Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1897-09-02

Therefore l think that appointments to
the government printing Office should
be made solely upon the Judgment of
the public printer, as to their fitness
and character. Under existing civil
service rules it is not possible for the
public printer to select his assistants
for the most important positions in the
Office. Only old men, who served in the
union army, are given preference over
school boys"
Every member of the printers craft
in the country who is connected with
any department of the "art perservative
of all arts" should insist that one of the
noblest temples on the globe be erected
al the capital of the American republic,
which would serve not only the purpose
of a practical workshop, from which to
issue all the public printing, but as
stately monument to that noble art
which more than any other has contrib
uted to the advancement and progress
OF humanity.
Its site should be on lofty elevation,
above the possibility of flood or damp
ness, or conditions not in harmony
with the splendid architecture of the
building. The people of this country
will approve large appropriations to
carry out this purpose, and this i'm
provement would give employment to
thousands of the unemployed. and en-
tail burden upon the taxpayers
tritling in comparison to the great aud
permanent benefits secured.
The first public printer was John D.
Defrees, of Indiana, who was appointed
early in 1861 by President. Abraham
Lincoln. He held the Office until
August 81, 1866, when he was removed
by President Andrew Johnson, and
Cornelius Wendell was appointed, but
lis tenure of Office was very brief. The
congress was at that time in contro-
versy with President Johnson, and in
the winter following the congress
changed the method of appointment
and on March l, 1860, Mr.. Defrees was
restored to office by the senate under |
the title of congressional printer.
On April II, 1869, a. NJ. Clapp, of New
York. was appointed and held the po-
sition until Junes1, 1877. when John d. |
Defrees was appointed by President .
Hayes. During his second term of
office Mr.. Defrees did great deal of |
work in the matter of organization, |
and he held his position until April II,
1882, when Sterling p. Rounds, well |
known type founder of Chicago, was
appointed by President Arthur.
President Cleveland appointed .
Thomas Z. Benedict, of New York, on
April 13, 1856, and President Harrison
appointed Frank W. Palmer, of Chica-
go, to succeed him. On May Z. 1894,
Mr.. Benedict again became public
printer, and held that position until
he was succeeded at the beginning of
the Mckinley administration by the
appointment of Frank W. Palmer, who
now holds that position.
The original building erected for the
use of the public printer in 1856 was
purchased by the government in 1860.
including the entire printing plant, for
Sl46,545, although the original owner,
Mr.. Wendell, claimed that the build
ing and outfit cost him $500
The buildingas it now stands is about
five times as large. as the original build
ing 1t has grown in size by, the con-
struction of additions, but the entire
place is in ramshackle condition, and
every public printer for 20 years Las
urged the congress to make appropria-
tions for the erection of safe and suit
able building.