Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-11-28
Work Of the Bureau of Engraving
and Printing Reported.
CHIEF JoHNSOH'S RECOMMENDATIONS
Large Increase in the Number of
Sheets Delivered.
MORE BUILDINGS NEEDED

bureau of engraving and printing has been
made by Claude NJ. Johnson director. The
report says:
The number of sheets delivered during the
year was 32,9I9,4 7s an increase of 6SO4, III
sheets This increase is nearly 8 per cent
The expenditures for this year were 81 ,57O,-
5tS HI. While the expenditures for last year
were 1.450. SO. showing an increase in
expenditures of about the same per cent
as the increase In deliveries; but when we
deduct from the expenditures SIP 5996S in
crease of stock on hand, $40 600 paid for
machinery. which is a part of the perna-
nent plant OF the bureau and Sc, 416 30 paid
to employees detailed outside of the bureau
in excess of the amount paid during the
fiscal year 1897 making in all s46,OO6.09
we find that the increase in expenditures
which is properly chargeable to the actual
production Of the bureau Is but % per cent
over the preceding year, whereas, as above
stated. the increase in the work is nearly
8 per cent.
The average cost per 1000 sheets during
the year 1897, figured on gross expenditures,
was 1888. The average cost during this
year. 1898. figured on gross expenditures,
is $3.50, on it's face showing an increase
of cost of cents per 1000 sheets; but
when we deduct the bove named items not
applicable to the actual cost of the work
| from the gross expenditures, we find the
average cost per 1000 sheets to be s1636
per 900 sheets, or reduction of Al cents
per 1000 sheets. which is equivalent to a
| reduction in the cost of the whole delivery
| of $43,700.35.
! Increase of Work.
| 1t is gratifying to find that the increase
| in compensation to the laborers and the
| lowest grade of skilled helpers in this bu
| reau, which was made as an act of justice
| to deserving men, has been more than Off
| set by the reduction in the expenditures for
| other purposes.
The highest average number of sheets
per employee ever handled in the bureau
| was 55,g91 sheets during the year 1896;
| whereas. during the present year the aver
! age number handled per employe has been
! $3.50 sheets. showing an increased useful
ness during this year over the most sue
| cessful previous year in this respect of 2.3
per cent. Going back still further, COM
parson with the year 1893 as to usefulness
of employees shows that the average num-
Der of sheets handled per employe that
year was 1850, against 51,&N during the
present fiscal year: an Increased usefulness
| Of 6 per cent II -
| War Revenue Stamps.
| During the evil war. When Congress pass
ed ar act imrosinga tax to be collected by
| the use Of adhesive stamps and providing
| for the issue of bopds. the capacity of near
| ly every bank note company in the country
was taxed to the Utmost limits to produce
| the instruments necessary to enforce it.
When. upon the 18th day of June last, an
act OF similar nature was approved. the
! impression seemed to prevail that this bu-
| ieau would De unable 10 furnish the nGces-
sary adhesive stamps to enforce said law
upon the LIST Cay Of July following, and It
| was proposed THAI contracts should be
made with outside bank note companies TO
aid this bureau jn2thdt work. You will re-
/ call the controversy that occurred ut that
time and my pledge TO supply Il sufficient
| quantity of stamps in time 20 enable the
commissioner of internal revenue II reach
collectors Of internal revenue far and near
by the list day of July.
| Although there were but seventeen days
in which to execute this work. by the date
mentioned this bureau had delivered to the
| &C mIGiSSioner of Internal revenue 'S',3'W,o26
| adhesive stamps. and every collector of in
| ternal revenue had been supplied with
| stamps for the collection of this tax. At
| the same time orders had been given fer
the engraving of plates to print the honl
| issue authorized in the same act; orders Tor
national bank notes had increased to Il
| large extent; all the regular Internal rev.
erue stamps We're imprinted wlta the date
| of the recent act and made available for
use under it, the demand for initial States
notes, silver certificates and treasury notes
| was up to the full limit, and the delivery
of such notes was kept at the maximum
point. In addition to this the POST Office
Department had ordered the production of
series of postage stamps known as
the trans Mississippi stamps, and Was de-
handing large quantities of HEM while
| orders for the ordinary stamps were in
creased TO considerable extent. Such con-
ditionS had never before existed during the
| life of this. bureau. nor could the demands
upon it have been anticipated and provided
for, and yet it proved itself equal 70 the
| most extreme emergency.
Working Overtime.
| One of the most difficult problems to be
| solved with reference to the future opera
| nf &c. rcr