New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-01
GOVERNMENT PRINTING.
IN INQUIRY F-lTORED.
No Opposition Expected from the
Tni0ns-Thc Need of Reform.
lrroT rIIr TRIBUNE nrrEAr.I

Washington July 3l-The announcement that
tbe President would institute general inyesti-
cation q the methods employed in the govern
r7eni printing Office made exclusively in The
Tribune Yesterday, has been the occasion OF ex-
,ensive discussion among the various unions
reprcsented in the Office. but has not met the
o,taConism expected in some quarters.
Officers OF The bookbinders' Union and mem
hers O. the arbitration committee of that or
pan.zatlon assert that they will welcome in
yestigation into the methods of the office. for
they believe ;hat a leak" exists which renders
he work more expensive than it should be- that
he extravaganza OF certain methods is charged
o the unions. whereas il belongs elsewhere. and
because they are confident that such an inves-
.igation would exonerate the unions from the
charge of maintaining rules which limit the
daily task II each man materially 10 i'm
crease the cost OF the work turned OUT.
Aside from the assertion that there is
leak, the officers Of the unions refuse TO talk,
nut their statement serves to recall many stories
long current in Washington regarding grossly
II MOI criminalIy extravagant practices in the
government printing Office. especially in rela-
ton to the purchase of such supplies as paper.
ink. type. etc.
Prominent officials Of the administration are
rcfned 10 regard with scepticism all insinua-
ions that there is criminal extravaganza In the
methods pursued. bur they admit that Il is more
han likely that 2 thorough investigation Will
ooint the way to economies in other lines than
hat OF the labor performed, and all who have
mad 10 DO with the Public Printers office vel
come the prospect OF a revision Of methods and
a reorganization on up-to-date lines.
Il is said by some officials that the Public
Printer has long conducted his Office Under a
divided supervision. performing, as he does,
sor in addition the
work for the executive departments. and that
the close relations existing between the once
and Congress have operated to produce an lnue-
pendencc Of executive control and supervision IN
n he Office which does not make for the highest
degree Of discipline efficiency. An instance In
support OF this proposition is cited as having &C
cured in a former administration. A member
OF the Cabinet issued a requsition on the Pub
lie Printer for certain class Of work. ana mis-
request was refused On appeal to the Presi-
dent the latter advised him 10 appeal 10 the
committees Of Congress on Printing, Ito save
en- ba IRA ssulent. and because they had more
influence with the Public Printer than he Cthe
FresidenD had.
President Roosevelts firm stand, II is be-
lieved. VIII dissipate any disposition on the part
or the officials Of the printing office To regard
that institution responsible only TO Congress,
and VIII have a salutary effect on the entire con
duct Of the Office.
AS has been the case in the Postoffice investi
CATION many rumors of maladministTation are
government printing Office. most of them little
more than idle gossip. but il IS the unanimous
opinion among the administration ofhclals that
the proposed investigation will contribute mate
rally to the economy and efficiency of the most
expensive institution the government maintains