The Washington herald., 1908-02-15

With the startling but not unexpected
statement that through the impossibility
of having printing and binding done out
side Of the Government Printing ONCE, it
now faces a deficit for the fiscal year
of many thousands of dollars, the Civil
Service Commission of the United States
yesterday sent to Congress the most
scathing arraignment of the Sullings re-
gime that has yet been made public.
The commission places the deficit which
amounts to sS7O349 squarely up to the
increased cost OF printing and binding
done at the Government Printing ONCE,
and states that this increase in cost is from
30 to 50 per cent over the cost in prior
years.
Not only are these statements made by
the commission, but the report also shows
that could the commission have been per-
mitted to take work 10 firms other than
the Government Printing Office. it could
have saved from S5 to 70 per cent on the
cost of its printing and binding
Has Embarrassed Ohice.
Not only does the commission severely
arraign the Government Printing Office
without mentioning Sullings. but without
question meaning his administration, for
only last years work is referred 10, but
It states plainly that such a drain. un-
warranted As it seems 10 be, is seriously
embarrassing the whole civil service
machinery.
The statement is transmitted through
Secretary Corteiyou. who, in accordance
with his wen-known custom. refrains
from comment other than admitting that
it is d statement. 1t begins with stating
that the amount which viii be required
during the five months remaining in the
present fiscal year-which ends June 30
is S170S.0S, and states that this means
that there is a deficit of about SS7024s.
Going on, the statement reads: The
cost Of printing and binding during the
present fiscal year has increased from be
tween 25 and - per cent over the cost Of
similar work done in prior years
In discussing this deficit the fact must
be taken into consideration that when the
estimate of $995oO WAS submitted it was
upon the cost of work done up 10 that
time II was not possible for the COM
mission 10 know that certain methods OF
audit adopted in the Government Print
ing Office would produce such an enor-
nous increase in the cost Of printing and
binding, but The records show that such
s. the case, and the commission is con
fronted with condition which demands
that the matter should be presented to
Congress.
To what 1t Is Due.
That there viii be a deficit Is not due
at all TO any extravaganza on the part Of
this office, but as stated, it has been
brought about by circumstances over
which the commission had no control q"
After reciting what printing the COM
mission must have done, the statement
continues: The printing appropriation
therefore. is absolutely essential 10 enable
the Civil Service Commission to perform
the duties imposed upon it by law, and
II is proper that Congress should under
stand the conditions which now exist and
which are now seriously embarrassing
this office in its work.
Notwithstanding the fact that the cost
of similar work In private establishments
is from s. To- 70 per cent cheaper, yet the
law. Statutes, volume 2S section 81, page
To-. requires that the printing and binding
for the government offices shall be done
al the Government Printing ONCE. The
various departments and Offices, there
fore. are unable TO control the appropria-
tion. If the several departments could
have the printing done by any private
establishment they could then entirely
control the cost Of the work, because bids
would be secured. contracts awarded, and
the departments would pay no more than
the prices at which the contract had been
awarded"
Has Been shown.
This statement by the Civil Service
Commission is in keeping with what has
been printed in The Washington Herald
from time 20 time about the increased
cost Of printing in the Government Print
ing Office It was shown in The Wash
ington Herald that while Stillings claimed
10 have reduced expenses and otherwise
pleased the departments and others who
had work done by him, he had really in
creased the cost of operation of the Gov
eminent Printing Office. and at the same