Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-18
PRINTERS AND CIVIL SERVICE
A Printers Criticism of the System Which
Mr.. Benedict Advocates.
Discussing Ways of Reform-The So
Called Competitive Methods In
Vogue in the ONCE.

Practical application Of the principles of
civil service reform to the workings Of the
government printing Office Is being dis
cussed with more than ordinary interest,
especially by employees Of that big institu-
ton, which at this time Is politically oper-
ated. Up to this time President Cleveland
has given no intimation of immediate desire
to extend the civil service rules to the
printing Office, but it is regarded by those
who have some information as to these mat
tiers as likely that the change will be at
tempted before the Fifty-fourth Congress
assemblies.
An interview with Public Printer Bene-
dict on the subject of extension OF the
rules. printed in The Star. has caused
renewal Of the discussion.
MIR. Benedict will not deceive any intel
ligent printer by his civil service claims"
said a well-informed member of Columbia
Typographical Union to Star reporter.
I'm his interview in The Star a few days
since he said:
In effect we have civil service here. We
keep the best skilled labor and dispense
with that which is untitled for our work.
The policy during the two terms that I
have been here has been to keep only COM
petent workmen, and now We are trying to
have here only many as can earn in
six days Of full labor the wages provided
for them by statute. When 1 went
out of this office in 1889 left :, 49, employees
on the rolls and at work here. When 1 came
back found 3,562. or |. 43O more than were
here in 1889. We had no right to
ask competent men to share their loaf with
these extra people. The force had to be
reduced, and it was done practically on
examinations. AS a matter Of fact, we are
having examinations continually. Every
thing a man does here is practically done
in competition with Others.
Il acknowledge the force Of Mr.. Benedict's
statement that he has civil service in the
init h,,f 70
the assertion that it is entirely in his hands.
He states that it is his policy to keep those
only who can earn the wages paid them,
yet he goes on to inform the reporter that
everything a man does is practically done
in competition with others. and here Is
where the utter fallacy Of his whole system
comes in. Mr.. Benedict takes a number Of
printers and, placing them in competition
with each other, he commends those at the
top of the list for quantity Of work, and
condemns those at the bottom, regardless
of the fact that possibly those at the foot
Of the list may have earned a surplus over
the wages paid them.
"Those wages are 1920 per day, and are
figured on basis of so cents per thousand
ems Of composition. Therefore, compost
tor, to earn the wages paid him by the
government, would have to set 64OO ems
per day. Properly speaking, If a compos-
itor does that much work he should be
considered good workman, but Mr.. Bene-
dict thinks otherwise. the following will
show. He says: For instance, we give out
to 200 compositors 200 equal takes of copy.
In five or ten minutes $50 of those men
will dump their sticks on the 'galleys.'
and fifty Of them will be behind. In min
ute or two the others come in with theirs.
We know the fifty who keep the $50 wait
ing. We know the forty that keep 100
waiting. We know the thirty that keep the
10 waiting. We know the twenty that
keep the $50 waiting. We know the ten
that keep the 100 waiting. When the force
is to be reduced we know just who must go
first In that way the best EMPLOYEES are
kept And let me say that this office has
never had better skilled labor than 1t has
now. The use Of the typesetting machines
has displaced men that heretofore would
never have thought of coming here.
The Opinion of a Printer.
From printers point Of view the above
is the verlest rot. To give out 200 equal
takes Of copy simultaneously is an inn
possibility. unless there are 200 men to