The Washington times., 1907-07-28
STAMP PRINTERS
NEAR SHAKE-UP 4?
MACHINES COMING
Arrangements Are Being
Made to Install Steam
AppaI atuS
Men Face Loss of Jobs
or Overtime.

Loss of money or loss Of jobs con-
fronts plate printers at the Bureau Of
Engraving and Printing.
is there to be a shake-up in view of
the impending installation of steam ma
chinery which will do the work of the
hand plate printers in the tobacco and
revenue stamp division?
This is the question whici is now
agitating numerous employees of the
bureau since the rumor became current
that II was the intention of the depart
ment TO take advantage Of the law
passed by the last Congress authorizing
the installation of steam machinery.
Those familiar with the situation state
that 1t IS possible for a large number OF
hand plate printers 70 be laid Oft when
the steam machinery is installed as
there will be no further need OF their
services. This OF course is bound to
prove disconcerting to a number Of these
employees until the full plans OF the Bu-
reau and the Treasury Department offi-
Cials are announced.
The officials themselves are reticent
when speaking Of the matter, although
making no denial that the new system is
soon TO be installed.
Arranging to Install Machines.
The Times is in position to state that
arrangements are now being made for
the erection of the steam machines
within a very snort time, in accordance
with the act passed during the last ses-
sion Of Congress repeating the act of
lSSs, which prescribed that this work
should only be done by hand.
An official IN discussing the matter
last night said: THE plans are not
perfected yet, and it is impossible for
me to discuss the matter definitely at
this time The idea that there will be
any great reduction IN force, however.
is erroneous, as at the most II will mean
but the doing away with a great deal
Of overtime which IL has been necessary
for the printers TO put in under the old
hand method.
The installation Of the steam ma
chimes will about counterbalance the
overtime heretofore necessary, and the
force can remain practically the same.
You may say that there will be no
wholesale reduction, and there is no oc-
casion for uneasiness along this score"
Over Hundred in Stamp Division.
Steam machinery cannot be employed
IN the making of currency itself, this
hSAAB pAbAlullDu INV ne great
scope Of the work done in the revenue
and tobacco stamp divisions, however.
is not appreciated by the public gener-
ally. Considerably over a hundred ex-
pert plate printers are employed on the
stamp work alone, and it is possible for
the proposed change 10 bring about one
OF the biggest shake-ups known IN any
OF tho Government departments.
That the men AZ hest mill 1oel
siderable overtime which they have
heretofore made, is evident. The an
nouncement Of the plans OF the bureau.
which 1: IS understood will be forth
coming IN the ncIr future, will there
fore be awaited with considerable in
terest. 1t is understood that the ex-
pected changes will be made within the
next six weeks.
Cortelyou Making Changes.
1t is rumored that this matter was
gone into after Secretary Cortelyou's 5
recent inspection Of the big engraving
plant Immediately following which he
designated it as the greatest sweat
shop in existence. 1t is regarded as
highly probable that the installation OF
the steam machinery is but the begin
ming Of number Of improvements
which the Secretary will ask to have
authorized by Congress.
The move is an innovation for the
Government so far as the manufacture
OF its millions of revenue stamps are
concerned, and one Of the most I'M
portant changes in the history Of the
bureau.
Just what change it will make i'm the
staff of the plate printers engaged
there ans 70 what extent the force will
be reduced, or the earnings Of the en-
ployes curtailed. cannot be estimated
until the full plans are announced.