The Washington herald., 1907-05-01
HUNDREDS OUT OF POSITIONS
Reduction Of Government Printing
Office Force Only Starter.
Six Hundred Fear for PIace-PubIiC
Congressional Action.

Public Printer Stnlings' wholesale dis
missal of 20i employees yesterday is ex-
pected to prove but the beginning of a
general reduction OF the Government
Printing Office stan. It was said yester-
day by one who has been in close touch
with the situation that at least coo en-
ployes would be served with yellow en-
velOpes before the dismissaIs ceased.
When it became known that 102 Journey
man bookbinders and 1O2 woman employees
had been dismissed yesterday, consterna-
ton reigned throughout the printery.
Although only the bindery division was
affected, the workers Of the other divisions
seem to feel convinced that the move
ment win not stop there, and they are
getting together every shred Of influence
thar might be brought 10 bear in crisis
TO save them their positions.
Mr. Stillings made the following state
ment after he had ordered the changes
yesterday:
The amendments TO the laws govern
ing the printing and binding Of govern
ment reports and Congressional docu-
ments enacted by the last Congress has
caused such a falling on OF work for the
employees Of the bindery division Of the
Government Printing Office that the Pub
lie Printer was to-day forced to make
his first reduction. by the dismissal Of
102 jOurneyman bookbinders. and I02 wom-
an employees, mostly sewers and gold
workers"
The Public Printer stated further that
the forced reduction of employees was
the most unpleasant duty he had had 10
perform since ne took charge of the Gov
eminent Printing Office; that it was a
duty he could net shirk. and that he had
delayed it just as long as IL was posi-
BILE for him to do so, making every effort
TO secure work TO keep these people busy.
Public Printer Sullings said the work
IN the bindery has been steadily decreaS-
ing in the past twelve months, and TO
postpone the dismissals he had instituted
brief furlOughs among the employees in
the bindery, hoping that the work would
ultimately increase by the natural growth
of government needs to such proportion
that the reduction of the force might be
avoided.
However, the work did not increase,
and hence the dismissals We're inevitable:
they were held off until warm weather.
which would mitigate much of the dis
tress of those whose services have been
dispensed with. which. had they occurred
in the winter months, would have made
Il much harder for them; another advan-
tageous point is that the leave OF absence
earned during the present fiscal year is
payable in cash to all OF these employees
and viii be of some immediate assistance
to them.
In postponing the reduction Of the
force of the bindery, the Public Printer
has ascertained by careful observation
the actual conditions; because OF the IN
settled conditions he delayed the appoint
ment of the foreman of binding until he
had been in Office long enough to know
the average conditions in the blndery and
not specific conditions at any one time.
The dismissals have been made after
very careful elaboration largely with
the view, so far as the woman employees
are concerned, of obviating the large gaps
in the earnings of piece workers because
OF the fact that there have been prac-
tically two people to one persons work
with the result that earnings were split
In halves.
TO adjust a situation like this is a
very difficult matter. as can be readily
perceived, and the Public Printer fesls
that the present solution is the fairest to
the government and TO the employees: not
withstanding that it brings a heartache to
those who have been dismissed. il abso-
lutely could not be avoided -