The Washington times., 1894-04-04
PALMER AND NOW BENEDICT
The Change at the Government Print
ino Office Means Much to Many.
TOUCHING IMPENDING CHANGES
Tho Appointment Of Mr.. Palmer and Then Of
Mr.. Benedict-Numerous Candidates
Hoped for Success Till the Last-The Inn
portance Of the Minor Places Politically.

department of the government service lett TO
the mercy of the politicians. 1t is not gov
erned by the civil service rules, and poiiti-
cally it can be looted at every change OF the
administration. 1t is this that has caused SO
much anxiety on all hands as to the Presi-
dents selection for its head. For that reason
too q change in its administration Is eagerly
watched throughout the whole country.
There is hardly a town of any size in the
country that does not contain at least one
printer whose great ambition in life is to get
place in the public office here. The work
is steady and the pay certain. As rule
printers are more successful vcte-getters than
the members of other trades, and hence they
have a stronger "pull" on Congressman.
While there are great many changes under
a new administration still there are many
who have held their places for years, and feel
reasonably sure of continuance of good luck
no matter who is made Public Printer.
There are some places that are always
changed on the incoming of new admins
tration, for the positions are confidential to
the head of the bureau. Mr.. Bendict is well
known in the office. He made an exception
allv successful Public Printer, and introduced
q number of reforms. His administration was
several times attacked in Congress. and was
once investigated, but he came Off with flying
colors the attacks evidently having been in
spired by those who had been disappointed in
getting just what they wanted politically. In
former years there were a number of ugly
scandals in connection with this bureau. some
based on extravaganza, some on want of ex-
oh, .,,1 a& 1c% lo
peculations. But those evils have been cor
rected of late years.
Mr. Cleveland knew Mr.. Benedict before he
became President, and had formed high
opinion of his ability, and soon after his first
inauguration offered him the place of Public
Printer. Mr.. Benedict held the matter under
advisement for some little time before he
finally accepted the offer. He did not turn
out quite as many Republicans as some of
the Democratic members OF Congress de-
sired and for while he lost caste with them.
When Gen. Harrison became President a
number of applicants for the place at once
began pressing their claims. Among them
was Frank ". Palmer. He had steady and
influential friend at court in the person of
Private Secretary Halford. Mr.. Halford had
been managing editor of the Chicago Inter
Ocean when Mr.. Palmer had been connected
with that paper. Moreover, Gen. Clarkson
was his friend. 1t did not surprise anybody
on the inside when Mr.. Palmer's name was
sent into the Senate. He has made success
full officer, and his ability is freely acknowl-
edged by the Democratic members of Con-
gress. and personally, perhaps, not one of
them felt desire to see him leave the Office.
But too many political ends were to be sub
served; SO they have grown rather impatient
with the President at his long delay in Sc
lecting successor.
1t was breaking the rules which he had
laid down at the beginning, not to appoint
any ex-office holder. But the President has
been anxious from the very first to have Mr.
Benedict again take hold of the work. In
hopes that he might again be induced to
again accept it, the appointment has been
held up for nearly year. During all this
time the President has been under very
heavy pressure by the friends of the various
candidates for the place. From the first Mr..
Benedict's name has often been coupled with
the place, but the President gave no outward
sign, and all the applicants still kept alive
their hope in ultimate success. Mr.. Benedict
was reluctant to accept the place owing
to his business engagements, and 1t
was only a short time ago that he
signi1ed to the President that he
would make his personal wishes subservient
to those of the President. The next morning
it was announced exclusively in The TIMES
that the appointment had been determined
upon and few days later his name was sent
to the Senate
Naturally there is great anxiety among the
printers as to who will go and who remain.
1t is not definitely known, but it is believed |
that some OF those who held important places |
under Mr.. Benedict before will be renstated. |
1t is thought that Gilbert Fl. Benedict will be |
made chief clerk again. This is a position |
paying 50 400 per year. and is snug berth |
to fall into. The chief bookkeeper will most |
likely be retained. but it is probable that a |
new disbursng clerk Cat S6.40 per day will |
be selected, as also superintendent of the |
building and storekeeper. The first pays |
81. so and the latter "a per day. There are a |
foreman Of printing at 81, 100 and ten assist |
ants at 1915 per day. There will be some |
changes among them, but who will go and |
who stay is question yet to be solved. Over |
forty proofreaders are employed at SO cents
an hour. 1t is expected that a number of |
changes will be made in this force. About
half the compositors are paid by the hour and
the others work on piece. It has not been
usual to make many changes in this branch, !
but number are always dropped to make
room for friends of Congressman.
The press room has a foreman. at S5.75.
with a force of about thirty pressmen and a
large number of feeders. A large majority of
the feeders are appointed from the District
and from Maryland and Virginia. The same
is true of the folders in the bindery and the
Iaborers, of whom there is large force. The
bindery has foreman at %. 100. with two as
'istants. During Mr.. Benedict's former ad-
number of Republicans were
and there are in the office now many
Democrats who were originally appointed by
lim. 1t is said that only about one-third of
he entire force was changed by Mr.. Benedict
before. Mr.. Palmer has made. perhaps, more
,hanges, but many of his appointees took the
places of former Republicans
1t is thought by those now holding places.