Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-07
DECREASE AT EARLY DATE
Alleged That Reorganization Will
Begin Next Week.
INQUIRY BY KEEP COMMISSION
Results in Curtailment of the Print
ing-Labor-Saving Methods
Dismissals Necessary.

That there will be a ger eIal reduction in
the force of the government printing office
in all it's branches is said to be a certainty.
This proposed decrease in the working
force has been rendered necessary, it is said,
because of the looping off of many of the
so-called unnecessary departmental pubiica-
tions and the introduction into the office
OF numerous labor-saving devices 1t has
been apparent for some time for these rea-
sens that the force is too large and that
reduction would be necessary. The super
fuous men and women will, therefore, be
discharged in connection with the thorough
reorganization of the establishment which
Will soon take place.
1t is said the dsrnissals and reorganiza-
tion will begin next week, when the recently
appointed chief inspector, Mr.. Charles r.
Brown. will assume his duties. The appoint
ment of Mr.. III. f. Ashton of Chicago yes
terday as Mr.. Browns assistant, as ex-
clusively given in The Star. will be follow
ed. II is believed. by the selection of other
assistant inspectors. These officers VIII
carefully go over the office and examine
into the processes, methods and output OF
the several divisions and on their reports
the public printer viii take action.
Uneasiness Prevails.
The reports as to these reductions have
caused a spirit of unelsiness to pervade
the printing office because of the uncer-
tainty as to whose official head will be de-
capitated when the time comes. A friend OF
Mr. Charles a. Stillings, the public printer,
Informed a Star reporter today that many
EMPLOYEES who are regarded as unnecessary
will receive the fatal yellow envelope.
The Induisittons of the Keep commission
have resulted in the curtaiiment of much
of the printing which had heretofore been
done for the departments of the govern
mcnt. and stu further curt2Dment VIII
b. made II is said. The result of this cut
90, resy,t
noticeable for the past Jew months IN the
bindery and the folding rooms OF the gov
ernment printing Office and 1t IS beieVed
these dep1r tments will be hard hit when
the reduction of the force takes place. The
piece hands are even now unable 10 make
anywhere near their average OF pay owing
to the scarcity OF work.
Where Changes Arc to Be Made.
Radical changes are contemplated also in
the proofreading divisions and it is be-
llcved many compositors will have to go.
The recent orders issued by Public Printer
Sulllpgs. and exclusively published in The
Star. are expected 10 have an important
bearing on the coming upheavaL a gov
srnment official of standing gave il as his
opinion that the executive order signed by
President Roosevelt means just what it
says. and that any employe who solcits the
influence of senators or representatives, 10
bring about his or her reinstatement will
be placed on the black list, which may
pl event their employment in the future.
II is said that on occasions or general
discharges In the past former public print
ers have been beseiged by the influence OF
the discharged employees for many days
after the reduction was made, and that as
a result public business al the printery was
seriously impeded To stem this current
I'm advance" as the government official put
it. President Roosevelt issued the executive
order referred to. Copies of this were not
only posted in the several divisions OF the
printing Office, but each employe received
copy In his or her pay envelope Monday.
Duty of Inspectors.
1t was learned today that the recently ap
pointed inspectors of the government print
ing office will pay particular attention to
the present processes in the printery. some
of which have been In vogue. 1t is said, for
many years and are regarded obsolete.
IT will be Mr.. Stillings' purpose to make the
government printery as modern in its ma
chinery and methods the most advanced
and up-to-date private printing concerns In
New York. Boston, Chicago and other cities
A friend of the public printer, in talking
OF the matter this afternoon. said there is
no reason why the government printing
Office should not lead in the matter OF mod
ern typography, instead of being away be-
hind private establishments.
I'm the forthcoming reorganization. he
added, 1T VIII be the public printers aim
10 make the G.. Il. o. a model printery for
all the world TO follow. and in doing so L
know he viii be fully supported by both
Congress and the President.