The Washington times., 1906-05-22
CHANGES DESIRED
At BIG PR|NTERY
New Methods Suggested by
the Senate Cc1amittee.
QUESTION OF CONTRACTS
Important Recommendations Expected
in Rep1rt on Sundry Appro-
pSiation Bill.
QUESTION OF CONTRACTS

When the sundry civil appropriation
bin is passed on by the Senate Commit
tee on Appropriations there will be some
ideas Of administration recommended to
be inaugurated in the Government Print
ing Office. The nature OF these ideas is
not definitely known. Senator Teller has
indicated that the committee would
have some suggestions TO make through
Congress TO Public Printer Stillings that
may not be entirely TO the latter's liking.
and which may not be in strict accord
ance with general orders now governing
the big printery.
The agitation over the printing Of the
Patent Office Gazette is said 70 have
brought about the contemplated action
on the Senate's part dr. Stillings was
adverse TO the idea of having the work
done by outside shops. He made a de-
teTInined fight to have Il retained under
his supervision and in some respects
won his battle. The Appropriations
Committee has already heard Mr.. Still
ing5s. Secretary Hitchcock of the Interior
Department. and Commissioner Allen of
the General Land Office on the subject
of having the work done by the Govern
ment or by private concerns. 1t has al
ready concluded that the Government
could do it cheaper. though the Secre-
IdTN ana Mr.. allen inQlcateQ a desire TO
let IL by contract.
Not Following the House.
In passing the legislative. executive.
and judicial appropriation bill the House
inserted n clause authorizing the Secre-
tary of tho Int erior 10 advertise for bids
upon the work of printing the Gazette
The move had been made when Mr.
StillinSs came to the front with a propo-
sition TO submit a bid on behalf of the
Government Such a scheme did not go
well with the Senate Committee. and
Mr.. Hitchcock was called in 10 explain
He began by saying that the action was
taken on the supposFtion that the pro-
vision 10 advertise for bids was attached
TO the bill as It passed the House. Sen
ator Teller promptly advised the Secre-
tary that the Senate did not always pass
everything that the Hu1se did. Follow
ing Mr.. Teller's suggestion, advertising
for bids was suspended
In discussing the matter Mr. Teller
said:
This IS an old fight, as TO what the
Pr Bile Printer should do and what he
should not do. 1t has been going on
nearly thirty years. It Is a decided
fight by the printers OF the country
against the Government printing any
thing at all. When l was Secretary of
Interior 1 had all this trouble, 1 know,
about the printing Of the Patent Office,
more than about any other thing. I felt
that these people who have been making
the fight against the office can do il
cheaper, but there are some reasons.
such as dispatch. why the Government
could DO II better.
Printers Fighting thetG. P. o.
There IS a great temptation among a
class Of people, simply 10 create public
opinion against the Government Print
ing Office. to put in very low bids that
they would not think of putting In II
they knew they would be bound by
them There has been a determined
fight going on Jy the printers and the
establishments not only in this city, but
in New York, Philadelphia. and all over
the country, to get rid of the Govern
neat Printing Ofice-"
Mr.. Teller indicated an inclination TO
go deeper into the subject OF Government