Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-22
REFORM IN PRINTING OFFICE
President Issues Order That Will Do Away
VITA Auoh Unnecessary Expense.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS TO Be EDITED
Statistical Matter shall ne Published
in Condensed and InteuIEibIe
Form and Only Necessary
illustrations Printed.

Illustrations Printed.
WASHINGTON. Jan. ITO do away with
printing originating in the de-
partments and TO improve the form Of the
annual reports and other department docu-
ments. the president has issued the follow
ing instructions applicable to all the ex-
ecutive departments:
There shall be appointed by the head OF
each Of the executive Departments ad-
visory committee on the subject Of printing
and publication. The chairman shai be an
assistant secretary or other qualified on
mittee shall have had practical experience
in editing and printing
~ shall be the duty OF such committee,
under direction Of the head Of the depart
ment, to see that unnecessary matter is eX-
cluued from reports and publications; 70 see
that copy Is carefully edited before and not
after going TO the printing office. TO DO
away with the publication OF unnecessary
tables and TO require that statistical mat
liE1ble form; TO supervise the preparation OF
blank forms: 10 require the frequent re-
ton of printing 10y. different bureaus. 10 eN-
clude necessary Illustrations from depart
ment documents and TO prevent the printing
Of the maximum edition allowed by law
when a smaller edition will suffice. 10 rec
ommend to the head Of the department for
inclusion in the recommended tons contained
statutes governing department publications.
Forms of Annual Reports.
The president also has directed that the
following general principles shall hereafter
govern The form Of annual reports OF the
various bureaus and Offices OF the depart
mcnts:
else accounts OF work done and expendi-
lures incurred during the period covered.
turc. including plans for work to be under
taken.
2 Contributions to knowledge in the form
Of scientific tTeatises shall not be Included
in annual reports.
8 Illustrations in annual reports shall be
excluded. except (a) maps and diagrams in
dispensabie TO the understanding Of the
text, tbb views Of monuments Of important
structures. (c) views showing conditions in
outlying possessions OF tfe Chteo SLates
and relating to work done or recommenda-
tons made.
l. Inserted matter written OF compiled by
persons not connected with the reporting
Office and biographical and eulogistic mat
ter relating to the past or the present per
sonnel Of the office. shall he excluded.
;. Reports of officers who do not report
directly 10 the head Of an executive de-
partment shall not be printed in the annual
sary shall be summarized in the reports Of
the officials 10 whom such officers do re-
port.
81 Tables shall be inserted only when
verbal summaries and statements Of totals
are Inadequate. and complete text Of laws
and court decisions shall. except in cases
Of great Importance. be excluded.
:. Detailed descriptions and lists Of
methods. processes, purchases, bids, rejec-
tions. installations. repairs, specifications
and personnel employed shan be omitted
except when required by their unusual i'm
portance or by statute.
General Committee on Book-MnkiRg.
The president also announced that he viii
appoint a general committee on book
making. advisory TO all the departments. TO
consist Of the librarian Of congress as chair
man. the public printer a representative
Of the department doing the largest amount
Of printing and two printers not in the pub
lie service. OF large experience in making
good books. who are TO serve without COM
pensation other than their travelling eN-
penses. This committee is to be appointed
TO promote the economy, utility, sppro-
rriateness beauty. durability and so FAR
as practicable, the uniformity of the gov
eminent publication This committee is
not to deal with the contents Of publica-
tons but solely with their forms size.
style, paper type. makeup and binding.
This action Of the president is the resul;
Of report made TO him on the public
printing by the committee on department
methods popularity known as the Keer
committee, which has been investigating
the subject by his direction. This report
/ was made public today.
Cost-Reeping system.
! Various recommendations in this report
relating 70 the government printing also
have been approved by the president and
will be made the subject OF a commuuics-
I ton from him to the public printer. Among
/ the administrative changes in the printing
/ Office recommended by the committee are
the following:
The installation Of a cost-keeping systeu
: in the government printing once, and tbs
4 employment Of expert assistance in install
ing such a system: the keeping Of Ell
/ cheney records 10 weed out incompetent
! persons: the adjustment Of compensation,
that watchmen. fremen. elevator conduct
. ors. lab0rers and other miscellaneous EN-
ploves shall be PAL compensa tons not ex
/ ceeding those paid by the executive de-
partments for the same work.
The public printers attention has beer
| called TO the statement that the nunbel
Of supervisory and unskilled employees il
| proportion TO the skilled artisan force hal
! largely increased in recent years and he Il
! directed 70 make careful investigation int,
( this subject. The report Of the committee
F., makes a number Of recomme ndations 70
changes IN the laws relating 20 the printing
| Office and 10 public printing generally
These recommendations cannot be put int,
effect without action by congress. but the,
| will be available for the use Of the con
| gressional committee which has under con
| sideration changes in the laws relating 4
the public printing and binding.