Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-23
THE PRINTING OFFICE
A Sharp Colloquy on Personal Response
bility.
Present building Declared Dangerous
-JockeyinE With Site Specula tioas
IntimRtel In Debate.

In the House late this afternoon during
the consideration of the conference report
on the sundry civil bill the Senate amend
ment providing an appropriation for new
boiler and power house for the government
printing office came up. Mr.. Savers of
Texas moved to concur in the Senate
amendment. Mr. Milliken of Maine. while
one of the most devoted advocates of 4
substantial printing office was not entirely
satisfied with the amendment in it's pres
ent shape.
Mr.. Sayers said that there are 2,JD or
5000 people employed in the government
printing Office, who by reason of existing
conditions are in daily danger Of their life.
In an impressive manner he stated to the
House that if an accident should occur in
that building, il fire should break out,
if the structure should collapse. the re
SponSibility would rest on the shoulders OF
the gentleman from Maine, the gentleman
who opposed this amendment. He would
wash his own hands of all responsibility.
Always Afraid.
Mr. Milliken said he realized that there
were 5000 people at work in that structure
"A nd .Soi1AnpeS more tnan that number
The OH building has been twice condemned
by the grand jury. There is likely to be
repetition of the Fords Theater disaster
there at any time. The operators are
working under fear at all times. This
being the case, why had not the Senate
sent in the proposition to build new
printing office? How will the building Of
a new boiler house prevent the old struc-
ture from tumbling down?
Mr.. Savers. in return, called Mr.. .Mlliken
to account chairman of the committee
on public buildings and grounds for not
reporting to the House bill providing for
an adequate printing office.
Mr.. Milliken defended himself by saying
that it was well understood Why this was
not done
Mr. Sayers replied that Mr.. Millken was
playing the part of the dog in the mangar.
You won't do anything yourself nor per-
nit any one else to do anything. Notwith-
standing the fact that 1900 lives are in
danger he continued the committee on
public buildings and grounds has done
nothing for their relief.
Even If the committee should do some
thing it would be three or four years be-
fore the result could be felt In the mean
time the committee on appropriations pro-
poses to do what it can to relieve the sit
uation.
Policy of Congress.
Mr.. Dingley of Maine questioned Chair
man Cannon as TO the policy of the gov
eminent in regard to a government print
ing office, whether 1t is proposed to patch
up the existing structure or provide an
entirely new and adequate building.
Mr.. Cannon replied that for seven years
Congress had been trying to purchase a
site for a government printing office, and
had not succeeded He believed it would
be seven years more before anything could
be done in this direction. In the mean
tins the practical business policy is to
utilize what the government is compelled
to use with as little cost and with the
greatest safety to life and limb.
He had always favored q new printing
Office, but was frank to confess that he
saw no hopes of getting one within seven
or ten years. In the meantime the sun
would rise and the sun would set, Congress
viii come and go. and the work of the
Printing office will go on all the time.
Therefore Congress should Go what it
could to relieve the immediate necessities
of the case.