The Washington herald., 1908-03-18

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Chairman Lands, of the House Com
mittee on Printing, yesterday made pub
lie the report Of George c. Havener,
chief the division OF printing in the De-
partment OF Commerce and Labor, on the
comparative cost Of the executive depart
ments printing al the Government Print
Ing Office.
Former Public Printer stiTings' reply
to the charges is also included in the
report.
Havener says new scales of charges put
in operation in the Government Printing
Office in nearly every instance are an ad-
vance over those in vogue in past years
As result of this advance there has
been an increase n the cost OF printing
TO each OF the several departments.
Tendency should Be TO Increase.
1T is my opinion" said Havener. "that
the cost of printing has increased. both
apparently and actually, within the past
few months without corresponding in
crease in the quality OF the product. not
withstanding that the tendency. owing
10 the increased use Srd efficiency OF type
setting and other mach.pery. should be to
/ decrease.
Havener states the most notable in
crease in the cost Of printing is in the
charge for composition.
Prior 10 November. 1907. when the new
rate went into effect" SAYS Havener,
there had been no revision OF the rate
charged for composition for at least
| twenty years. notwithstanding the fact
that many changes have taken place
in the Office during that time. such as
placing all compositors on a per diem
basis. instead OF a part Of them being
on piece basis, and the increase Of
the wage rate OF the composltors from
40 20 80 cents an hour. II would seem.
| therefore. that the rate charge for COM
position needed revision.
Charges Are Excessive.
IF the 70-cent rate was not excessive
on the 40-cent wage scale, II certainly
must have been too low on the 5O-cent
wage scale. 1t is my opinion that the
overhead charge OF 20 cents. or 20 per
cent, was not sufficient 10 cover con
! tributory and administrative charges But
at the same time it would seem that the
present overhead charge Of % cents. or
100 per cent plus % per cent. is excessive
and out Of all proportion to the wage
scale paid the producer"
Havener covers in detail the increased
charge for materials. binding. and other
services OF the Government Printing once.
He says machine composition. piece work.
and charge for materials have increased
through the overhead charges for admin
Iistrative purposes.
He says the rate charged the depart
ments for the purchase OF supplies through
the Government Printing Office has de-
creased through the fixing OF a maximum
rate for all purchases of more than $50.
BurdensOme Overhead Charges.
In conclusion. Havener says:
THAT there has been an increase in the
charges Of printing for the several execu-
| tive departments is demonstrated by fig
ures given in this report, and is admitted
! by the Public Printer. That there has also
been an increase in the actual cost Of
| public printing. due % burdensome over
head cost is apparent: and the fact that
/ a deficiency appropriation may not be
needed for the present year should be
| considered side by side with the addi-
tional fact that the general attitude or
the executive departments toward print
/ ing has changed in the past two years to
one of strict economy.
ITO determine the exact increase in the
cost ana TO what extent present over
head costs are excessive is a work of
magnitude and complexity. and would re-
Quire weeks OF the most searching IN
vestigation into the numerous details that
enter into the cost OF the product.
Such an investigation. If. in your opln-
ion, the occasion calls for Il. could best
be pursued by a commission composed Cf
practical printers. who should also be
| conversant with the theoretical end of
the business and familiar with the CON
ditiOns under which government printing
Is done -