Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-21
HUNDREDS DISCHARGED
The Ak Falls Heavily at the Government
Printing Office
Weeping Women at the Building To-
day-Mr. Benedict Ont of Town
"A Report Denied.

The discharged employees of the govern
ment printing office, who received notifica-
ton on Saturday afternoon that their serv-
ices would no longer be required by the
government, were at the scene Of their
form er labors in great crowds this morn
ing, many %, them accompanied by the in
fluential friends who secured them work in
the first instance. Each and every one of
them vas doomed to disappointment how
ever, because Public Printer Benedict had
left the city, and there was no one to
listen to the representations of the multi
tude who wished to be restored to duty.
The ere wds that came and went were COM
posed for the most part of individuals who
were hoping against hope, but who de-
spairingly determined to make the effort
for reinstatement, even though they knew
it would be unsuccessful. The majority of
them, whose influence had been of re-
publican character, were intent upon plac-
ms their claims for reinstatement upon
their worldly condition. Many Of them
were ladies, whose meager salaries had
been expended in their actual living eX-
penses, and who had been Unable to lay
by even SO much as a pittance for an
emergency such as that which had over
taken them, and their swollen eyes and
drawn, pinched faces told their stories far
better than words.
Private Secretary Baker received The
Star reporter and said he did not know
when Mr.. Benedict would be at the office.
He was asked If there was any truth in the
published statement that a squad of police
officers had been stationed at the govern
ment printing office on Saturday afternoon
when the discharged employees left the
building. Mr.. Baker said that such a pub
lication was perfectly absurd He had not
been aware of the presence of the peace Of
ncers at the time mentioned and if any
such officials were in the neighborhood in
such numbers as the statement would lead
| the general public to believe, he had not
seen them, and their presence had certainly
not been requested or suggested by the pub
| lie printer. He said there was no news to
give out today in relation to the Office as
Mr. Benedict's absence caused matters at
that department to remain in statu quo
| The Star reporter visited the New Jersey
avenue station house and inquired of the
station keeper If Lieut.. Kelley had directed
| the presence of any officers, other than the
usual policemen who patrolled the beats in
| the vicinity, at the government printing Of
| nee on saturday evening. The station keep
| er replied that no such detail had been
made, and that the only policemen in the
i neighborhood were the regular men, who
| were doing their regular patrol duty.
At the Capitol.
| A large proportion of the discharged en-
! ployes found their way to the Capitol dur
| ing the day. They first congregated in the
marble room of the Senate and there saw
''fluences." Others saw none. Senator
| German was by far the best drawing card
| in the Senate, and he and the clerk of his
committee were kept very busy all the
| morning expressing their deep sorrow at
| the catastrophe and promising TO ''see
about it." For the sake Of convenience
| Senator German took seat near the north
| west door of the chamber, so he could be
| the more easily reached by his decapitated
| constituents.
Senators Ransom and Henderson, the
other members of the printing committee.
| were also popular. They agreed with their
| callers that II was a shame and a sorrow,
but were inclined to let Mr. Benedict con-
| duct his own slaughter house in his own
| way.
Saturdays Discharge.
As The Star stated Saturday would prob
| ably be done. a large number of discharges
were made from the working force of the
government printing Office that evening
The number of those who received the fatal
| yellow envelopes was considerably over
| five hundred. There were all sorts of esti-
mates as to the number, ranging from 500
to 1000. but a rough canvass of the several
| departments indicates that about 275 were
| dismissed from the folding room, 125 from
| the three divisions Of the document room
90 from the department branches 80 from
! the bindery, 40 from the specification and
|
| other divisions and individual positions
| None OF the force on the Congressional
Record were disturbed. A large number of
these were women. 1t Is said that several
| hundred more will have to go before the
| list is complete
Before he was installed as public printer
| Mr.. Benedict contemplated material re-
| duction in the working force of the Office,
ana Immediately after assuming his office
prepared a list of names to whom yellow
envelopes were to be addressed.
| The Notifications.
The dismissed employees received a notifi-
cation with fac simile of the public print
| er's signature attached, which read:
| by authority conferred upon me to en-
| p,oy the necessary hands in this Office for
the execution of the public printing and
binding, under which authority my powers
ere expressly limited, as follows:
- He the public printer shall not at any
| time employ in the Office more hands than
the absolute necessities of the public work
| II ay require.
| Being satisfied that the best interests Of
| the public service and the efficient per
f. rmance of the work of the government
| printing office necesstates a reduction in
the number of employees, it becomes my
| duty to direct the foreman of printing to
| IL form you that your services would not
be required after the date of this notice.
| Cashier will settle any balance of wages
| due you at the earliest possible moment
| convenient with the duties of his desk
| Accompanying this was notice from the
| f. remain, follows:
| Il am instructed by the public printer to
| inform you that your services will not be
required after the expiration of any leave
| of absence which may be found due you.
| Annual leave in the government print
| ing Office is calculated by the fiscal year,
so that as in the m ijority of cases, those
employees who have been granted thirty
day s. leave since July l, 1S93. have no more
| leave due them. AMI their salaries will
cease at once Others who have not ex-
| hausted their leave. will be entitled to pay
! for two and half days for each month
slice the beginning of the current fiscal