Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-05
Deliveries During the Year.

CURED the printing OIL d ldiSe diiiOuht VI
work formerly printed upon power presses
to be printed upon hand presses for con-
siderable part of the year. thus increasing
it's cost about 30 per cent, ana that the
volume of work required was so great that
it became necessary to work three SHIFTS
through the hottest summer we nave eN-
perienced for years. Under these coidi-
tons the results obtained could not De as
favorable as those usually obtained. Dur
ing the present fiscal year there have been
SI377931 expended for new machinery,
which becomes q permanent ADDITION 10 tne
plant, and should not, in estimating the
cost of the work be chargeable to any par
ticular year. AT the close OF the liscai
year there remained an unexpended balance
of So, S34.43.
Deficiency Required.
"In accordance with the law requiring
the introduction of smoke consumers to all
boiler plants with in the District of Column
bia, contracts have been made for smoke
stack and smoke consumer, aSSregatlnS an
expenditure Of s26, go These items are not
included in the aggregate expenditures, as
they are offset by the unexpended balance
to within So, 6S5.57 which must be appro-
priated for as a deficiency when Congress
meets. AS this expenditure of S26,o2o pc
came necessary to comply with an act or
Congress, it is not properly chargeaple TO
the years expenditures. In fact, II SAD
law had not been enacted, in place OF TINS
small deficiency there would have been
So S24. 43 aVaila bic to be covered back into
the treasury. 1t was not practical to in
troduce smoke consumer without in
creaSing the draft to our boilers, ana TINS
could not be given without an enlarged
smokestack. with additional height.
THE average gross cost per 1,noO sheets
is s16S as against $16.S9 for the preceding
year. The net average cost per 1000 sheets
for the year 1898 was $16.36, while the net
average cost per 1000 sheets for the year
1899 was s16.41, showing an increase in the
cost of the work Of cents per l,0(o sheets.
This increase in the cost is largely due to
the necessity of printing certain classes of
work upon hand presses, instead Of upon
power presses purchased for that purpose,
Congress having enacted a law requiring
the work to be done upon hand presses.
notwithstanding the fact that much of
the work was handled in irregular hours,
We find the average number of sheets
handled per employe to have been 5S933
sheets. as against $3.50 sheets the pre-
ceding year There is no fact connected
with this service which demonstrates its
effective work more clearly than the show
ing of an increased efficiency of its en-
ployes in the handling Of an increased
number of sheets, which in this case eX-
ceeds per cent
Additional buildings Required.
1T may be assumed. considering the
above statement of increase In the volume
of work performed by this bureau, that
Congress will be convinced of the necessity
LOT liIcTedSlHS Tue capacity VI TIC pui tHo III
the way of additional buildings. and that
in the next appropriation bill an item will
appear for that purpose. Owing to the lack
of room it is with the greatest difficulty
that the required number of sheets is pro-
duced from day to day. Most branches Of
the service are in operation until > o clock
each day. and in enc branch double set OF
employees is working. In case of any par
ticular hurry for the delivery of notes and
securities ii becomes necessary to continue
ion rjJ 20 y--fn
This condition is not only contrary to good
business principles, but is strain upon the
officers and employees of the bureau that
cannot continue for any great length OF
time. have the honor, therefore, to recon-
mend that an item of at least 100000 be
included in the estimates for public build
ings connected with the Treasury Depart
ment for suitable extension of this build
ing.
IN addition to the above recommendation
for an extension of the main building, l
have the honor to renew my former recon-
mendatiOn for an appropriation Tor ire
proof outbulGing. The amount heretofore
requested for this purpose was 500, 900. l
am of the opinion that this amount vii! be
sufficient to secure building in every way
adapted for the purpose.
Increase of Pay RecOmme nded.
There is one class of employees in this
bureau whose claims to increased compen-
sation are entitled to careful consideration
to be paid them. 1 refer to the class of
printers assistants, whose compensation is
S1.25 per day. These young women are re-
quired In the performance of their duties
to stand from six to eight hours q day,
and during that time their work involves
both mental and bodily exertion, as they
are required to examine each sheet as it is
printed and determine whether it is per-
feet or not, well to dampen the paper
and lay it the plate. They are held
equally responsible with the printers for
the safe custody Of printed and imprinted
sheets, representing in many instances
large values. If a sheet is lost through
their carelessness it imposes upon them
not only participation in the payment of
an equivalent in money for the loss, but
suspension and possibly dismissal from the
service.
Considering these facts and after six
years observation of the work performed
by these young women, / am Of opinion
that their compensation should be increas-
ed to $1.50 per day. This recommendation
will involve an increase in the appropria-
ton for this bureau of amount slightly
in excess of $4,000; but in view of the
the corps of printers assistants now erfe
gagged in this bureau and their patriotic
service during the recent war, l do not
hesitate to request that a recommendation
be made to Congress for an appropriation
of this additional sum-"
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