Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-24
STRENUOSITYA At THE G. 20.
THE "RECoRD-BREAKING HOT
WEATHER HUSTLE IS NOW ON.
Mr.. Stillings Advocate of Eight-Hour
Law-False Economy to
Work Overtime.

The present strenuosity at the govern
ment printing Office was described by a
typo today as "record-breaking hot
weather hustle" In a statement issued by
1'ublic Printer Stulings it is stated that
for some time past it has been necessary
to work some of the divisions Of the print
cry overtime The government depart
ments are said to be pressing for
the completion of work on or before
Saturday, June 80, and in order to obviate
any unnecessary and unavoidable violation
of the eight-hour law, the public printer
will create intermediate and night forces
In order that the strict provisions Of the
law may be observed just as far as it is
possible.
Mr.. Stillings says he,is an earnest ad-
vocate of the eight-hour law and believes
1t is false economy to work the employees
overtime. He adds:
New systems being installed in the
office will enable the officials charged
with the management Of the various divi-
slons to better record their work and the
information at the public printers hands
will enable him to largely regulate the
demands made upon the office from de-
partments in such manner as to enable
the steady employment Of the three forces
day, intermediate and highland there
by obviate the necessity, except in very
rare cases, Of violating the eight-hour law.
Less of the Crush" Pressure.
1T is believed that when the depart
ments understand the conditions which it
is necessary for them to observe, in order
that the desired results can be obtained,
they will accommodate themselves as far
as possible, to those conditions, and there
by enable the administration Of his office
to be conducted with less Of the rush
pressure which it has had to meet in past
q
thing to cope with, and which is some
thing the public printer is powerless to
help, but which he has obviated in many
cases by foreseeing the probable pressure
upon him and arranged with departments
TO send copy in advance, or such portions
as could be started upon, and thereby keep
all hands busy"
1t is stated that the public printer is at
work on the problem of rush seasons and
periods of inactivity that fuctuate like
barometer, with the view of remedying the
conditions as far as he can.
The public printer has also issued as gen.
eral orders No. ., copies of the politics
and religion" rule of the civil service with
the amendment to the same of June 8, 1907,
for the information and guidance of the
employees OF the government printing office.
New Amendment.
The new amendment to the rule Is as fol-
lows:
Activity Of competitive employees forbid
den.-Persons who by the provisions of
these rules are in the classified service,
while retaining the right to vote as they
please and to express privately their opin-
Ions on all political subjects. shall take no
active part IN political management or in
political campaigns
1t is said that rather complicated condi-
ton Will exist at the government printing
Office after July /. The legislative, execu-
tive and judicial act approved February n
last, which becomes effective the first of
the month contains a provision fixing the
compensation of number of the employees.
Included in the number is the night watch
force, which is made up of veterans of the
civfl war and the war with Spain. Under
the provision of section 30 of the general
printing act it Is provided that the pay Of
all employees of the government printing Of
flee engaged on night work shall be 20 per
cent in addition to the amount paid for day
labor.
Law Is Unrepealed.
This law stands unrepealed, and the large
force of pressmen, composltors, proofread-
ers, &c, who work on the Congressional
Record will continue to receive the 20 per
cent additional during the next fiscal year.
but the watchmen have been singled out
from those who are to receive the addi-
tional compensation for night work A pro-
vision In the legislative bill fixes their SAL
aries as follows:
Captain, 81 200; two lieutenants, $500 each,
and sixty-four day and night watchmen,
$40 each. All other employees who work
nights are to receive the extra pay.
The night force of watchmen at the print
cry have always been paid additional COM
pensation for working on legal holidays,
but there is no provision for that after
July 1.
Public Printer Stillings says he is not re-
sponsible for the new scale of pay.