Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-11-28
Working Overtime.

One of the most difficult problems to be
solved with reference to the future opera
tions of this bureau is to perform the work
necessary under unusual demands in the
regular working hours from until 4
o'clock each day and during the working
days.of the year. Working overtime in this
bureau has its advantages. To start OPP
erations in the morning and to make the
balances in the afternoon require a full
hours time. Whether the day be limited to
eight hours or extended to ten or twelve,
as the case may be, there is no additional
time lost I'm the opening and balancing.
Therefore the actual hours of labor are
proportionately greater in twelve than in
eight hours; but this advantage, in my
opinion, is offset by the fact that it is i'm
possible to prevent entirely the abuse of
overtime privileges. In other words, ii is
impossible to limit the number Of employees
retained and paid for overtime to the
actual requirements of the service. An
other disadvantage is the liability to raise,
without legal basis, the question Of vio-
lation of the eight-hour law. The solution
of this problem Is to increase the capacity
of the bureau, so far as its machinery is
concerned. to an extent that will meet any
emergency within the regular hours of the
Cay.
The conditions now existing are such that
it will be impossible to print the number of
sheets estimated for during the present
fiscal year, or the fiscal year 1900 without
particularly the Flirting division. Every Every,
available foot of space in the bureau for
hand plate-printihsii presses Is now occu-
pied. and still We tSfe Vnable in the regular
hours to keep up with the average number
of sheets to be prsducsd daily: We have
ordered twenty additional perforating ma
chimes. two misunderstanding machines
and two additionafisuface presses, an adj
ditional steam bouernIan nd three washing
machines. Ten additional power plate
printing presses wUuldnmake the capacity
of this bureau equal to the demand as to
plate printing. The bupeau would then be
able to execute all 2ofgits work. within an
eight-hour day. !se
Power Plate-Prfnting Presses.
No question SHOULD sarise between the
plate printers and thes Treasury Depart
ment as to the uSssof these presses in its
service, for the reason that the act passed
by the present Congress regulating the use
of power presses will remain a continuing
provision of law. 1t allows the use of these
presses in the printing of Internal revenue
and postage stamps and the use of the ad-
ditional presses would. Of course. be limited
so as to conform to that law. Not only Is
1t important to have, these presses for the
purpose of increasing the printing capacity
OF the bureau, but an inspection of the ex-
penditures of this bureau will suggest the
| necessity for the use of any improved ma
chinery which will reduce the cost as the
volume of work increases.
The expenditures during the year under
consideration were 81, $40, sos. 46. with a pro-
duction of %. los. AIS sheets. The estimated
number of sheets to- be produced during
the fiscal year 1885, l01 Cos. Sf6 The esti-
mated number of sheets to be produced dur
Ing the fiscal year 1900 is 11S,o54, 737, which