The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-01
CENSUS PRINTING
STIRS UP BIG ROW
Members of Senate Commit
tee Get Protest Against
Letting Work Out.

A fine row is tn prospect over the plan
% take the printing OF the next census
away from the Government Printing Of
fee. It IS expected mat much will be
heard of it, when the bill comes up in
the Senate Immediately after the recess
Tn the Senate Committee ON Census
an amendment to the census bill as
1T came from the House was iucorpor.
Hted, which provides that tho printing
for the forthcoming census may be let
out TO private contract, If the director Of
the census decides the work can De done
more cheapIv than i'm the Government
Printing office This amendment has
wrought up the officials and employees
of the Government shop. who dislike the
prospect of over O. million dollars worth
ar work leaving this establishment and
going into the hands OF contractors It
lS pointed ont that If there is iustinca-
tiCn for this sort of legislation. then the
government Printing ONCE might better
be abolished.
Empl0ye Addresses Senators
The attention of Senators on the Cen
sUs Committee is being called to the
amendment, and the effect of it by a. let
fer that emauaUes from someone in the
Government Printing Office. This let
Ter is being mailed TO each member of
the Census Committee, and sets forth
The Idea that the amendment III il goes
into effect viii not only be au injustice
70 the Government shop, bat that it viii
900 20 the Government expenses.
This letter contains indirectly
hard rap az Director North. Of the
Census Bureau who SIS In favor of the
amendment and into whose hands the
amendment would put large authority
81
done.
Tn this letter 10 is asserted that the
amendment giving "A subordinate officer
az the Government the power TO con
tract with private parties for over 81
o1ol0 worth of work, when I'M his 0piu-
ION The printing and binding are not
done I'm a satisfactory manner, is
most unusual and far-rsaohing pTovi-
judgment, skill, and understanding of a
single individual, himself not "a printer
or binder that has never before been
eQualed.@
Printing Office Unequaled.
The letter then takes no the question
Of the capacity of tho Government
Printing Onice and says II is matchless
in its superior facilities for handling
work Of the character of census reports.
The quality Of the work done at the
Government Printing office is highly
commended
IT appears the Senate committee adopt
cd the amendment because the Gov
eminent shop was far behind the Sehed-
Hied time set for publication Of a for
mer census. TT was also represented
mat the estimates for such work sub
United bE the Public Printer were in
excess OF the estimates of private con-
Germs IL is understood that the COM
mlttee was about equally divided, SEN
ators Hale. Bailey McCumber, and Tai
Emery, Hopkins, and Ls5 Toilette opp0s-
Iug ill.,
Senator lIcCumber when asked why
lae Government Printing Office could
Dc uHderbld hT private concerns said
He understood the length of the work
ms day and the fact that il was pos
Slole 10 set more work ont of the em-
piOyes for the same salaries iu Uri-ae
Offices had much 10 do with IT,
An important phase of the matter is
that ~ II appears 10 the satisfaction of
The Senate that the Government Print
'ug ONCE Is unable To- compete with urf-
Fatc concerns ON "a job of This magui-
iule am inquiry may be set aL1OL TO see
establishment. IL is deemed unlikely.
however. that tl-a. proposed amendment
NII run the EaUur ~ both houses The
census bin has passed the House. but
Il VIII 80 back 10 that body when IT,
comes 10 the question on tle adoption
OF the conference report
AT that time. even 81 they do not in
the Senate the friends of the Govern
meuL Printing Office are certain TO
-alse objections 30 the plan ind0Tsed by
tlc Senate Committee