Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-23
VERGE OF REBELLION
Watchmen at Government
Printing Office Have Grievance.
Mr.. STILLINGS CRITICISED
Charge That He Had Salaries of Vet
Grams Reduced.
MAY APPEAL TO CONGRESS
Member of the Force Talks of the
Methods Employed at the
Big Plant.


appeal to Congress at the coming session
for redress
Public Printer Stillings is being roundly
denounced by the watchmen when they are
able to get together for conference. He
is accused of securing by a policy of eva
sion the reduction of the salaries paid to
the watchmen below that paid to the low
est colored laborer in the yards.
The position of the watchmen is fully set
forth in interview with one of them
obtained by a Star reporter. He stated;
There have appeared In The Star recent
ly articles concerning the government
printing office. and telling how the print
ers, bookbinders. pressmen and the women
in the different divisions of the bindery
have been treated and made to suffer at the
hands of the present administration, but
not word has been said about the condi-
ton OF the watchmen at the big plant
works, or whatever the public printer
chooses to call 1t.
Former Soldiers and Sailors.
1.-The watch force is composed of old SOL
diers and sailors of the war of the rebel
lions, when, who. when their country was
darkened by the clouds of war left their
homes and families at the call of the
President for troops. Husband left wife
and children. son left father and mother
and was perhaps their onlyy support-!n de-
tense of the Union and to face hardships
and privations
Many young men left schools and co.
leSes and deprived themselves of the ad-
vantages of education and the advan-
tages of learning trades. all because their
country called and their services we're
needed at the front.
These are the men who saved the Union
and made the country what it Is today. and
these are the men who are being ill-treated
today by the policy of the present public
printer and his captain Of the watch.
Instances Cited.
Permit me to recite few plain facts.
1t has been the custom for years to have
the government printing office policed by
the old soldier, as one public printer said:
If there is an old soldier In the city l
don't want floor to go unprotected Fair
compensation was paid them for their serv-
Ices.
The salary of a Waterman was $50 per
day, with an increase Of 20 per cent for
night duty, including the hours between
pm. and am, with double pay for holi-
days. On this basis the salaries were as
follows: Day men, including holidays, 1887
per annum; for the men who went on duty
at o'clock pm, s92SOS per annum; for the
men who went on duty at II o'clock mid
night, $1,000. 40. The rates were fixed by
Congress under an act passed in March.
1917. Inc ~ per cent ALLOWANCE TOT night
work is still law, but the watchmen do
not receive it.
AT the last session of Congress the pub
lie printer. in making his estimates, cut
the watchmen to $720 per annum. making
a reduction for the day men of Silt per an
mum, the O'Clock shift of $262. OS per an
mum and the midnight shift of S2S4.i per
annum-a total reduction of 81. G97 36, and
that Is the amount that the watchmen will
lose this year by reason Of the reduction.
Discussed in Congress.
when this bill was up before the House
for consideration, Mr.. Mann of Illinois ask
ed the question: Does this increase or de-
crease the compensation Of these employees. |
or simply classify them?
Mr.. Bingham of Pennsylvania replied:
1T does not in any way increase or decrease
the compensation (See Congressional Rec
ord. December IA, 1906. page 1863, Fifty
ninth Congress. second SESSION.
This decrease. as it proved to be. was
recommended by Mr.. Stillings. Look the
question fairly in the face. Was 1t just to
these old veterans to have their salaries
thus reduced in view of high rents and high
prices for the necessaries Of life. with liv-
ing expenses as a whole fully 90 per cent
higher than ten years ago?
1T Is worthy of note In this connection
that Mr.. Stillngs succeeded in having his
own salary increased several hundred dol
lars per annum. while he himself has been
industriously making fat-salaried positions
for court favorites The watchmen, who
are expected to be on duty 385 days in
the year, are thus made to suffer that
the fat may grow fatter and the thrifty
the better enabled to feather their re-
spective nests. Is this right? Is 1t Just?
Is 1t humane?
Alleged Inconsistency.
"Mr Stillings has said that he was under
heavy bond-$10O, OO0-for the safety OF the
buildings. and he wanted good men in the
most important places. A responsibility
is thus placed on the men, but how about
the good compensation?
HE also said, God the mark. that
he respected the old soldiers: that he had
warm spot in his heart for them, be-
cause his father was a soldier. and he was
proud of 1t; and that the salaries of these
men should not be reduced.
THE cut in salaries is not all that tbs
watchmen have been subjected to that
adds to Their discomfort. They COM
PEELED to furnish uniforms. and compelled,
unless a vest Is worn, to keep the coat but
toned up. Through all the sultry days and |
nights this summer this rule has been
vigorously enforced. the men always being
compelled to report in full uniform.
1.-The men are forbidden to converse with
each other while on duty. except on mat
tiers of business, and these conversations
must be br eff possible.
Amy violation of these orders is punish
able for the first offenSe. by suspension
from duty for ten days: for the second
offense, suspension for thirty days. and
for the third offense dismissal for the
good of the service
Never since the eStahl. Shment of the gov
eminent printing Office have the watchmen
been subjected to such drastic rules. They
know their duty, as a rule and perform It
to the letter, which makes 1t hard to under |
stand why they are continually being har-
assed and nagged BY those in authority.
Expresses His Regrets.
after the reduction of the salaries had
taken place, the public printer through his
captain of the watch, notified the men that
he was very sorry the wages had been re-
duced; that 1t was no fault of his; that he
had been to the committee several
times to prevent it. and that at the next !
session of Congress he would try and have |
the matter remeded.
Does he think The men are a lot of I
knownothings? Did Congress single out !
these men from among all others for a re- !
in fhair uyatp raI,t naI 70