Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-11
TO DEVELOP A DEM AND
GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS
MIGHT BE SOLD.
An Advertising Suggestion-Interest
ing to the Layman-Notes OF
the Big Printery.

The suggestion has been made that the
government should advertise its publica-
tons The different branches have given
little attention to the distribution of the
multitudinous publications turned out al
the government printing office, and policy
of restriction has been observed rather than
a development of the public demand. Prac-
tically all government publications are free.
II is asserted that if gratuitous distribu-
ton was stopped and the volumes sold for
Is per cent more than the cost to print
the profits would make the big printery
paying institution.
II is said there are thousands OF govern
ment publications issued yearly that are
not only valuable TO scientists, but inter
esting to the 1aynan. Then, too, there has
been an inclination to make otherwise dry
reports interesting by well-written descrip-
tioLS of conditions, peoples and countries
The report of the Philippine commission,
for example. Is said to be a valuable addl-
ton to the history of the islands. the Vari-
Gus tribes, customs, intellectual develop
ment and social conditions being touched
on In connection with the different depart
ments of the insuiar government.
Quality CT Bindery Supplies.
The big printery is not purchasing large
quantities of hindery supplies a present,
the terms of the contract entered into once
a year enabling quantities to suit the needs
OF the office The officials having charge of
the deliveries are very particular as to the
quality of the supplies. Each shipment or
paper Is tested by several methods. and
newly installed machine automatically reg
isters the number of square feet IN sanp-
mcnts OF leather for the hindery.
The office is having run on the re-
port of the consulting engineers of the Pan
Gma canal, which makes a volume OF Az
pages There are thirty-tiye copies of
gilt-edged edition de luxe to be found III
an elaborate manner fer the membership
Of The board, in addition to the regular or
Ger. and as soon as that requisition was
filled 1900 copies were printed of the re-
port proper for lhe use of canal inVesfi-
gators.
Al a recent meeting of the Bookbinders
Union the following members Were nomi-
mated for the office of delegate to the con-
YeEtion of the International Brotherhood OF
BcokbinGers, to be held in this city next
June: DR. Daniel Macfariane ]. L. Feeney,
Peter |. Whitelaw, Joseph p. Van Overmeer,
Leonard Kukart, Bernard Speilbring W.
L. Hyde. II. G. Simonds, j. McManus ana
Charles McEnaney. Four delegates are 10
be selected at the election to be held the
second Tuesday In April.
The carpenter shop VIII soon start the
manufacture of a large number of stools
furnished with substantial casters for use
liz the bindery and folding room. The chalfS
supplied have frequently been used to hold
bundles of gathered or sewed books. 1t Is
said. and when pushed across the floor
with the load they were soon broken. One
man has been employed IN repairing these
chairs almost constantly heretofore.
The Handbook of Cuba, recently issued
for the bureau of American republics, is
SO i'll to be one of the most interesting vol
umes turned out at the big printery TOR
some time. Its author is the Cuban min
lister to the United States. The volume con-
teins much valuable information and the
illustrations are satisfactory.
Amount of Mail Handled.
The statement was made recently by
binding expert that the Office sent an aver
age of SEQ large volumes to the post office
daily for transmission under congressional
franks The elimination of practically oil
the reserve volumes Will make a reduction
OF many tons in the amount of mail han
died yearly by the postal authorities.
The government printing office chess team
In the departmental tourney now in prog
ress at the Washington Chess Club landed
i'll fourth place in nine-team contest at
the end OF the first round. The members
of the team say they are satisfied with
their showing. only one of the team having
had previous experience in tourney play
A visitors register has been installed IN
the reception room of the new building, the
first two weeks showing the cosmopolitan
Character of the parties conducted through
the plant at certain hours. Quite number
were from foreign countries, the OIlSrS De-
ing from nearly every state of the Uniol.
Several bookbinders of the blank division
are working on a reminding job for the IN
terror Department, tract books being sent
TO the Office in lots of twenty-five. 1t is
sale that the record books of the land OF .
fee are handled so frequently that con-
siderable repair work Is necessitated.
Will Come With Rush.
II is believed by some of the workers at
the printery that there Will be plenty to do
until the beginning of the new fiscal year.
1t Is alleged that most of the departments
have held back much printing as pos
Sfble, but that near the close of the year
& will come with rush.
The proposition to supply porcelain-lined
cups at the drinking fountains is consid-
cred proper innovation by many en-
ployes. Large numbers of workers have in
dividual glasses at their places of duty to
avoid using the tin cups now in use.
Mr.. A. A. Bundy, foreman of the carpen-
ter shop, is reported to be able to walk
with the aid of crutch, having made a
rapid recovery from q fall some time ago
which resulted in q broken knee cap and
badly lacera ted tendons.
Mr.. James Hughes. foreman of the ma
chine shop. and Mr.. Ellis Hughes of the
carpenters division have returned from
trip to their former home In New Jersey,
where they were called on account of the
death of relative.