The Washington herald., 1907-09-09
Some Facts About the G. 20.

Editor Tho Washington Herald:
The employees Of thu Government Print
ing Office generally are well qualified
and have been faithful servants. several
OF whom have been IN service ever since
the establishment of the Government
Printing Office. They have faithfully per-
formed their duties during the fleeing
incumbency Of different Public Printers,
and they have seen Qaite few Public
Printers come and go, while these en-
ployes have been retained. There are
about $500 people in the service Of the
Government Printing Office, and. OF
course, some black sheep amopg the
number. 1t is so in all the departments
Of the government, and also everywhere
else.
Since the introduction of labor-saving
machinery In the Government Printing
Office, and the curtailment Of millions
Of public documents by Congress. thus
reducing expenses In printing, there
seems to be a disposition to east OdiUm
on the employees in the big printery. The
rassertion that Mr.. Sullings superior
management has saved the government
more than 100000 annually is without
foundation, when it is known that type
setting machines, labor-saving machines
for the bindery and self-feedtng presses
were ordered and gradually taking the
place Of human hands before Mr., Still
lings' name was known to the public.
Mr.. Palmer had decided 10 introduce
modern machinery in the Government
Printing Office some time before he re-
signed.
When the Keep Commission investigat-
ed affairs in the Government Printing
Office, and found that Congress made
large appropriations for millions Of use
less public documents. the commission
recommended. that Congress cut out
all appropriations for unnecessary d0cu-
ments; thus more than $4,000 was saved
for the government Add 10 this sum the
money saved by reduction Of force on ac-
count OF labor saving machinery, amount
ing to more than S500o00 annually. and
the reader can observe how and why
the government has retrenched In the big
printery. Mr.. Stillrgs happened 70 be
Public Printer when Congress enacted
new regulations for the management Of
the Government Printing Office. and Con-
the Public Printer. at the same time
creating a large number OF lucrative Of
fees. A strange coincidence. these Tat
Offices were filled by persons Endorsed by
certain Congressman who We're active
in Increasing the salary Of the Public
Printer There are some people mean
enough 20 insinuate that Il was q cut
and dried" deal for graft Several Of
the selects" who received these plums
are known 90 have been professional nom
workers, who were always backed by
political influence. The new Offices in
the Government Printing Office possess
higt-sounding titles. but practical print
ers know that they are Of no more use
I'm the Government Printing ONCE than
the fifth wheel 20 a wagon.
The recent removal and Encouragement
Of several divisions IN the Government
Printing Office has rendered space so val
liable that Il is difficult for the workers to
move without humping against each other.
Between the task Of auditing work under
squeezing conditions. and mutual apoi-
ogics Of MIR" Smith and "Mr" Brown
for unintentional familiarity. IL IS not an
easy matter 70 become reconciled 20 the
new process Of economy. However. In
cold winter it would be commenda5le
economy 10 bunch the employees. mas
much as friction Of human bodies eEnits
warmth thus reducing the cost Of arti-
fetal heat But in the good old sum
mer time" these close quarters IN the
Government Printing Office suggest that
it Is a cheap imitation Of New England's
D. R. KENNER.