The evening times., 1896-02-05
THE PRESENT SYSTEM.

THE PRESENT SYSTEM.
A District building official explained to
the reporter the way the printing is done
at present, but he requested that his name
! be- withheld from publication because of the
strictly enforced rules OF the Commissioners
against the dispensation OF Information TO
| news papers.
He explained that the contract for Dis
trict printing Is let in supposed accordance
with section five OF the organic act of
June IL, 1878. The beginning of this sec
tion provides:
That hereafter. when repairs of streets,
| avenues. alleys, or sewers within the Dis
trict OF Columbia are to be made. or when
new pavements arr TO be substituted in place
of those worn out. new ones laid, or new
streets opened, sewers built, or any works,
| the total cost of which shah exceed the sum
OF 81 900, notice shall be given in one
| newspaper in Washington, and if the to-
tai cost shall exceed 5000, then in one
newspaper in each Of the cities of New
York, Philadelphia and Baltimore, also for
one Week. for proposals with full specifica-
tons as TO the materials for the whole or
| any portion or the works proposed to be
done; and the lowest responsible proposal
|
! other work which the Commissioners shall
| determine upon shall. in all cases, be ac-
cepted."
| The remainder Of The section merely fol-
| lows out the requirements limiting the
| clauses quoted
| Now, i'll my opinion" said the gentle
| mau. that act can very easily be gotten
around. Ii has been construed at the Comp
/ # hp office n IN on N hpf
/ printing is included in the list for which
! such advertising is required. BY this con-
| struction it is supposed to come under the
! words. 'or any other works As a matter
! Of fact, the act only enumerates street re-
pairs, paving, and sewers, and continues
To speak of them throughout. How it is
possible to mix paper and printing up with
| them can't see.
WANT THE PRINTING DONE HERE.
Il think that everyone about the District
Building. from the Commissioners down, is
heartily in favor of seeing the printing
| done by Washington firms. 1t is common
complaint that it takes three or four times
as long to have the printing done in Phila-
dclphia as to have it done here. Suppose
an emergency call arises and we want some
blanks by tomorrow afternoon. We send TO
Phila delphia and it is ten days before we
get them. The order must go, the proof
must come back to be corrected, and the
goods finally come. II is plain to be seen
how much more rapidly the work eau be
accomplished here.
There are times when we have to go to
local printers. Then the bill must 20 in on
the emergency fund. This is risky, though,
@
Treasury officials to assure us that the
bills will be paid.
Tine most serious objection is the great
distance al which the printing is done, and
very frequently vouchers, specifications.
books and blanks that do not suit us are
forced on us because it would take so ,Sng
to make the change,
1.-The printing of the tax list is one Of
the largest single items on the printing
list. That was done in Washington last
year. but generally it is done abroad. About
twelve years ago the whole list was lost
and the District was out about 81, 900 be-
cause Philadelphia firm did the print.
ing. 1t was wanted in a hurry, ard they
could not get the proof here quickly
enough, so the whole thing was vitiated
because of 50 many errors.''
HOW The PRINTERS FEEL.
Mark W. Moore. printer of the Law Re-
porter. echoed substantially the sentiments
of a number of printers seen when discuss
ing the subject. Said he:
There are plenty OF printers here in
Washington competent to bid on the Dis
trict work if they were given the same
favorable terms as the outside bidders
They order from us in small quantities,
while they get from Philadelphia in big
ones. We have To take that into considera !
ton. Then the printers here are disguised
with the schedule and few of them care to
bid any more.
There are plenty of printers here ready |
and willing 10 work. President Tracy, |
in his last report. said that $4,000 had |
been expended in charity for the benefit of
printers and printers families.
III the District would give them chance |
to work it would save that money. The
organic act, under which the printing is let. |
is not construed rightly, and there is no need |
Of going away from home TO have this |
work done. want To see it stay in The Dis |