New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-07
MAY ADOPT LlNOTYPES.
Their Use IN the Government PRINT
inc Office Seems Probable.
IFRoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU

IRON TRIBUNE BUREAU
Washington Jan. 6.-It is not considered I'M
probable that linotype machines VIII be intro
duced in the Government Printing ONCE IN the
not distant future. This would complete the per-
lection of mechanical equipment for that huge
printing plant in all its other branches labor
saving machinery has been installed The subject
will be thoroughly Investigated next month oy a
subcommittee of the House Committee on Appro-
priations in connection with the consideration OF
the Sundry Civil Appropriation bill Members OF
this subcommittee have been giving the SUBJECT
serious consideration with a view to determining
whether the Introduction of the linotype machine
would facilitate the enormous work OF the Govern
ment Printing Office which increases at the rate
of 10 per cent year. The action OF the coniiitee
will Of course be based on the Investigations al
reodv made and the arguments be submitted
at the hearing.
The Washington Typographical Union Is out
spoken against any proposition looking 10 lhe IN
staIation of machines in the Government Pruning
office but in it's opposition it stands alone among
the typographical unions OF the country Its an
tagonism took practical form when. AT a 1hee'iHs
held on December q. secret committee OK twenty
Ave was appointed to fight the proposition in CON
gress The plan OF campaign it Is understood mas
been mapped out and will consist of personal ap-
peal to Representatives in Congress by the mem
bers OF this committee. pointing out 10 'heih tne
political risks they would run should they FAVOR
the proposition. They will urge that TO vote TOT
the Introduction OF great a labor saving device
as tho linotype machine IN the Government Print
ing Ofce would he political suicide. for u Would
antaConize the labor element and result IN the
subsequent defeat for reconciliation or re-elactloh
OF tho members so voting
Little capital can be manufactured out OF cam
pagn OF intimidation. for the fallacy OF the arsu
ment Is so apparent that IT will hardly nave 'he
effect desired. Representatives are at all times
thoroughly In touch with the conditions existing in
their districts. and aware that linotype ma
chimes not only are used IN the offices OF every
daily newspaper published in the United states
with one exception. but that the various typo
graphical unions having met the machine question
as something Inevitable. have made machine scales
and entered into contracts with publishers using
lnotypes. This has resulted in the unioHiziug or
newspaper printing Offices in various parts OF the
country. and members of Congress feel thar under
these conditions vote for the installation OF ma
chimes that would promote efficiency and decrease
cost In the great printing plant could not ALLEVIATE
the labor elenen: unless that clement should re-
pudiate its own records.
The local typographical union Will also antaSo-
nze the proposition. the ground that the linotype
machines are capable of producing the high
standard Of work required in the Government
Printing Office The absurdity OF this contention Is
apparent when a comparison Is made between the
style OF work turned out in that estaoiishmen;
and that done by q number OF printers in the
United States whose reputation for producing the
highest class Of work IS worldwide and whose
printing is largely done by the linotype machine
They in use In various offices throughout tho
possible TO be done IN printing establishment is
turned out. The linotype machines have been IN
Government Printing Office at Ottawa. Canada. the
insuIar printing offce at Manila the Australian gov
erumeut printing offices and the State printing
offices Of majority Of The States OF the Union
stand taken by the washington Typographical
Union, II is pointed out that the official organ or
the International Typographical Union is ma
chine production as are many other publications.
of labor organizations. The linotype has come INTO
general use it's economy is acknowledged and.
according 10 those familiar with the needs OF thg
Government Printing once. its introduction wOU-1
largely promote the efficiency OF the plant dc,
be OF material injury TO the personnel of tho
1t is assumed that should the introduction OF the
machines be determined upop the process OF T.
staIlaton would be sradua4 which, taken Win the
10 per cent annual Increase in the growth OF the
TorS S woTI n sbayn9 7, also Well nSsrstood
that the event Of their Installation IN the Gov
amount OF work which could not be done with the
chimes. and 10 this work the force could %
follow. This etrectually disp0ses OF large part OF
the opposition of the local typographical union Ior
its members fear, and state, that the introduce
ton of the machines would make wholesale dis
1t is also probable that hand compositors would
have an opportunity 10 learn the use OF the ma
tween one hundred and nifty and two hundred per
sons employed in the Government Printing Once
who expert operators on the linotype machines,
would be disposition. 1t Is said. the part %
dispense with the services OF those employees who
feel that they are too far advanced In life 70 learn
to operate the machines for no doubt felt that
there would SUFFICIENT work entirely independent
OF that done by the linotype 10 which such employees
could be assigned.
In view of all The arguments advanced in support
Government Printing once. and the confessedIy
weak stand OF the local typograph cal union In OPP
tho pa 1neF o Re 10 9e Of e 20 con
slider the proposition favoraby. and II is not con-
part OF the equipment of the government printing