Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-18
TEXT OF SECRET ORDER
APPREHENsIoNAT GOVERNMENT
PRINTING OFFICE.
Rumored Dismissal CT Many of the
Workers-Disinclina ton to Obey
the Directions.

The so-called confidential order of the
public printer. which, 1t was explained. was
intended a preliminary to a necessary
reduction in the force of the government
printing office. was eagerly discussed yes
terday by printers. pressmen, bookbinders,
stereotypers, folders, and others constitut-
ing the army of workers in Uncle Sans
printery. When the purport of the order
became known there was more less
alarm among the employees who have for
some time been fearing a wholesale dis
charge. 1t is said. owing to the lack of
work at the establishment. They regarded
the fateful order sure forerunner of a
large reduction in the force.
Some of the women pieceworkers who
have been earning only few cents per
day in the bindery and folding departments.
owing to the absence of work, and es-
pecially the elderly ones. regarded the order
with awe, and wondered what it contained
in the way of information concerning the
rumored dismissal of many of the work.
ers. But those of the foremen and sub
foremen who had received the document
fidential." and consequently the contents
could not be divulged.
Text Of the Order.
Following is the text of the order, issued
over the signature of "Chas A. Stillings,
public printer"
"Foremen- and chiefs of divisions shall
Immediately inform the public printer in
writing. through the proper official chan
nelS, as to the number of employees of all
grades now under their direction whose
services can be dispensed with because of
inefficiency. i'll health.$ tuberculosis or lack
of work.
This matter requires immediate atten-
ton and must be worked out conscien-
tiously. carefully and correctly by every
officer affected by this special order. These
reports, bearing the Endorsements. recon-
mendations and opinions of the superior
officers. must all be received by the private
secretary not later than Saturday noon,
November II, 1905.
Officers in doubt in regard to the scope
of this special order, and as to how to pro-
coed, shall apply for instructions to their
immediate superior officers-i.e. foreman of
printing, acting foreman of binding, fore
man of press work, etc. 1t is suggested in
order that this matter may be taken up
with uniformity and to insure the records
of this office being kept absolutely clear.
that each officer shall first prepare a list
of the individuals whom he would recon-
mend for dismissal appending thereto
statement of each individual case upon
separate sheet of paper giving in full the
reasons why such employee should be sep
arated from the service.
LAS a guide to the analysis of the en-
ployes 1t is suggested that the following
points be considered carefully:
First. efficiency; second, character;
third. department.; fourth, health and
cleanliness; fifth. average attendance:
sixth. length of service: seventh, desir-
ability for the future; eighth, any special
defects or objections which are in marked
contrast to the average personnel OF the
force in the division.
The public printer will be enabled to
judge by these reports as to how far Of
ficials in charge Of divisions understand
the output and general character of the
individuals under them, and as to what
extent they can be relied upon as officers
for the exercise If good, sound business
Judgment, comm'.g; sense and fairness. If
the above points are carefully covered,
coupled with the ideas and suggestions
OF the officers making the report. 1t Is
believed that the necessary reliable in
formation can be secured upon which to
base action"