Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-19
MAY TAKE RADICAL STEPS
Efforts to Bring About a Satisfactory
Settlement.
COMMITTEE REACHES DECISION
Statements by the Public Printer
and By Member Of
the Union.

oers OF the bookbinders' union for bring
ing about a satisfactory settlement of the
difficulty that has arisen between book
binders In the government printing Office
and II. F. Ashton. acting foreman Of the
bindery. in regard to the amount of work
that should be required of the men each
day. A leading member of the union stated
to Star reporter yesterday that J. L.
Feeney. president of the organization had
addressed letter to Public Printer Charles
A. Stillings. informing him that decided
steps in support of their contention would
doubtless be taken by the members of the
union at meeting called for next Tuesday
evening.
1t was stated that the decision to take
further and more positive action had been
reached in view Of the failure of the eff
forts of the arbitration committee appoint
ed at meeting of the union last Wednes-
day. to bring the matter to a conclusion up
to yesterday and in view of the suspension
yesterday of Alvin j. Tanner a member of
the union employed In the bindery.
The schedule of work proposed by the
committee was handed yesterday to Mr..
Ashton, with the statement that the mat
ter was urgent. accompanied by the
quest for early consideration. The COM
mittee. 1t is stated, had hoped that the
proposal would. be acted upon soon after
II was presented. In taking the paper 1t
is stated. Mr.. Ashton informed the repre-
sentative of the committee that he would
consider the proposal
Later in the day the suspension Of A. j.
Tanner FOR cause was announced and
the decision of the committee to take fur
Their steps followed.
Mr.. Stillings' Statement.
Public Printer Stillings when seen last
night by reporter for The Star stated
that he had not up to that time received
any communication from the bookbnders'
union in regard to the protest against the
order of Acting Foreman Ashton for a
larger amount of daily work III fact Mr.
Stillings said, the matter had not been
brought to his attention in any way by
members of the union. Not having been
informed as to the nature Of the protest
he said he was not certain as to whether
1t was subject which would be open to
discussion between himself and members
of the union. He remarked that he ex-
pected all proper orders to be enforced
without fail, but added that. matter
OF course, the arrangements for work in
the bindery, as in other departments of
the printery. would be maintained on an
equitable basis. 81 -
= In regard to the suspension of Messrs.
Tanner and Fred ]. Schlick, the latter hav-
ing been temporarily relieved from duty
Friday. Mr.. Stillings explained that In both
cases the action had been taken for cause
The charges against them. he said. were
under investigation. The same procedure
was being followed in those cases as in pre-
ceding ones and they would be disposed Of,
he added according to the facts disclosed.
as in other instances.
No Desire to Dictate
In discussing the existing differences. the
union member referred to stated that the
organization was making no attempt at
arbitrary methods. He denied that the
booabinders desired to dictate to the gov
eminent as to the rules and regulations
under which they are employed. but de-
clared that the conditions under which they
are employed, but declared that they SIM
ply wish to reach an amicable understand
Ing on seasonable basis. He declared that
the bookbinders have been. working for the
past two weeks have been exceedingly IN
pleasant. The men, he remarked, were in
a painful state of uncertainty as to the re-
QuirementS OF the service and were appre-
hensive OF encountering trouble either with
their superiors in the office or with the
union.
He asserted that the condition was due
directly to the order Of Acting Foreman
Ashton. made about two weeks ago, for a
larger amount of daily work in the bind
cry. About that time. he said, Mr.. Ashton
went to each man and informed him that
the amount of work he was doing was not
satisfactory to the government. There
after. according to his statement, many OF
tho bookbinders hurried with their tasks,
turning out, In many instances, inferior
work Others. he said, were reluctant to
comply with the demand on the ground
that It was excessive and also because they
held II to be in violation Of the verbal
agreement said to have been made a long
time ago between the bookbinders and the
then foreman of the bindery concerning the
proper measure OF days work. This
alleged agreement, 1t was stated, had been
tacitly recognized until the recent order
OF Acting Foreman Ashton.
Time Slips Distributed.
At the time the order was promulgated,
the member referred to said. time slips
with one section marked time allowed
and another "time consumed were given
60 the men. The employees. he stated were
directed to fill out the second blank and
were informed that the figures intended for
the other section were on record in the
once. In one instance he added eight
days and five hours had been allowed for
tho completion OF 100 books, the time later
being extended to nine days.
II was explained that under the old
regime the completion of ten books in
working day of eight hours was required
In general, the amount varying according
to the grade of the work. The COMMITTEES,
It was stated. had drawn UP a graduated
schedule in the hope Of meeting the re-
Qurements of the service. This scale Of
work. II was asserted. provided for more
than was being required before the new
Oroer went into erect, Dut Toll DeiCW what
the members considered excessive For
hooks OF thin volume, II was pointed out,
eleven volumes per day were provided, and
for books of unusual thickness the stipula-
tIon for nine per day. 1t was stated
that taking the work as It came there
would be many more volumes in the larger
figure than in the smaller. This it was
pointed out. would mean considerable in
crease over the former scale.
Emphasis was placed upon the contention
that the character of the work requires
that the men be not pushed with their
TASKS. 1t was stated that II the scale Is
Increased beyond that proposed by the COM
mit,ee the grade of the binding will un-
doubtedly suffer
To Promote Good Will.
The union, It was asserted, desires to
have its members meet fairly all reasona-
BILE demands of the Office regarding the
Amsunt of work to be done, and the or
Eanization hopes to promote hearty good
win and accord on all sides. But It was
asserted that the members wished to be
consulted in matters OF such vital concern
to themselves.
Heretofore the Representatives OF the
union have confined their communications
the subject to Acting Foreman Ashiou