The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1907-02-07
OLD WORLD PUBLIC PRINTING.
Portugal's Plant is the Best in Europe
and Makes Money.

Portugal's Plant is the Best in Europe
and Makes Money.
Charles w. Paffiow. a proofreader
in the Government Printing Office in
Washington. has been travelling with
his eyes open, and makes this report
o. what he saw in public print-shops
abroad:
1.-THE English Government is slow
in making changes, the public printer
letting its work out to private con-
tractors, Eyre & Spottiswood being
the principal ones. In 1905 the print
ing done for the English Government
cost over four million dollars. The
British colonies have their own print
ing plants and do their own work,
Canada having given up the contract
system in 1889. The Canadian Office
favors unionism outright, stipulating
that no workman can enter unle; he
is member of the union of his trade.
Australia also has it's own plant.
France has been doing it's own
printing since 1858, and is said to
possess 1900 different faces of type.
The French claim their establishment
is the best equipped in the world. 1t
is said that as Pope Plus VII. visited
it hundred years ago, each of the
$50 presses in the French printing
office printed the pater-noster in a
different language. Altogether there
were used on this occasion seventy
five European, forty-eight Asiatic and
twelve African languages. The
French establishment employs about
1900 compositors and it's expenses
for the year 1908 amounted to seven
and half million francs.
''The printing Office of Germany
employs 1900 persons and has been
running since 1871. The employees
serve under civil service rules similar
to those in the United States. After
ten years of service the employees re-
ceive, If invaded, regular pension.
In 1904 6,450,000 marks was appro-
priated for running the German
plant, of which 2,225,0O0 was for
labor. 1t operates it's own type foun-
dry. turning out $4,000 pounds OF
type annually.
''The Government printing Office of
Austria was established in 1904,
burned in 1884, and a seven-story
structure erected in 1891 in it's place.
1t cost two million forms and en-
ploys 1900 persons. In general ap-
pearance it greatly resembles the
printing Office in Washington. The
employees of the Austrian Office are
also pensioned and receive sick bene-
fits the same as the Germans.
Russia has printing office in st.
Petersburg doing both Government
and private printing, employing about
500 people and running at an annual
expense Of $4,000 rubles. There
are also printing Offices in the prov
inces operated by the central Govern
ment.
ITO Portugal belongs the honor of
having the best equipped printing
office in Europe. It does all the Gov
eminent printing and also private
work, and not only pays it's working
expenses, but contributes large sum
to the National Treasury. After fif-
teen years of service its employees re-
ceive pension, if incapacitated for
labor, of one-half average pay, pro-
crossing annually with two per cent.
until after forty years of service,
when they claim full pay. The total
receipts for the year 1903 amounted
to 230, 100000 reis, and the expenses
to 100000 reis.
Switzerland has no printing plant,
but spends about $4,000 a year for
it's public printing. Italy, Spain, Bel
GUM, Denmark, Norway and Sweden
all let their printing out at private
contract"