Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-27
BUSY WITH EXTRAWOR
COMPOSITORS IN G.. p. o. MEET
ING PUBLIC NECESSITY.

The force in the composing divisions of
the government printing office is particu
iariy busy the extra work required by Con-
gress and the rush in some of the depart
ments having necessitated overtime upon
the part of the employees. 1t is expected
that on his return the public printer will
find some way to avoid the necessity for
employees working more than eight hours.
Those eonversant with the operations of
the plant say that while the regular night
forces produce more work by reason of
there being nothing to distract their atten-
ton, day workers required to put in ten
and twelve hours daily soon become flag
gei OUT lessening the regular day product
and running the difference in the cost of
the night work up to 30 or GO per cent
The recent executive order providing for
the appointment of an advisory committee
sin each of the departments to pass on and
control the editing of copy is said to be a
step In the direction of Capitalization of
copy preparations result which the gov
eminent printing office has long commended
for. Much benefit will accrue to the office
anc to the departments, it Is said, by the
appointment of these editorial STATS, and
bot only Will the work and responsibility
OF preparing copy be lessened at the print
ing office, but the elimination of unneces-
sary reprints and Implications will be facili-
tated 1t Is believed that uniformity of
style among the departments will follow.
If not the formation of distinct bureau
to have charge of all public printing
Different Rules of capitalization.
One feature of the public printing OBJ
jectionabe to technicalists has been the
observance OF different rules OF capitali-
cation and puctuatfon in some of the an
nual reports of the departments. The rea-
son assigned for this potpurri is that the
reports of some of the chiefs of divisions
and bureaus have been first published sep
arately, the author editor having a
style" peculiarly his own, the plates be-
ing finally embodied in the report of the
secretary of the department. The resulting
hcoi. grufty has largely been responsible for
criticisms of the technical abilities of the
employees of Uncle Sans big publishing
house.
One alleged expert, according to printing
office story, was given a proofsheet to re-
wise after 1t had passed through the regu-
lar departmental readers hands, and he re-
fused to go over it until corrected copy
was supplied, saying: Il don't know how
these marks will look until / see them
printed
stood to have been q disposition on the
part of most of the departments and Con-
gress to break away from the cd style uni
form bindings of government publications
The plain sheepSkin binding so common q
few years ago, has disappeared or the
monotony of Its coloring broken by the in
production of colored backings and other
tricks of the binders art. Cloth and can
vas bindings are much in vogue both by
reason Of durability and cheapness.
One OF the oldest unofficial attaches of the
big printery is Mr.. A. S. Trundle who for
twelve years has. served milk at lunch time
to the workers. Mr.. Trundle has a record
of not having missed a day In twelve years,
with the exception of few weeks, when
disabled by three broken ribs and at an
other time when quarantined by reas of
sickness at home.
Deaf Mutes as Printers.
The list of employees of the government
called, for the government institute at Ken |
speak with fair distinctness. The list in |
cludes Messrs. HI. 8. Ellington of Arkansas, |
Ferd H Harrison of Indiana, H Reed of |
Wisconsin, b. Champlain of Mich; gan, c. |
r. Shelton Of Tennessee. A. d. Hodges of |
Texas j. o. Amoss and J. E Ellegocd of |
Maryland and Guy Allen of Pennsylvania. |
These men are said TO be particularly ex- !,
pert In their respective trades and require |
but little instruction.
One of the advantages of machine COM |
position at the government printing office |
Is said to be the avoidance of a shortage of |
Book is being printed on the Lanstons in !
the fifth division.
Brief Mention.
acquisitions for general supplies from the |
different branches of the Office now pass
through the hands OF the chief clerk before
being delivered by the storekeeper. This
routine detail, besides placing the vertical
ton in the hands OF the head OF the pur-
a covering over one Of the North Capitol