The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-05
MR.. MILLER'S STORY.
The Man Rcinstated I'm Government
Printing Office States His Case.

Washington Letter.
Mr.. Miller, when asked concerning his
case, said to-day:
Il have held this position since July 2,
1900. When 1 went in l found il necessary
to make many improvements in the office
and machinery. / established system of
record by which an account of all work
done could be kept also introduced ma
chinery TO facilitate the work. and, If it
met with approval, cheapening the work
also. / have turned out sl5O0,OO0 worth of
work. Ii any complaint has been made. 1
do not know of it. p. ]. Byrne. who pre-
coded me, in two years-the men working
twelve hours a day-turned out $4,000
worth of work. In two years I turned out,
working eight hours a day, 100000 worth.
THE Postoffice Department in 1902 sent
in request for a less expensive route
book and letters returned by carriers l
mad samples made and they Were submit
ted, and the department saved on orders a
hand. $3.50. The Bookbinders' Union,
through a committee, objected.
other labor union would tolerate. They are
antiquated and interfere with the govern
ment work. They keep down the output and
tie the hands of the foreman who is forced
TO be member of the union.
THE arbitration committee of the union
restricts the amount of work done in a day.
They are the real heads of the bindery.
going to men and countermandins orders
given by the foreman. Thus, when i ar
ranged for the postoffice work. Mr. Barrett
told me they objected to my cheapening
ments. To Mr.. Barrett l said: This is
none of your business. / am looking after
the interests of the government
They then began to lay for me TO get
work TO be done on certain binding. They
went through the burlespe of trial, and
after holding court suspended me from the
union. This would have had no effect If
Mr.. Palmer. the public printer, had had a
little firmness. He is very old and yielded
on account of his age and asked me to lay
off fifteen days to satisfy this sentence.
II had already been compelled to report
Barrett and Stockman, and they were the
men behind the movement Another assist
ant foreman, who was jealous of me, joined
with these men during my absence and had
me transferred to branch in another build
ing. Thus / was forced from the depart
ment which / had spent two years in i'm
proving.
Then threats were made that / would be
permanently removed. and in April / got
notice to attend meeting of the executive
committee. AS no reasons were assigned. /
declined to attend. l was fined $40. and a
few days later received notice charging me
with having furnished Representative Heat
wole with a copy of the testimony on which
/ had been suspended and furnishing Rep
resentative Gillett with scale of prices
which he had used at a meeting of the
House committee. i am told Mr. Palmer,
the public printer, gave this information to
the union.
well, the upshot of it was that they had
funny trial. No direct testimony was Of
fered, no pretense was made of really con-
vcting me of anything 1 was convicted all
the same. My friends gave notice Of an ap-
peal, pending which l was TO hold my posi-
ton. 1t did good. In violation of the
constitution / was thrown out
1.-The next day Mr.. Palmer sent for me.
told him to assert himself. He would not
do SO. and in one hours time sent me notice
of suspension.
81 take the position that my dismissal was
the result of persecution for doing my duty.
1t was un-American and lawless, and can
not conceal my satisfaction at being rein
stated.
THE action of this union in restricting
work is contrary TO the letter and spirit of
the laws of the United States. These laws
say that eight hours shall be a legal days
work. for which 80 cents an hour shall be
| paid. This does not mean that no more
work than that shall be done. Nowhere else
| in the United States has such a rule been
| promulgated In no other trade would it be
tolerated. 1t is not followed by the printers
THE whole aim of these men has been to
| dictate to the heads, to enslave the foremen
by making them join their organization and
| then, if they can't control the foremen, to
| hound them out Of their positions"