The Washington herald., 1906-11-21
PRINTING CRISIS NEAR
Resentment Grows and Per-
meates Department.
$4,000 A YEAR FOR SLEUTHS
Big Requisition for GumshOe Artists
Scattered Through StiIIinss' OMees,
While Actual Working Forces Are
Shaved-EmpIoyes Tell of BanefuI
Conditions and Indignities.

The last bond Of sympathy between
Public Printer Stillings and the men at
the Government Printing Office has part
ed. Employees who absolutely refused TO
talk of the existing conditions in that
department are now the first in the
movement 70 obtain reforms.
The immediate cause of this unex-
pected attitude of the friends Of Mr..
Sullings is the charges made by Private
Secretary Collins, mouthpiece of the Pub
lie Printer. that the employees of the Gov
eminent Printing Officeare unreliable.
The Public Printer refused to make a
statement yesterday. A trip through the
sullen spirit. What form the crisis will
take does not appear.
All of the employees told the same story
yesterday Of unbearable conditions. hard
ships. threats. and discharges because
they have at one time or the other, Of
Tended the friends Of the Public Printer
Has Perfect Detective System.
what are the duties of the inspection
division?" is a question asked by many
Investigation developed the fact that Fort
Stillings, as the Office is called, has one
of the most perfect working secret ser
vice systerss in the world. 1t is asserted
that detectives are scattered through
every branch of the department. and that
a man never knows whether he is talking
to d friend or a paid sleuth.
This system, il is claimed, Is costing
the United States government a large
amount.
Speaking Of the charges made by tho
Public Printer. that the trouble in the
Office could be traced to disgruntled men
Freeman L. Jorgerson, an employe, said
last night
1T is undoubtedly true that the en-
ployes OF the Office are dissatisfied, and
for the good reason that never in the
history OF the establishment have they
been subjected TO such indignities. W,
are told that We are loafers. that we dc
not pay our debts, that we are drunkards
unreliable, treacherous. and kickers. as
the general public will recall in connec-
ton with statements issued 10 the press
by the Public Printer and his editorial
force.
Many Driven from ORlce.
Men and women who have given ur
positions and homes TO take positions
with the government under the protec.
ton Of the Civil Service regulations. hav-
ing first prepared themselves for the
work by years Of labor and study. are dis
missed without warning or subjected &C
such indignities that they are compelled
to give up their positions
Dissatisfied. disgruntled, or whatever
name the Public Printer may choose "a
give it. the fact remains that after a
year in the Office the turmoil, chaos. and
disorganization increases.
The claim that he has reduced ex-
penses is not true. except III the sense
that the departments are not having "a
much printing done as previously, and
consequently the Office is not required L
spend as much for labor and materials
On teh other hand. the records. If ex-
amined. will show that ne has addeC
largely TO the cost Of the administrative
OF non-producing force. all dead charges
against the cost Of printing, that the book
binders. who are charged with the grave
crime of being shiftless, and the printers
booze grafters' and 'dead-beats,' must
work the harder TO make up.
SIeuths Cost $4,000 a Year.
"The inspection division. an innovation
by stiuings. the duties Of which are not
clearly defined, is now costing in the
neighborhood of $4,000! This immense
sum must be made up by the shiftless
printers and lazy employees, else the office
will stand charged with extravaganza in
the public printing.
Presumably, in order 10 save money
10 pay the salaries Of the inspectors. the
Public Printer recently closed. locked
and barred the doors on the II street
side of the old building. leaving only the
front entrance for go or 200 men. and
that in building old, dangerous. and in
1ammable ne was able to dispense witt
the services of two watchmen, net say
ing of 81 a day. Complaint was made tC
the authorities, and the doors were or
dered 10 be TeOpened.
Mr. Stnlings is just as insincere a;
he is arbitrary. One of the emplOye,
filed written charges against Superintend
ent of Buildings Collins, who is an uncl,
of Private Secretary Collins 1t will b,
recalled that the Public Printer saiC
some time ago that he had not received
any such papers. and that the charge:
had not been filed. A few weeks later tht
employe who made the complaint was
dismissed. and the grave offenses witt
which Supt. Collins was charged have moi
yet been investigated.
Want President to Act.
"One day last week he issued an order
that all the women employees should
remain in the building until the whistle
blew at 4:3O, taking away from them the
five minutes grace they have always beer
allowed so as TO get out before the heavy
rush. The result was almost panic OF
the first day. He was forced to modify
the order.
The surprise is that the President vii
close his ears to appeals Of the employees
and permit injustice to be done to sucl
large numbers Of good American citizens
The Public Printer gives them to under
stand that they must submit or get out
and while many are accepting the alter
native ad leaving the Office, many can
not do so on account of their wives an,
children"
Reprimanded for Ambition.
George F Avery, once employed in tn,
office, now in the employ of the Southern
Railway, yesterday declared that becaus
he was energetic and trying 20 push him
self to the front at the department. h
was treated in an unjust. unmanly man
ner, and subjected to public reprimand
This was occasiOned. he asserted, by tn
fact that. hearing that a man In a high
er position had resigned, he filed applica
tion for the vacancy with Mr.. Stillings
The proprietor Of one of the leadins
credit houses in Washington said yester
day afternoon that any person from tin