New-York tribune., 1903-07-30
[rRoal I'VE rR!EuNE RuREAr.I

Washington, July 29.-When President Roose-
welt fearlessly declared that the International
Brotherhood of Bookbinders was not supreme in
the matter Of discharging employees from the
Government Printing Office, he called public
attention to only one Of the heretofore undis-
puted prerogatives of uniOnism in that institu-
ton. Since the Presidents announcement, how
ever, the heads of other government depart
ments, who are the principal customers OF the
big printing Office, have become emboldened to
call attention quietly to many other regulations
of the union. which. taken together. have re-
suited in making the Government Printing Office
the most expensive institution. when compared
with the return, that the government has to
maintain.
While the announcement has not been made
officially, there is substantial reason 10 believe
that the accumulation OF this volunteered evi-
dence is to be made the basis Of a thorough
and sweeping investigation into the operation
Of every branch Of the Government Printing
Office This inquiry will doubtless be begun
only after the Miller incident has been finally
disnosed Of The prediction is freely made,
however that when 1t is undertaken it will be
shown that IN every branch OF the work the
most laborious time consuming and expensive
methods are followed; that the daily task OF each
ernploye is limited by union regulations, and
that so far is this task from maximum days
work that every first class workman could prac-
tically have his days work done at noon.
COMPARISON WITH PRIVATE SHOPS
The result of these methods on the cost Of
the government printing is to make 1t from IOO
10 200 per cent more expensive than the same
product of a union shop under private manage
nant It is declared that there will be no diff
cultv in demonstrating these facts. There are
several officials in other departments or the
government who have for some time oeeh aware
oF the exceedingly great cost OF producing gov
arnrnant publications at the Government Print
,rg Of7ca and there are many instances where
those officials have gone to first class private
nrintfne Offices. also union, and obtained sam
rlas of work and estimates OF cost
one instance of this character which VIII
probably figure in the forthcoming invesusa-
tion. is said TO have been the desire OF Governor
Merriam, in his first work as Director OK the
Census 10 have the records OF the census bound
~ certain vav. and, not knowing that the
work must be done in the Government Printing
Office he took the trouble TO go to a large New
York establishment and have sample BOOK
made m and estimates OF cost submitted When
he was informed that the work would have 70
he done in the government office. he submitted
the New-York sample for a standard When
the work OF the government Office was COM
nIated II was declared to be decidedly inferior
~ the sample submitted, and to have cost lou
ner cent more than the bid for the better work
of tbe New-York house The private bidder EN-
ployed only union labor.
As Governor Merriam IS no longer at the
head Of the Census Bureau. the remaining or
ncials are reluctant to discuss the incident II
,s known TO have been brought forward re-
Gently. however. showing the necessity OF a