Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1894-04-20
THOMAS E.

gerous condition two or three times a 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 go to work in this man trap
every day, and some morning we shall
read of a disaster more terrible and extern
sive than the Ford's theater horror, But
of r nobody will be responsible for it,
and q 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 a press, perched upon a 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
or 400 compositors are employed. On
h floor above is an immense book bind
cry, perfectly equipped, and in the upper
story hundreds of women are 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. It
exceeds all ~preconceived impressions, be-
u few people realize Uncle Sans
fondness for rushing into print. That is
one of his strongest weaknesses, and he
spends between SO, 900, 900 and So, 600, OOOa
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 1t is amended. Then the committee
reports must be printed, and, most impor-
tant Of all, a verbatim report Of every days
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 it is performed with a skill and
promptness that earn the appreciation of
all concerned.
Uncle Sans printers are well paid as
wages 60 nowadays, but most of them are
far from happy. Their situations are quite
as unstable as the structure in which they
are employed, and they are in tnstant 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
The government printing Office is not I'M
der the civil service law, for these men are
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 binder
bind never SO strongly, if his political
pull happens to be weak he is marked
for the slaughter.
Nervousness among the government
printers is a chronic condition, but it be-
comes acute with every change Of admin
istration in the office. Such a change has
recently been made by President Cleve-
land, and now the air in Swampoodle is
vibrant with suppressed excitement. Mr..
Thomas e. Benedict, the new public print
or, a filled that Office before, having
been appointed by President Cleveland In
September, 1886. Mr.. Benedict followed
the policy Of his predecessors and made
sweeping changes in the office. When Mr..
Harrison became president in 1889, Mr..
Benedict, was promptly supplanted by f.
w. Palmer, ex-postmaster Of Chicago, and
the Office again became a refuge for Re
publican printers. Now that Mr.. Benedict
is back in his old chair the development
Of his policy is regarded with unfeigned
interest by the denizens Of Swampoodle.
MI. Benedict is SO years old and is ma
tive Of Warsaw, N. Y. He has published
a paper at Ellenville, N. Y, has been a
member Of the New York assembly and
filled the offices of deputy state comptroller
and deputy secretary Of state. 1t was in
Albany that he formed the friendship with
MI. Cleveland to which his appointment
as public printer is attributed.
G. G. HUNT.