Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-05
Their Use by G. P. 0. En-
ployes Forbidden.
MUST FOREGO LUXURY
MR.. RICKETTS, ELIMINATES AN
ALLEGED ABUSE.
Use of Anthracite Coal to Produce
Steam in Big Printery Said
to Be Satisfactory.

The use of the telephones of the govern
ment printing Office for the transmission of
private messages has been stopped. COM
munication intended for employees of the
big printery will be delivered to the party
desired, but the recipient will not be called
to the BOOTH as formerly. The use of the
telephones at the Office for the transmission
of private messages became such a nui-
sance that Public Printer Ricketts, could
not longer delay action, those desiring to
communicate with the different depart
ments on official business being frequently
compelled to await the pleasure of those
sending private messages. The order for
discontinuance, it is said, caused an imme-
date falling off of over 100 per cent inc the
number OF messages sent over the eight
wires leading out of the office. The oper-
ators in the office exchange are required to
keep record of the number of connections
with the city mains, and these statements
show that heretofore there have been
eral hundred calls daily.
Public Printer Ricketts, said that the pri-
waite use of the office telephones had be-
come both nuisance and expense. Sew
eral times recently official business had
been delayed by the lines being busy and
division foremen had been directed to pre-
vent the transmission of private messages.
He said the government pays 2a cents for
each message sent over the trunk lines lead
ing TO the city exchange, and that it was
not the business of the government to pay
for private communications. 1t is under
stood that certain of the telephones have
been frequently used for idle converse TONS
and that one petty official had been in the
habit of ordering his lunch by wire every
day, preventing others having authority to
use the instruments from transacting office
business while he ordered few cents
worth of this, a little of that and a dish
OF the other, after the menu had been read
to him.
There is a narrow plot of ground on the
IN nj
printing office, and there has been some
planning as to its availability for a bicycle
shed in the spring If the project meets with
the approval of the officials of the office
Practically every department has some ar
rangemeut for the storage of wheels bur
the employees of the big printery have been
compelled to leave their wheels with make
shltt storage rooms and accommodating
business men of North Capitol and II
streets.
Use of Anthracite.
After a trial of four months the engi-
neerlng force is prepared to indorse the
use of anthracite coal in the office Nearly
one-hfth more coal is required to supply
the same number of heat units. This ere
ates additional work for the fremen and
adds largely to the coal bill, but, generally
considered, the change Is said to have baen
beneficial. OF course the main reason for
the adoption of anthracite coal has been 10
prevent the emission of dense gray or
dark smoke" and the consequent Police
Court prosecution of the public printer I'm
case of the conviction of the head of tho
prlntery of maintaining a nuisance in the
creation of smoke by the power plant he
would be compelled, 1t Is said to nav the
me out OF his own pocket, there being no
provision for this emergency in the appro-
priation bills.
Compositors detailed on the typesetting
machines at the government printery saw
mat the work of operating the iron PRINTER
requires more exertion than setting tvna
by hand, but that there are some cOmpen-
sdtlOnS for the extra amount of effort re-
qulred. large part of the composition
passing through the office is what the work
men designate as "Objectionab le"-matter
containing many capitals. accented letters.
eXtraneous characters, etc.-and that this
class of matter is handled easier by the
machines than by hand composition
The distinction of having been the only
1ourneyman printer on a daily paper is the
record of f. A. Crandall, librarian OF the
ONCE OF the superintendent of public docu-
ments The paper was the Rome On W
sentinel the year was 1856 and half col
umn OF telegraph news was a good days
work outside of the local happenings
Later Mr.. Crandall was connected with the
Iowa City Reporter, the editor, business
manager and reporter of which was Rich
ard Sylvester, sr.. father of the superin-
tendent of Washington's police force,
The Ladies' Auxiliary held progressive
eucre party recently for the benefit of the
refer tund. A large number attended. and
after the prizes had been awarded the floor
was cleared for dancing. The purpose of
the society is to encourage unionism in the
homes of printers and incidentally to boom
the use or the union label. The present
officers are: President Mrs Wood: secre-
Iary. Mrs Ed. Thomas; treasurer. Mrs A.
l.. Bowen.
Preservation of Weather Records.
The blank bindery sewing room is pre-
pairing for preservation the thermometer and
other acknowledgements records from
the various weather bureau stations of
the country and the few branches main
tanned by this government outside the lin
its Of the United States These zigzae
tracings In Colored inks resemble the sigma
ture of the Sultan of Suiu, but TO the ex-
pert the records of rain, wind and sunshine
are readily understood 1t is said that these
records are frequently produced in court as
evidence as to the character of the weather
on any particular day or hour in any year
in many criminal and some civil suits
Extra frames are being placed In the first
division for the purpose of expediting the
rush work incident to the approaching ses-
sion of Congress This division handles the
thousands of bills introduced In Congress-
besides the rush work OF the entire office
Foreman Theodore Hodes of the Gazette
division met with a serious accident re-
Gently. Awakening at night and requiring
more bed-covering he utilized hunting
coat which had been hanging in a closet
Tor several years rather than disturb his
landlord. After using II for cover for
time Mr. Hodes felt a sharp pain
near his left eye and on lighting the gas
was surprised 20 find that a large black
spider had bitten him. The result was an
eye swollen shut for few days. but proper
medical treatment has about eliminated the
poison.
Proposed Consolidation.
There has been some talk of a proposed
consolidation OF the present third and
fourth divisions when they are removed
from their present location by reason of
the Introduction of the patent-printing di-
Visions on the fifth floor of the new build
ing. The printers have been accustomed
for years to six divisions, and the work has
been apportioned among them that each
had practically a distinct class to handle
II is said the new order of things would
break up the routine of the composing
rooms to large extent.
Fourteen new book-sewing machines are
to be installed shortly in the sewing diyi-
sion of the bindery. These machines are
said TO do the work of four hand workers
There will be twenty eight appointments
from the eligible lists of the civil service
commission to provide operators for these
machines. two girls classed as skilled la
borers being required TO maintain the full