New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-05-23
u. s. PRINTING CUT DOWN
Reform Rules Issued by Joint Com
mittee of Congress.
IFrom The Tribune Rnr.nu.1


Washington. May 22-waste in the printing
OF public documents is at least 20 be checked
The Joint Committee on Printing has issued its
regulations in conformity with authority given
oy the joint resolution of Congress adopted a
Few weeks ago, and 1t is believed that they will
largely cure the evil OF excessive printing OF
public documents
undoubtedly reports will continue to be sent
OUT and distributed that are Of small value but
al least the accumulation of the copies that can
not De sent out at all viii be considerably re-
duced. The officials viii not be Obliged con-
stantly either TO hire barns in which to store
old books or else TO burn them or sell them for
JUNK The Printing Committee has reduced the
EDITIONS to the numbers which experience has
shown will fill the demand.
Some of the reductions are large. For instance.
the reports Of the Bureau Of Animal Industry are
reduced from $4,000 to $4,000 the report of the
Commissioner of Education from $4,000 TO 5000,
the report of the Commissioner of Labor from
$1,000 to 5000 the statistical abstract from 10000
to 5.O0O the Year Book Of Agriculture from
100000 TO 100000 while in the publication Of
the Congressional Record it is estimated there
VIII be saving Of at least 10000 volumes.
Assuming that the figures hxed by the Com
mlttee on Printing not exceeded by the de-
mainland past experience tends to show they
will not be-the number Of volumes published
by the government during the next year will
be reduced probably by 100000 or 100000 This
number Of volumes in three years would equal
in bulk though not in value, some OF the greatest
libraries, the accumulation Of centuries such
as the British Museum OF the National Library
in Paris.
Apart from the intolerable nuisance and folly
Of this unnecessary accumulation Of books, the
saving to the government viii be large. There
will be the saving in the cost OF composition the
paper. the binding and the wages OF the en-
ployes who handle the books. There will not
be much saving in the Postoflce Department, be-
cause many Of these superfuous books were not
sent out at all. The total saving to the govern
ment from this reform be fairly estimated
at not much short Of $500 a year.
Representative Perkins, Of New York, who is
a member of the joint committee, says that his
speech on the subject Of +he extravaganza in
printing three years ago was, he thinks, the
first time the attention Of the House had been
called to the unnecessary waste in this depart
ment, and he claims some slight credit for
the results The matter has, however, been
taken up by the members of the Joint Commit
tee on Printing. Senator German introduced a
resolution in the last Congress for an investiga-
ton. Mr.. Landis the chairman of the House
committee has given great attention to the
matter. Mr.. Howe and Mr. Ricketts,, the clerks
OF the Senate and House committees, have done
a large amount OF the work. Senators Plat
and EIkins and Mr.. Griggs were not on the
subcommittee which investigated the matter
all have been Jealous to bring about the desired
reform.