Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-08
PLANS AND ESTIMATES
FOR NEW BUREAU ENGRAVING
AND PRINTING BUILDING.

Following a hearing before the House
committee on public buildings and grounds
this morning on the subject of a new build
ing for the bureau Of engraving and print
ing the committee decided to report a bill
directing the Secretary of the Treasury to
prepare plans and estimates for such a new
building. Director Sullivan of the bureau
of engraving and printing told the commit
tee that it would not be enough merely to
make an extension to the present building
but that an entirely new structure was alb
solutely necessary. He called attention to
the letter of Secretary Of the Treasury
Shaw to Speaker Cannon, which was pub
lished in The Star yesterday, in which
the Secretary made the statement that no
worse sweatshop existed on the earth than
the factory in which the government manu-
featured Its money, Its bonds, it's internal
revenue and postage stamps. Mr.. Sullivan
estimated that new building for the bu-
reau. with adequate facilities, would cost
about 100000 He said that the old bu-
reau might well be used for the storage of
government papers and documents, as it
was absolutely fireproof. He further urged
the committee to take some action at the
present session Of Congress- in order that
at its next session the plans and estimates
might be submitted and an initial appro-
priation made for the purchase Of site
Mr.. Sullivan told the committee that he had
site in mind which, he thought, could be
secured at a reasonable figure. But he did
not care to state just where it was at this
time. as the real estate men in Washington
were very quick to take hint
View Of Details Of Conditions.
William D. Leissler; president of the
Plate Printers Union, presented to the
committee a letter, signed by George P.
Foster. r. I. Grace, j. c. Stats, ]. P
Murphy and George Thurber, comprising a
committee Of the Plate Printers Union, in
which the details of the conditions which,
in the opinion Of the union, demand the
erection of a new building are set forth at
considerable length.
I'VE realize" said Mr. Leissler, that at
this short session it would be exacting upon
your committee to invite you to a personal
observation of the conditions that exist but
l. want to say most emphatically that all
the statements made are true. The officials
of the bureau have done everything in
| their power to alleviate existing condi.
tons that the present space would permit
| and we appeal to You to give us this re.
lief at once.
Mr.. Leissler called the committees at.
| tention to the fact that the enormous
| growth of the output of the bureau has
necessitated the operation of night force
| and that at present upward of 500 EN-.
ployeS were on the night Shift Many OF
| these, he said, were young women who
| live in various parts of the city, and it was
only recently That policemen had been de.
tailed to protect them when they left the
bureau around midnight.
Mr.. I1eissler took up the subject Of the in
adequacy of the bureau by floors and gave
the committee excellent idea of condi-
tions For instance he mentioned that on
the third floor, which is occupied by the
plate printers. the printers and their as
sistants were huddled SO closely together
that it was impossible to prevent one en-
ploye from inhaling the breath of another
There were upwards Of 500 employees work.
ing on this floor and the printing presses
were SO close together that it was neces-
sary to exercise the greatest care at all
times IN order to prevent accident. He call
ed the especial attention of the committee
to the conditions the employees were sub
jected to on this floor and mentioned that
not only the enhaling of the breath of one
another, but the odor from the ink and
the burning of over TOO gas blower blazes
contributed to make conditions on this floor
very unhealthful.
President Feeney of the Bookbinders'
Union Endorsed Mr.. Leisslers statement
and presented to the committee q copy of a
resolution adopted by the Bookbinders'
Union, advocating a new building for the
bureau.
At the conclusion Of the hearing the COM
mittee went into executive session and
adopted the paragraph already referred to.
which will be carried IN an omnibus bin,
which will not include appropriations, but
which will deal with administrative details
in public building construction.