The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-24
LABOR BUREAU IN DANGER
1t May Soon Be Closed Owing
to a Deficiency of Printed
Matter.
HAS ovERDRAwN ITS SHARE
Commissioner Fitzgerald Will APP
peal to the Board of Examiners
for Relief.

There is possibility that the entire ma
chinery of the California Bureau of Labor
Statistics will come to standstill within a
short time for the want of printed matter
that is absolutely necessary in carrying on
the work. E. L. Fitzgerald, the Labor
Commissioner, took his Office about three
and half months ago and he has already
oyerdrawn from the State Printer the
amount of printed matter allowed to the
bureau. 1t was severe shock to the Com
missioner when he found that he was
likely to be cut down in his sphere OF use
fulness at the very time the bureau began
to demonstrate to the public that the Office
properly conducted was one of the most
important in the State and by no means q
sinecure.
The disappointing information was re-
ceived in this way. Deputy Dam decided
to send to all of the postoffices in the State
deadwall cards headed, 'Secure your help
at the California State Labor Bureau, 2i5
Sansome street, San Francisco" etc. He
ordered the cards from the State Printer
and received the following letter instead of
the printed matter:
SACRAMENTO, Aug. 10.
Il. IL. fuzgefQL6f LGO0f commissioner, san
FrdnciscO-DEAR SIR: herein return requisl-
tons 80 and So, as the printing office is not
prepared to do that kind of work. and also that
we do not carry that size envelope.
We Will do the best we can with the blanks,
although you have now drawn far in excess OF
the amount estimated for printing for your
department. A. J. JOHNSTON.
Mr. Fitzgerald said: "The last remark
is polite way OF telling US that we have
gone to the end of our rope in the line of
getting any more printed matter. | sent
the following letter to Mr.. Johnston:
Hon. A. j. Johnston, State Printer Sacramento,
Cdt.-DEAR SIR am in receipt OF your favor
of the 18th inst. and regret very much that my
orders, 80 and 49, have been returned. l am
not thoroughly familiar with the system by
which the expenditures for printing of each
State department are apportioned, but l pre-
sumo that an estimate is made by you covering
the amount required by each said department
and the said estimate is based upon the amount
OF work actually performed during preceding
years.
The amount of printing required by this de-
partment from now until the end OF this fiscal
year will be considerable. The acquisitions
sent to you are for printing which is OF q great
importance to me-in fact, an imperative ne
cessity. In the future l will require the print
ing of forms for the collection OF statistics, g
pamphlet with the report OF the japanese in
vestigation, together with my biennial report
and other forms which from time to time will
be found necessary. Now, with your consent,
desire to act under the statute approved
March 81, and appeal to the Board OF Examiners
in order that this matter may be thoroughly and
finally adjusted. In taking this action do not
wish you to feel that am hasty or taking snap
judgment, as do so in order that you may be
protected as well as myself benefited.
1 am pleased TO say that the treatment |
have received at the hands of yourself and
those in your Office has always been the most
cordial and business like. and it is my desire
that you look upon my appeal from your de-
cision as entirely friendly and thoroughly q
business matter. Before submitting the matter
to the Board of Examiners would like TO have
you send what information will require upon
the subject as to how these estimates are made,
in order that when l petition to the Board OF
Examiners for printing deficiency will be