The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-27
THE MILLER CASE
It May Cause Congress to Investi-
gate the Whole Printing
Plant.
In Which Case the Rafting Of the
Dry Bones of 1850 Would
Be Terrific. . Z. =.
From The Journal Bureau, Room As, Post Build.
ing, Washington,

From The Journal Bureau, Room As, Post Build.
ing, Washington. .Aa .~.-
Washington, Jan. Eff congress should
feel impelled, on account Of the COM
plants made by A. w. Miller of Mnneap-
Oils assistant superintendent Of the
bindery in the government printing office,
to investigate that ancient institution
the result would be the introduction of
thoroughly modern mtheods, instead Of
those of fifty years ago, which still pre-
vail. This no man at present employed
there wants; in fact. all are strongly OPP
posed to it, and are busy telling members
Of congress why an Investigation should
not be had. -.
. With typesetting machines. eight hours
per day for labor, proper examination for
employment. and modern rules in tho
press rooms and in the bindery, the gov
eminent printing office would no longer
De burlesque on the craft generally and a
standing argument of wondrous power and
eloquence against the public ownership
or private and public utilities.
Public Printer Palmer is popular with
members Of both houses He Is an amiable
OLD man, long past his useful time of life,
10 De sure but accommodating and agree
able and any investigation would severely
reject upon his management. That Is
why investigation does not have more
friends In congress; but at the same time,
the seriousness of the Miller case, unless
Miller should spoil everything by talking
too much or by other indiscreet things. is
such as to demand consideration.
After the holiday recess the question is
to come formally before the joint commit
tee on printing. In the end it is believed
that the government binders union will
De glad to expunge from its records all
references to the Miller case, and leave
him as if nothing had ever occurred to
render his connection with the union I'M
pleasant. If such a step will prevent an in
Vestigation, 1t is morally certain that It
will be taken. " f''.
Fully fifty years ago the government
printing office was organized under the
labor union rules then prevailing These
rules have remained in force since, with
few II any changes, save Of the most
trif1ing character. And this notwlthstand-
ing that there have been gigantic strides
IN the art OF printing and binding, and
modern methods are so unlike those Of
half century ago as to have revolution
lied the business everywhere in the
world.
Politics is responsible for the rightly of
printing office conditions. The labor
unions OF Washington, wise in their day
and generation. long ago put themselves
into close touch With organized labor.sin
all parts of the, country, and no congress
man has ever dared say he would support
typesetting machines, or any other mod
ern device, for the expedition and cheap
ening of government work. Much might
be said about the quality OF the moral
fiber Of the average congressman who is
thus frightened from doing something
which is clearly demanded by every bust
ness reason but that is not important
here; the fact remains that congressman
nave been and are. afraid to make the
government printing office modern, and
that fact must be faced as a. real and vital
thing. ...
The Miller case, however, appears to
offer a convenient and long sought open
ing wedge of investigation, and there is
just possibility that congress may take
advantage Of tito do certain things 1t has
wanted to do for years, but has lacked
the courage to take up 1t is admitted,
even by union men, that investigation
could have but one result--the making
over Of the plant on modern lines in
every detail.
In the opinion Of members of congress
who already have given the question con-
sideration. the typesetting departments of
| the printing office are not involved in the
! present muddle to any considerable de-
gree; the trouble is practically confined to
the binders and pressmen. Investigation,
however, would affect the printers by the
introduction of linotype machines. s.
One Reason for InefflcIency. z
One serious trouble is the system under
which the civil service commission: en-
ploys printing office labor. II a practical
employing printer anywhere in the coun-
try. outside of Washington, were seek
ing to hire a number Of expert typesetters,
| binders or pressHen, he would go about
1t In practical way. In the case of the
printer, for example, he would have the
| candidate for employment ''set up two or
three 'sttcks" Of matter; distribute the
type afterwards; read his own proof and
correct it. Instead of that, however, the
| civil service commission puts all candi-
dates for places in the printing office
through a sort of grammar grade exami-
nation in the common English branches;
and if a man can't tell the capitals Of sew
eral states and Of the several countries of
the world bound those countries, locate
| certain capes. CULTS. seas, ETC., work GER
tain sums in arithmetic, analyze certain
sentences in grammar and do certain nu-
merous other things which have no more
to DO with his efficiency as a printed than
a cat has to do with the Fourth of July.
he is refused employment. The result is
that a great many inefficient men are en-
ployed in the printing office. Once in, of
course they scheme 10 remain; and the
rule Of the bindery which led to the Mil
Ter episode, providing that days work
should be q certain number Of pieces, the
number fixed low enough to protect the
weaker members Of the union. and i,7
practical effect meaning that the average
member Of that union works only about
five and half hours a day, is. the in
eyitable result. The weak members OF
the Binders: union work all day to finish
the required number of pieces, but the
ma jority of the employees finish the mum
Der in time to loaf -for-one or two hours
before quitting time" Mr.. Miller wanted
each member of the Binders union te
work eight hours a day and do as much
work In that time as possible;' and charges
were preferred againt him of violating the
rules of the union; he was brought up fol
trial, found guilty and suspended for IF
teen days without, pay. .-.s5-. T..
| Some sensible and business-1ike plan o.
selecting employees would probably of it,
self, in time, work many of the desirable
reforms in the printing office. None Of
these reforms would be possible withou
some sort Of change in the civil service
regulations. Practical printers in con
gress do not hesitate to say that The
question of employment in the printing
office should be left entirely to a com
mission within the office itself, whict
should make such test of efficiency a.
would be. made by a private employer un
der similar conditions. "a &g
Most Expensive In the World.
The bindery In, the printing office i
the most expensive plant Of its kind il
the world and it is clear that the ru;
requiring a certain number of pieces t
constitute a days work is one Of the chic
reasons for it at. r. .F- ..enle ~ EssEta