Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-18
GOOD PLACE TO WORK
PRINTRRY DIE
FERENr FROM OLD DAYS.

''The government printing Office now is a
different institution from what 1t was in
the old free and easy-going days. The big
workshop Is q clean and respectable place
in every way. and there is no reason why
any one should not be glad of his or her
employment here. It should be a matter
of pride to be connected with the printing
service of the United States. In a large
establishment there Is bound to be an &C.
easienal objectionai element but whenever
cases of this nature have been brought to
the attention Of the authorities they have
been disposed of with firm hand. The
employees drawn into the Office through the
civil service have been of high character,
both mentally and otherwise, and the sta
biifty of employment has added to this
desirable condition"
Mr.. Oscar J. Ricketts,, the acting public
printer, thus forcibly expressed himself
when his attention was drawn to the fact
that some of the employees did not desire
to have their connection with the office
known Some are said to have gone to
the extreme of announcing to their friends
and acquaintance that they are clerks
or are detailed" temporarily at Uncle
SANS big printery. Years ago the office
Is said to have suffered from the effects
Of more or less scandal, but In later years
the atmosphere has cleared perceptibly. At
present 1t is believed to be one of the most
desirable places In the government service
from the stand point of convenient and
healthful workrooms and the general per-
sonality of the employees.
During the spring and summer COM
mittees were appointed In many of the DIFF
ferent workrooms of the big printery to
investigate the subscription lists submitted
to the employees for contributions for the
relief of fellow workers and outside chari-
ties. 1t Is said that local charitable organ
izations have several times refused to as
sist families of deceased bookbinders and
printers, informing the applicants that "the
union will help you The lists of some of
the semi-charitable organizations are con-
sequently on a mental unfair list" par
tieuarly when the printed appeal does not
bear the imprint of the union label. The
practice of passing subscription lists had
grown to such magnitude that frequently
the more liberal contributed high as s.
a month, but since the lists under
close scrutiny, it is understood, their num-
Der has fallen off over 100 per cent.
Catalogue for Representatives
The superintendent of documents has in
press dictionary catalogue of all govern
ment publications printed during the Fifty
seventh Congress which is said to be an
eye-opener of the volume of the business
done at the big printery. The catalogue
is understood to be the finest and most
extensive reference work of the kind ever
printed, approximately 10000 entries being
recorded The corporate authors alone
number 421. The manner of classifying and
recording the various publications is APP
propriate to the technical matter handled,
and is largely the work of Miss Alice
Fichtenkam. chief cataloguer.
The elimination of the use of govern
ment printing Office telephones for the
transmission of private messages is under
stood to have resulted in reducing by over
100 the number of calls sent over the eight
trunk wires daily to the city exchange. To
accommodate such may have occasion
to send messages to the city the telephone
company has installed one telephone booth
in the old building and another in the
watchmens room on the second floor of
the new building. These will be available
at the lunch hour, morning and evening,
and in cases of emergency during working
hours at the discretion of the foremen of
the different divisions.
Visitor From Scotland.
Among the visitors to the Office recently
was Mr.. Thomas Nelson. prominent pub
Usher of Edinburg, Scotland, and for four
hours he piled his guide with interrcga-
lions as to the plant and It's operations. He
expressed great satisfaction with the gen
eraI condition of the great printery, say
ing that We have nothing that can COM
pare with this shop in Scotland, and 1
doubt if its equal can be found in the en-
tire printing world
1t is stated that the large amount of
printing which has been done for the In
terror Department this summer and fall
on water supply papers IS warranted Dy
the immensely of the irrigation project
undertaken by the government. 1t is the
object to print everything of value bearing
on the project, the claim being made that
only with thorough knowledge on the
subject can the work be carried to COM
pletion.
The G.. P 0. Glee Club recently resumed
it's noon-time concerts, to the satisfaction
of lovers of music in the new building. At
the last recital. which was attended by a
large number of the employees. the follow
ing songs were rendered The Soldiers
Farewell" "A Basket of Chestnuts'' and
"Po' Little Lamb"
1t has been the practice of the house
library to have the leading newspapers of
the country bound in the regular way, but
for the purposes of convenience and econ
omy the blank bindery sewing room is
filling order for blank stubs, the papers
TO be pasted in they are received