Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-08
MOTOR POWER IN VIEW
PUBLIC PRINTER EXPECTS TO
USE ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

The day of the horse and delivery wagon
at the government printing office is nearly
at an end, and in the very near future they
VIII be supplanted by the more modern
electric motor vehicle. This can be stated
on the very best authority-Public Printer
Charles A. Stillings himself. He believes
the motor vehicles will be in the best in
terest of the government and gives facts
and figures on which he>bases his belief.
When Mr.. Stllings assumed the office
chief of the greatest printery in the world
he announced his intention of conducting
the vast esta blishment on not only the most
economical basis, but along modern lines
with view to- expedition and excellence.
In order to carry out his expressed deter
mination he is carefully scrutinzing every
branch of the office and all the details of
the work with the intention OF introducing
changes wherever he deems they may be
necessary In the best interests of the gov
eminent.
He stated today that the present 1000
pounds capacity wagon in use at the gov
eminent printing Office requires the serv-
ices OF two men and many animals,
which makes 1t an expensive conveyance.
This type of wagon may be Supplan4ed
by S,ooopound motor wagon, and this
vehicle can be increased 80 per cent with
out much extra expense. The motors can
be charged with electricity at the govern
ment printing plant, which he claims Will
that of vehicles used by firms and cor
porations
Another expensive annex to the office
which will be done away with by the en-
ployment of motor wagons, Mr.. St1ll1ngs
says, is combined in the stables. He also
said that by using electric vehicles of in
creased capacity 1t will reduce the wagon
capacity practically so per cent, even with
the increased number of trips that can be
made by the electric vehicles.
Reducing Labor
Mr.. Stllings hopes to reduce the present
labor service now entailed by requiring the
men with the printing office wagons not
only to unload the printed product at the
several departments but to carry the pack
ages to places of storage, often up several
flights of stairs. He hopes to eliminate this
tax upon the government printing once
drivers and wagon tenders after conference
with the heads of the several departments
Mr.. Stillings will, before attempting to In
stall the electric motor freight Vehlcles'
consult with Controller Tracewell. II the
present law will permit their Introduction
in lieu of the horse and wagon service, he
will go ahead and Install them. Should the
law prove to be against such introduction
he will go TO Congress for relief.
In this connection he has In view the re-
cent decision of Controller Tracewell
against the use of motor vehicle instead
of a carriage by District Assessor Oar
nellie.
Asked whether there was any truth in the
report that he intended to Introduce time
clocks in the government printing office,
Mr.. Stiflings said he had not arrived at any
conclusion vet in that matter
IF however" he said, II find they will
be necessary in the interest of the gov
eminent and to make all employees give
full eight-hour day for eight hours pay
they will be introduced in the government
printing Office