The times., 1898-11-29
THE ENGRAVING BUREAU
Annual Report Of Its Super
intendent, Mr.. Johnson.
MANY +. RECOMMENDATIONS
More Buildings Needed-Increasc In
the WOrk-Decrease in Expendi-
piOyes-Number of Sheets Handled
bonds and stamps-Quick Work.

-nonus nnu stamps-Qufck work.
Superintendent johnson, of the Bureau
of Engraving and Printing. has made his
annual report to Secretary Gage.
The report in part says:
The number of sheets delivered during
the year was s2.sSs,47S, an increase of
6,S0i,7l2 sheets. This increase is nearly 8
per cent. The expenditures for this year
were $3.50, .46. while the expenditures
for last year were 81, ,450. Sc, showing an
increase in expenditures of about the
same per cent as the increase in deliv-
cries; but when we deduct from the ex-
penditures sl2.5 .599.6S increase of stock on
hand, $4,000 paid for machinery, which is
a part of the permanent plant of the bu-
reau, and S. 1850 paid to employees de-
tailed outside of the bureau in excess of
the amount paid during the fiscal year
1897 making in all sis0o5.9s, We find that
the Increase in expenditures which is
properly chargeable to. the actual produc-
ton of the bureau is but 4.9 per cent over
the preceding year. whereas, as above
stated, the increase in the work is nearly
per cent.
The average cost per 1000 sheets dur
ing the year 1897. figured on gross expen-
ditures, was sl6.s3. The average cost dur
ing this year, 1895, figured on gross ex-
pendftures, is sle.s9, on it's face showing
an Increase of cost of cents per 1000
sheets; but when we deduct the above
named items not applicable to the actual
cost of the work from the gross eXpendi-
lures, We find the average cost per LOU
sheets to, be 1885. or a reduction OF Il
cents per l.000 sheets. which is equivalent
to Il reduction in the cost of the whole
delivery of si3. .70o.35.
II is gratifying to find that the increase
in compensation to the laborers and the
lowest grade OF skilled helpers in this
bureau. (which was made as an act OF
justice to deserving men, has been more
than offset by the reduction in the ex-
penditures for other purposes.
The highest average number of sheets
per employe. ever. handled in the bureau
was $3.50 sheets. during the year 1886;
whereas during the present year the aver
age number handled per employe has
been 572e1 sheets showing an increased
usefulness during this year over the most
successful previous year in this respect
of % per cent. Going back still further,
a comparison with the year 1888 as to
usefulness OF employees shows that the
average number of sheets handled per
employe that year was &c. $50 against 81
290 during the present fiscal year, an in
creased usefulness OF, Sc per cent.
During the Civil War, when Congress
passed an act imposing a tax to be col
lected by the use of adhesive stamps and
providing for the issue of bonds, the
capacity of nearly every bank note COM
pany in the country was taxed to the ut
must limits to produce, the instruments
necessary to enforce IT. When, upon the
18th day of June last, an act OF a similar
nature was approved. the impression
seemed TO prevail that this bureau would
be unable to furnish the necessary adhes-
I've stamps to enforce said law upon the
LIST day Of July following. and IL was pro-
posed that contracts should be made with
outside bank note companies to aid this
bureau In that work. You Will recall
the ,contr0versy a. thai, occurred at that
time and my pledge TO supply sufficient
quantity of stamps in time to enable the
commissioner of Internal revenue to reach
collectors of internal revenue far and
near by the 1st day of July.
Although there were but seventeen
days in which to execute this work, by
the date mentioned this bureau mad de-
livered to the commissioner of internal
revenue ls5 800. .926 adhesive stamps and
every collector of internal revenue had
been supplied with stamps 90 the otl-
lection of this tax. At the same time
orders had been given for the engraving
of plates to print the bono issue author
lied in the same act: orders for national
, bank notes had -increas ed TO a large en-
tent; all the regular Internal revenue
stamps were imprinted WITH the date CT
the recent act and made available for
use under II; the demona for United
States notes. silver certificates ard treas
ury notes was Uo TO the fun limit. and
the delivery of such notes WAS Lept at
the maximum point. In addition 10 this.
the Postofflce Dep trtment n1a 1rCercd
the production of Il new series of post
age stamps. known as the Trans-M'ssis-
sippi stamps, and was demanding large
quantities of them, while orders for The
ordinary stamps were increased to cof.-
siderable extent. Su2h tondit1ns had
never before existed during the life OF
this bureau, nor gould the demands upon
1t have been anticipated and provided for,
and yet it proved itself equa. to tn
most extreme emergency.
One of the most difficult problems to
be solved with reference TO the future
operations Of this bureau is to perform
the work necessary under unusual de-
mands in the regular working hours from
until o'clock each day and during the
working days of the year. Working
overtime IN This bureau has Its advan-'
tages To start operations in the morn
ing 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 in
the opening and balancing. Therefore
the. actual hours of labor are proper
tionately greater in twelve than in eight
hours; but this advantage, in my opinion,
is offset by the fact that II is impossible
to prevent entirely the abuse of over
time privileges. In other words, it is i'm
possible 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 a violation 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 reg
ular hours of the day.
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 1860
without continuing the operations of sew
eral branches of the service beyond 4
O'Clock. particularly the printing division
Every available foot of space in the bu-
reau for hand plate-printing presses Is
now occupied. and still we are unable in
the regular hours TO keep up with the
average number of sheets to be produced
daily. We have ordered twenty. addition
al perforating machines, two additional
cumming machines and two additional
surface presses, an additional steam
boiler and three washing machines. Ten
additional power plate-printing presses