Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-25
WITH PAPERS
G. P. o. ELIMINATES DANGER OF
VIOLATION OF TRUST.

The government printing office handles
many confidential jobs during the year, but
with none of this class of work are the
safeguards so carefully planned as in the
printing of the examination papers for the
civil service commission The major part
Of this work is done at the Interior branch
Office, and the copy is so divided and ar
ranged that leaks are practically impos-
sfbIe Many attempts have been made In
the past to get advance information of the
questions, that the possessor might pass
an examination with high rating, or that
the questions might be sold to prospective
contestants a.
So carefully Is the commissions work
guardedthat employees of the Interior branch
printing office are required to pass special
examination should they wish to enter some
other branch of the government service.
The papers prepared for these contes-
tants by special clerks. and do not pass
through the regular channels. The branch
printing offices were created to do conf
Dental and rush work for the various de-
partmentS, and the patent office branch Is
occupied on matters relating particularly
to patent examinations The printing of
odds and ends of large department does
not make the showing possible in t main
office, but it is understood mat the efficiency
of the personnel and management of the
various branches Is up to the high standard
of the big prfntery
Gratuitous Distribution.
A plea for the gradual elimination of gra-
tuitoIs distribution of publications was
made In the last report of the editor for
the Department of Agriculture, the fact
Of $1,000 copies having been sold by the
superintendent of public documents and
nearly 10000 requests having been made
direct to the department being cited as
tending toward that end. The editor also
recommends the adoption of means for the
dissemination of information 20 the public
regarding the price and where the volumes
could be obtained. The keynote OF the gov
eminent printing Offices chief trouble IS
struck when the editor says regarding the
habit OF deferring alterations in the orig
inal text until the proofsheets are sent IN;
BY far the greater number OF such al
terations could be avoided by thoroughly
editing the manuscript before it goes to the
public printer 1t seems, however. very dit
ficult to change the habit complained of.
There has been decrease of nearly 1880
in the number of copies of each publlca-
ton by the Department of Agriculture
during the past year, as compared to the
average for the five preceding years, al
though the number of different volumes
issued has increased nearly 80 per cent All
publications by this department are for sale
by the superintendent of public documents,
many copies having been sold last year, be-
sides an enormous gratuitous distribution
by the issuing bureaus. The superinten-
dent of public documents Is not authorized
to advertise the publications for sale, and
the result is more or less confusion In the
public mind as to the proper place to apply
for the books and bulletins issued by the
government. Very recently well-known
writer advocated the establishment of
bureau to handle all sales, apparently not
being acquainted with the purposes of the
document office, for all surplus volumes of
i go. Istrn or
required by law TO be sent to the superin-
tendent for sale. All requests for avail
able publications sent to the document
office are filled, the office sending to the is
suing bureau If copies are not In stock
Night Bill Force Busy.
The night bill force is one the busiest
divisions of the ~Ig printery at present, and
the work is of such nature that the cost is
infinitesimal compared with the ordinary
operations of the office. Every new bill of
eight pages or over is held long as pos
sible to enable its being picked up when
the committee to which ii is referred re-
ports 1t back to the branch of Congress
In which 1t was introduced. All engrossed
bills are held pending the action OF the
other House, and then printed with the
simple addition of a few lines to indicate
its committee assignment and the date.
Frequently five or six men Will in an hour
send to press millions OF ems of type. The
bill force this winter consists of but 200
men, but they set type for eight hours
and sometimes longer, all distribution be-
Ing done by the day division. This equals
the production OF at least go printers work
ing under usual conditions.
The foundry is being rushed with work
at present. and the employees are
..up to their eyes as one of them ex-
pressed it. TO keep up with the demand.
During the dull season Of the summer EN-
ployes of this division are occupied In max
ing a large supply of leads, slugs and fur
1iture and in getting everything in readt-
ness for the winter rush. Tons of metal are
used In the manufacture of the various
shaped metal furniture used by the makers
up and imposers, and during the busy sea-
son 1t is not infreuuent for the printing d.
vision to send up orders for thousands OF
lures many attachments for the machines