The times., 1899-08-07
THE NOTES STILL UNPAID.
The Government Printers Net Yet
Called on to Settle.


Called ON to Settle.
1t is stated by member of the commit !
tee in charge of the scheme which resulted |
in having the wages of the printers and |
bookbinders employed at the Government
Printing Office increased from $500 to 81
a day, that the conditional promissory
notes given by a large number of printers
and bookbinders to defray the expense of
the necessary legislation have not yet been
paid. He stated, however. that the reason
of this is that no demand has been made
by the committee for their payment, nor
would there be for some time to come.
1t was stated some time ago that many
of those who had signed the conditional
promssory notes for S25 each had de-
clined TO pay them because upon an inves-
tigation of the matter they believed that
the amount asked from the individual
would in the aggregate be greatly in excess
of the sum needed by the committee.
In this connectiona it may be stated that
the first objection to the methods OF the
committee in procuring the increase of pay
for the printers and bookbinders, was made
by the workers of other crafts employed at
the Government Printing Office. Among
these are the hydraulic pressmen and en-
ployes in the bindery department other
than the bookbinders themselves. 1t is as
serted that members of these crafts pro-
tested because they were not included
among those for whom an increase OF
wages was asked. Further than this 1t is
stated, that some of these waited on PUB
| lie Printer Palmer in reference TO the mat
| ter If it We're a mare matter of contrib
uting SO much money, they stated, that
they, too were ready and willing to con-
| tribute to the expense of the committee
The first OF the employees at the Printing
Office whose wages were restored to the
/ old standard were the printing pressmen.
| This was done on their own petition, after
having failed to accomplish this working
/ in connection with the bookbinderS and
printers When this was done, it is under
stood, a plan very similar to that op-.
Grated by the printers and bookbinders last
winter was adopted. After the success OF
/ the combination, as was stated some une
/ ago they agreed to contribute S25 each for
the purpose of defraying the expenses of
the committee in charge OF the necessary
| legislation to secure the increase
1t has been estimated that from 1,00O to
| 1.200 printers and bookbinder5 gave their
conditional promissory notes for the pay
ment of S25 each, payable thirty days after
| their wages had been increased to 81 per
day. According to their terms these notes
fell due on the 1st of August, but, as is
stated above, on the authority OF mem
Der of the committee, they have not
! vet been paid. 1t is also stated by
member of Columbia Typographi-
cal Union that in all probability the
makers Of the notes will not be
called upon to paygtheir face value How
ever. at this time he said, it is not known
what amount the individual signers will
be called upon TO pay, nor will this be
known until the committee in charge has
made a report of the expense incurred.
The union men spoken to in reference
to the matter stated that it Is impossible
to say what expense has been incurred by
the committee further than to say that he
believes it will take a large amount OF
money TO settle up the affair
The committee. he said, consists of the
board of directors of Typographical Union,
No. 101. and four or more others, besides
the members from the bookbinders. These
committeeman, he said, will no doubt have
to be paid for lost time. A great deal OF
clerical work was necessary, and this, too
would be no small item of expense. Then
comes the attorneys fees, which will nc
doubt be large. Aside from this, Others
who have been working along this same
line in the past. though not having met
with success, will also be entitled to re-
muneration for their trouble and loss OF
time.
After all these expenses have been met
should there be a balance, he said, it would
naturally be turned over to the treasury
of the unions. In cases, however, where
members of the committee had rendered
valuable service through their influence ol
otherwise in accomplishing the object il
view, If it were determined to make any o
these a present of money ranging any
where from s100 to $500, in acknowleGg
ment and appreciation OF their work, h'
did not believe that any objection woul,
be raised by members of either the typo
graphical or bookbinders' union.
Since the scheme was inaugurated las
fall, however, the speaker said that man,
of those who had signed the notes hai
become separated from the Government
Printing Office and therefore are not bene
ficiaries of the result of the increase o
wages He estimates that these numbe
between 200 and 300, thus leaving in sigh
for the committee only about s17,500 t
pay the expenses incurred.
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