The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1894-07-07


gerous condition two or three times year
since then. Congress is informed of the
situation and has attempted in a feeble,
desultory fashion to provide a new build
ing, but has failed TO accomplish anything.
In the meantime over 5000 men and
women 90 TO work in this man trap
every day, and some morning we shall
read of disaster more terrible and extern
sive than the FOrd's theater horror. But
of course nobody will be responsible for it,
and number Of vacancies on Uncle Sans
payroll will be created.
On the II street side Of the building is
the largest single pressroOm In the world.
There about 100 cylinder presses Of various
grades are in constant operation, filling
the air with the noise Of revolving wheels
and the rustic Of moving paper. BY the
side Of each press, perched upon high
stool, sits a comely young woman languid-
~ feeding" the sheets of white paper and
gazing Enthusiastically out Of the dingy
windows while the bare armed, grimy Wis
aged pressman keeps an eagle eye on the
operations Of the machines. On the sec
ond floor In a long, low, dingy room 300
OF 400 cOmpOsitors are employed. On
the floor above IS an immense book bind
cry, perfectly equipped, and in tho upper
story hundreds of women ara engaged in
folding and stitching public documents,
Printers In detachments are scattered
about various parts OF the building, and
there is "A large stereotype department
Most visitors are startled by the immen-
sity Of the government printing office. 1t
exceeds all preconceived impressions, be-
cause few people realize Uncle Sans
fondness for rushing into print That is
one of his strongest weaknesses, and he
spends between 81, 900, 900 and 50, 900, 600 a
year on his printing Office.
Here are printed all the reports of the ex-
ecutive departments, and from this foun-
tain Of ink and paper is supplied all the sta
tiOnery required by the government. But
these items are Insignificant compared with
the work done for congress. Every bill in
PRODUCED into that body must be printed,
and printed promptly, and reprinted every
time il is amended. Then the committee
reports must be printed, and, most impor-
tant Of all, verbatim report of every day s
proceedings in congress must be nodded
into type and embalmed in The Congress
sional Record This work alone requires
the services OF hundreds of trained men,
and IL Is performed with a skill and
promptness that earn the appreciation OF
all concerned
Uncle Sans printers are well paid as
wages go nowadays, but most OF them arr
far from happy Their situations are quite
as unstable as the structure in which they
are employed, and they are in constant ap
prehension OF dismissal. Many OF them
grow prematurely gray anticipating the
curt notice from the public printer that
their services are no longer required. y
The government printing Office is not un
p der the civil service law, for these men ar
, skilled wOrkmen. Because they are skill
ed workmen their skill counts for nothing
their politics for everything. Let the print
er print never so wisely, let the binde
bind never so strongly, II his politica
pull" happens TO be weak he is markes
for the slaughter.
, Nervousness among the government
J printers is a chronic condition, but Il DO
comes acute with every change Of admin
] istration In the Office. Such a change ha
recently been made by President CleTe
: land, and now the air in Swampoodle
Z vibrant with suppressed excitement. MI
I Thomas +. Benedict, the new public print
+ cr, has filed that Office before, havinl
been appointed by President Cleveland Il
September, 1856 Mr.. Benedict follows
the policy Of his predecessors and mad
sweeping changes In the Office When MI
Harrison became president In 1889, MI
Benedict was promptly supplanted by }
W. Palmer, ex postmaster OF Chicago, an
the Office again became q refuge for hs
publican printers. Now that Mr.. Benedie
Is back in his old chair the development
Of his policy Is regarded with unfeigne
Interest by the denizens Of SWampoodle,
Mr.. Benedict IS 50 years old and is a ma
tive Of Warsaw, \. Y. He has publishe
a paper at .Ellenville, \. Y, has been
member OF the New York assembly an
filed the offices Of deputy state comptrolls
and deputy secretary Of state. 1t was
Albany that he formed the friendship wit
Mr. Cleveland TO which his appointmer
As public printer Is attributed
c. c. HUM