The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-02-16

William S. Rossiter. who is conduct
ing an investigation at the Government
Printing Once as the special commits
sioner of the President, transmitted a
report to the President yesterday rec
ommendng that the former scale Of
charges to the departments be restored
The change 70 date back TO the first
day of this month
The President promptly concuFred in
tthc recommendations embodied in the
report, which was al once made public.
The effect OF the report is 10 restore
the price scale in effect previous 10
November 4. 1907. which means a con-
siderable reduction in the cost of print
ing to the departments.
Will Afford Relief.
Beginning with the first day of this
month the departments viii be charged
nj the rate OF 50 cents per hour Tor
hand composition. instead Of Sl.20. Ma
chine composition will be paid for at
the rate of 80 cents per 1000 "ems. "
Instead of $50 per hour, and other
units required in charging the various
classes Of work are restored to the
scale that was in force prior to N0vem-
Der {. 1907.
The recommendations and their
prompt adoption by the President viii
serve to afford immediate relief TO the
departments to a large extent from
what is said 10 lave been excessive
printing bills lately rendered by the
Government Printing Onice.
Resulted in Unjust Charges.
The statement embracing the Rossit
er report as given out at the White
House last night. is as follows:
The President yesterday received z
report from Mr.. Rossiter. who is nov
engaged in investigating the affairs o.
the Government Printing Onice, recon-
mending a return 10 the charge scale
In use in the Printing Office prior tC
November 4. 1sE.
In support Of these recommendations
air. Rossiter states that in his opinion
the new cost accounting system now il
Separation was utilized prematurely foi
the purpose OF making up bills, result
ing in unjust charges, which natural!
caused irritation. He adds:
1T is the custom Of great manufac
during concerns which employ the mos
Progressive methods OF accounting [,
establish a deG4 tie sale CT prices, baseS
npon several years of observation. ant
at the same time to keep a daily recOrl
Of cost accounting in such detail as ma
be feasible, in order that they ma.
watch and study the changes which
I necessarily occur in the cost o. produc
ton.
Not Businesslike.
~ IF they perceive a material and per
s sting increase in cost which canno
Z be remedied by reforms and economic
In administration, it then becomes nee
essary for them 20 consider the re
adjustment OF the scale Of charges
sitter due notice, but in no casa witt
which I am familiar is the custome
compelled 10 pay Tor the Individual de
fects, Shortcomings, or mistakes o
.vorkmen engaged upon a particula
piece of work. This, however. is ex
actly what is being done at the presen
time in the Government Printing Office
and is one OF the principal causes o
abe excessive charges which are severe
~ criticised by the executive depart
1nents.
Not One-Pnced Office.
"The departments are entitled tn
Uniform scale, and To the as surahc,
that such scale VIII not be change'
for a DEFINITE period of time. in orde
that their estimate OF the appropriation
Required for printing, necessarily mad
many months in advance Of the date "a
which il becomes available. may b.
made with the certainty that there vii
be no violent changes. in cost 10 sub
seQlently enbarrass them. BY the p'al