Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-12
DESIRE OF PRINTERS
Wish to Be Represented in the
Pending Investigation.
WANT TO BE HEARD
PREFER AN INQUIRY WITH OPEN
DOORS.
Anxious to Learn the Exact and Rela-
tive Merits of the Typesetting
Machines Under Discussion.


Columbia Typographical Union. The
commission has given representatives OF
the two corporations interested In its pro-
ceedings ample representation. in order
that they may be protected In the inve.ti-a
CATION now going on. But the men in the
government printing Office. whose interests
are equally at stake In this scandal over
the purchase OF seventy-two Lanston ma
chimes. have not been accorded that privI-
lege.
Columbia Typographical Union would
like to be represented In the proceedings,
which involve the good name and fame OF
some of Its members and the prospects for
continuing to earn a livelihood of many
others. The union would like to be given
as equally fair treatment as that which has
been accorded to the corporations whose
stock may be more or less affected by the
results or the proceedings. The union is
sued call for meeting to consider that
matter, but the call has been withdrawn
because the leaders have concluded that
their petition IL made would be denied
Interest Of the Printers.
Not only are several members of the
union under trial by the Keep commission,
and likely to be held responsible for acts
that may be the subject of severe rebuke,
but all the conpositors who have been en-
ployed in the office for many years and
have rot become expert I'm the use of the
typesettng machines are Interested In the
merits of both of them regards the ma
ture of the work produced and the cost OF
that work.
Young men may readily become experts in
the use OF new methods, such as are in
volved in the typesetting machines but men
whose habits have become fixed and have
passed beyond the period of life when they
readily adapt themselves to new methods
find it impossible to make such record as
to fh.4yra to haa
chimes.
Therefore it is of the utmost Importance
to that class of men to know whether the
machines are of advantage over hand work
either in quality or economy. 1t is this
that the Typographical Union is desirous of
learning among other things.
Public Hearings Wanted
Under the methods that have been put
in force for the suppression OF testimony
the compositors do not believe they will be
able to ascertain the exact value of the
typeseting machines. They are aware that
before the testimony is officially published
1t Is quite possible that the Mergenthaler
company may buy out the Lanston COM
pany, and in that event both companies
would have common purpose in suppress
Ing everything detrimental to either ma
chine. The Mergenthaler company is now
anxious to show before the commission
everything rejecting on the value of the
Lanston, but 1t is not especially interested
In having that matter become a permanent
record that may affect the value of It's hold
ings after 1t has acquired a control over
the Lanston.
Its interests would be served by exactly
the method of secrecy that is being pur-
sued. 1t will pound the Lanston before the
commission and in the future IL may have
to talk up its merits.
But the members of Columbia Typograph-
ican Union want publicity of the proceed
ings in order that the exact facts may be
Tintr rln N
get them, but II the commission insists upon
secrecy the next best thing for them is to
be represented by attorney or otherwise be-
fore the commission during the taking OF
testimony, so that the interests of the men
belonging to that organization may be
served with the same care that Is exercised
toward the corporations that are interest
ed in the case. They want the interests OF
men given the same consideration that is
being given the financial interests repre-
sented by the corporations.
Spoke for Mergenthalers.
The session of the commission this morn
ing was occupied with taking the testi-
mony of two important witnesses, one of
them being one of the most important that
will be called during the secret investiga-
ton. The witnesses were Mr.. J. ID. Mont
ross, sales agent Tor the Mergenthaler
Company, and Mr.. Oscar j. Ricketts,. the
foreman of the government printing office.
tho investigation prominently and the
members of the commission showed the
greatest interest in his replies to their
questions.
Mr.. Montross told such a story as a sales
agent would tell in favor of the interest he
represents. He told the commission how
widely the Mergenthaler machine is used
in the newspaper offices of the country and
how 1t saved money for every one who uses
1t. He stated that one machine is equal to
four men in the amount OF work 1t turns
1,sa f,ntA fnl anCf fAriI of
single machine is less than $40 month he
stated that 1t was easy to see what an
enormous saving 1t accomplishes
Mr. Montross also showed that the Mer-
genthaler people have high hopes to de-
velop their machine for tabular work, that
being the class of work for which the Lam
ston people claim their machine to be with
out peer.
Inspected New York Offices.
Mr.. Ricketts, when placed on the stand
told about his visit to New York with Fore
man Cottle of the fifth division and Chief
Electrician Tapley. when they went there
to look over the plant of the Mergenthaler
Company and to see how their machines
worked in the large printing offices of the
city. He said the committee visited all the
large printing offices in New York. and
came back to this city and made an oral
report to the public printer.
I'VE made no Recommendation to him,
stated Mr.. Ricketts, when asked question
by one of the Commissioners. I'VE gave
him the benefit of our observations and
told him In detail what we believed TO be
the relative merits OF the two machines.
Mr.. Ricketts, said that in his opinion the
Lanston machine had an advantage over
the Mergenthaler In doing tabular work,
but on such work as the office receives dur
ing the session of Congress and from ths
several government departments, he said.
the Mergenthaler has decidedly an advan-
tage.
Mr.. Ricketts, testified In matter-of-fact
way, and commented on the machines from
the standpoint Of their relative efficiency
For the quick work of Congress and for the
departments. he said, the Mergenthaler WAS
superior to the Lanston. and more econom-
lcal, as one man could operate the Mergea-
thaler and make the corrections. On tie
other hand, he said. 1t required three men
anerata I.anstan The La