that they
we're able to do their own work in the CEN
sus printing office at a saving of 35 per
cent on the public printers charges At
least this latter amount could be saved to
the government, and II the question ever
gets squarely before Congress in shape of a
bill to authorize the change you will find
that tremendous pressure will come from
all over this country in it's favor Washing
ton printers stand In their own light by op-
posing Ii. Every change of administra ton
adds hundreds of idle printers to the al
ready large number in this city. New men
come here, and those displaced stay here.
IN hope Of getting back some day, And
none OF them do really well in consequence
When / came mere Columbia Union had
LOO members. Two changes in the gov
eminent office have increased that number
to LOO. And there isn't work for 200 out
SIDE the government office. Yes, sir Let
the work be done by contract"
Bad Editing Costs.
Directly opposite to this is the argument
presented by Mr.. James H. Plat, for many
years prominent member Of Columbia
Union and representative of the craft. Il
believe the government should continue to
10 its own printing he said very emphat-
cally. No reform could be secured by
letting the work ont NV contract u,hioh