The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-17
GOVERNMENT MONEY WASTED.
NECESSITY FOR Reform IN PUB-
Lie PRINTING OFFICE.

10e FT@11UeD0 Will AbA SvmorCUs ~ sHSus-
Ter the On,oe 10 the Department Of
Commerce and laber--Cest n Week
Higher Than In Private Concerns.
~ Labor Unions Dictate the Output.
WARRINGTON. Sept. le.-President Roose-
welt, It Is learned here, has determined TO
AJAX Congress to authorize the transfer OF
the Government Printing ONCE to the
jurisdiction and control OF the Department
Of Commerce and Labor.
A quiet investigation into the manage
ment OF the big printing establishment has
been going on for several months under
the direction Of Secretary Cortelyou, and
enough Information has been secured TO
convince the President that the most radical
reforms should be- inaugurated In the print
ing Office rs soon a. possible.
great mass Of statistics showing the cost
Of printing has been gathered, together
with information showing tho methods OF
work. and this, It Ia believed, will demon
strate to Congress the necessity for placing
the establishment under the supervision OF
an executive department.
The investigation ordered by the Presi-
dent Vas based upon certain statements
made by W. A. Miller, the deposed assistant
foreman, who declared that the cost OF the
work In tho bindery was excessive. and
who ,..so offered to show that in other
branches Of the Printing Once there was
room for improvement. Miller's charges
led to an inquiry, which showed that Ihey
were based on fact.
Secretary Cortelyou then began to collect
additional information which the President
desired This investigation had not pro-
ceeded very far before it was evident that
thousands of dollars had been wasted In
the management Of the Printing Office.
The plan Of having publications printed eS
lowed by nearly all Departments which
receive from Congress each year q certain
allowance for printing and binding. When
printing Is to be done, the head OF O Depart
ment gets from the Public Printer an estl-
mate, and if the work IL ordered, the cost
Is charged against the account of the De-
partment. In many cases the Depart
| fnents could have saved money by getting
their printing done by private establish
ments.
One reason for the increased cost at the
| Government Printing Office Is declared to
| be the fact that the labor organizations
| have dictated the amount OF work to be
| turned out in the various branches OF the
| Office and have thus reduced the output
| without reducing the cost OF operation. =,
One of the persons who first perceived
the advantage Of getting printing done or,
| by private concerns was Col Clarence Ed
wards, chief OF the Insular Bureau of the
War Department. Col. Edwards was asked
by the Philippine Government to have
printed for 1t q number Of copies Of the
manual of civil service. The cost OF the
printing was to be paid out OF the funds OF
the Philippine Government on deposit
with the discussing officers Of that govern
ment In this country
| Col Edwards asked the Government
Printing Office for an estimate for the work;
Just what the estimate amounted to could
not be ascertained to-day, but 1t was 80
large that Col Edwards Immediately de-
| cided to ask for bids from certain private
printing concerns, and obtained much
lower rates. The result Of his action as
that Guggenheimer 4 We'll OF Baltimore
got the contract for printing and binding
| Officers who are in position to know
the true inwardness of the printing office
Investigation say that the Government
Printing Office has charged high prices in
many other cases for work performed Tor
the Departments, and that a complete and
tho President by the Department Of Com
merce, which is charged with conducting
| the inquiry.
Until this inquiry is concluded it is said
! there will be no action on the case OF Assist
ant Foreman Miller Il was largely upon
his statements that the investigation was
started, and he has become SO involved in
the investigation that it would not be proper
! TO take final action is h.s case until after
all the information in regard to the work
OF the printing Office is secured and laid
before the President. This report will
be transmitted to Congress- by President
Roosevelt and strong effort madc to have
the printing Office transferred to the control
| OF Secretary Cortelyou.