Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-06
REDUCTION OF FORCE
One Hundred Printers Dismiss
ed From Government Office.
LACK OF WORK THE CAUSE
The Men Selected From First List of
Temporary Appointments.
REFORMS AND INNOVATIONS
Policy of the Public Printer Fore
shadowed-Plan of Reorganiza-
tion-Fire Hazards.
LACK OF WORK THE CAUSE
REFORMS AND INNOVATIONS

The dismissal of about one hundred print
ers employed at the government printing
office was ordered today by Mr.. Charles A.
Stillings, the public printer The fatal yell
low envelopes We're handed to the men this
afternoon, as the order goes into effect at
once. The typos dismissed are known as
temporaries, and We're taken on at different
times to facilitate the extra work entailed
by the session of Congress.
1t was stated that the reduction was
made necessary by lack of work although
Congress is still In session. 1t was also ex-
planned that there has been a marked in
crease in the amount of typesetting accom-
plished since Mr. Stillings assumed charge
of the Office, and this had resulted in clean
Ing UP pretty much everything in sight.
In making the dismissals today Mr.. Still
ings introduced a new rule. He selected
the first temporaries who were appointed
from August to January last, leaving the
last appointees to be dismissed later. Here
tofore the disnlissals have been promiscu-
Gus, it is said, without regard to the time
of the mems appointment.
Announcement was also made today that
the resignation of Mr. Patrick G. Byrne,
foreman of the bindery, has been accepted,
to take effect April IA. His successor will
not be appointed for some time after that
date, 1t is said,. for two reasons. The first
of these is that the public printer has de-
cided to go slow In the matter of making
appointments to offices of responsibility and
trust, il; order that he may look into the
proposed appointees antecedentS and learn
something of his capabiity and reliability.
The second reason Is the proposed thorough
reorganization of certain divisions of the
big printery.
Reorganization Plans.
In connection with the reorganization
plans a Star reporter learned this after
noon that Mr.. Stillings is contemplating
certain decided reforms and innovations in
the establishment, and that they will un-
doubtedly be carried into effect in the near
future. For instance, to 1.-The binding
and folding departments he proposes, it is
said, to establish endless chain system,
SO that book starting from the folding
department on the top floor win pass
through the successive stages of its manu-
facture, going down from floor to floor, be-
ing finally the finished product when it
reaches the finishing department on the
ground floor. That is, all folding will be
done in one division; all the gathering, col
lating, sewing, trimming and everything
embraced in the term forwarding in an
other, and thus on from the start of the
book or pamphlet to Its finish. This is said
to be according to the up-to-date CONNER
ciaI method of doing things.
In other words. as an official stated 1t,
! the printed sheets. fresh from the presses
or drying rooms, will start from one end
OF the endless chain and when they reach
the other end 1t will be in the form of
completed book ready for delivery.
From Old to New Building.
The plan of reorganization also proposes
getting all of the manufacturing out OF
| the old building into the new, and eventu-
| ally to have the old structure replaced by
| a modern building, to be used for the litho-
| graphing and engraving plants a recrea-
| tion room for the men employees. to be fitted
| up with billiard tables, reading and lunch
| rccms, ETC.: tea room for the women en-
ployes, with lunch tables and reading
rooms, also mail and express rooms
| branches of the post office and express
| cmpanies-where the product of the office
| can be mailed or expressed without the
necessity OF hauling 1t q long distance 10
| the main post office and express Offices
This viii, 1t is said. save the government
much money in the matter of cartage alone
The fire hazard OF the office has aIready
been removed, it Is claimed, and it Is pro-
posed TO install a system of fire-shutters
| and eliminate Jackson alley, which extends
between the old and the new buildings
| and utilize the space for other purposes
After the establishment of dining rooms
| in the basement for the men and women
| employees 1t is said Mr.. Stillings proposes
| to put to vote of the workers the ouestiou
whether they shall continue to have a half
| hour for lunch at noon and at night or
! whether the time for the meal shall be
! increased to three-quarters of an hour. the
| extra quarter of an hour TO be made up bv
beginning work at 7:45 o'clock m or
| working until 4:45 pm
Sanitary Conditions.
| Another important matter that is occu-
pying the attention of Mr.. Stillings Is rad
| ical improvements in the sanitary condi-
| tions of the big printing office consistent
| with business principles
The matter of employing horseless yeht-
| cles for the delivery department of the Of
| fee has been abandoned for the present II
| Is said, as the machines now in vogue are
| considered inexpedent. Also In view of the
establishment of the proposed branches of
| the post off1ce and express companies the
| principal hauis of the office will be reduced
| to about one-eighth of mile to the CapitoI
and railroad stations. In the meantime the
| office will have the benefits of any advance
ments that may be made in horseIess We
| hicles.
| The wagonmaster, too, will be constituted
a sort OF road inspector to see to 1t that
| the government Is getting the best service
out of It's teams.
While the reorganization plans are brew
| ing IL is said that Acting Assistant inspector
Moores is engaged In cleaning up the last
vestige OF the symposiums and other
| schemes of the get-rich-duick order that
have f!ourished In the office.
Former Assistant Superintendent Schaen
OF the foundry Is still acting as fun s,lner
intendent. and 1t was said today that a sue
cessor to Mr.. Elliott will not be finally se
lected until Mr.. Stillings has time to make
the selection of man who he believes viii
l HI the hill fullv = ',-->