Evening star., 1895-04-27
THE TASK Is NOT A HARDSHIP.
COmpOsitOr Defends the Method In
the Government Printing once.

Competitor Defends the Method In
the Government Printing ONCE.
Much discussion has taken place recently
concerning the reform In the methods and
in the management Of affairs generally at
the government printing office, and the So
cslled task system" recently introduced
by Public Printer Benedict, has been espe-
cially the subject Of comment. A COM
positor who is at present employed In the
government printing office was approached
upon the subject by Star reporter and
asked If there was task system" as 1t
Is called, in operation there.
"If you mean to ask whether a man Is
expected to work the better part Of eight
he draws each pay day, I would say that
there is a system which demands such an
attention to duty" was the response. Tn
deed, would like to hear of an office,
either public or private, where the same
rule does not govern"
TT has been alleged that some oppres-
sion and hardship has been felt by the
printers in the observance of the system
at the government office. Is there any
truth in that?'
Not the slightest" was the reply. mo
one could truthfully make such an asser-
ton. 1t is my opinion that the foremen
throughout the building are instructed
to keep q watchful eye over the comfort
of the employees and see that they are
supplied with every requisite necessary to
good workmanship. There Is very strong
demand, by the way, for that latter COM
modify In the office. under the new con-
dition of things. and I don't believe that
an incompetent printer can stretch his tent
Is, merit Is the watchword in the govern
ment Office now and you can rest assured
that such a qualification for employment
there meets with the approval Of every
good printer in the country"
How do the union men feel about the
matter"
'Well, sir, I can say unhesitatingly that
benefit by the system Of discriminating
between good and bad workmanship. For
my part, and think I voice the sentiment
OF a large percentage Of the better element
of the union. I should be glad to see the
government printing Office under the civil
service. This may appear selfish. but I
contend that as long as I do my work
well and conduct myself properly a safe
guard should be- thrown around me-.
VIII the reforms of the public printer
have any effect upon the election of OFF,
GERS in the typographical union. which Is
shortly to occur?" asked the reporter.
in the field" was the reply, who appear
to hope to secure following among the
unthinking element of the union by an
tagonizing the public printer.
Fortunately for oul class, however
these thoughtless people are in the hope
less minority, and the people with anti
task-system wheels in their heads will not
be allowed to sit in judgment against the
best interests of our organization. You
will find, If you care to investigate the
matter further. that % per cent of all this
complaint about the so-called task system
comes from ex-employes Of the office, and
YOU can judge for yourself whether they
are inspired by any deep interest in the
welfare of us who are still in the harness
To my mind. the man who is said TO te
oppressed is said to be the best judge of
t11 re,io aud hoy rot n hnr nj
competent printer who has been made
to feel uncomfortable in the slightest de-
gree by the system in operation at the gov
ernment printing office. 1 believe Mr.. Ben
edict has no other object than to conduct
the government printing office strict
line of business principles, and l believe
further that every competent printer who
has Il proper regard for his profession snd
who does not soldier himself or admire 1t
in others will agree with me fully in that
opinion"