Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-28
CHANGES IN THE PRICES
Printing of the Census Gives Rise
to Discussion.
AWARDING OF THE CONTRACT
Provision Granting Authority to
Have Work Done Outside 6. p. o.
Bone Of Contention.


Representatives this afternoon when the
conference report on the census bill came
up. The House and Senate conferees were
at odds over a proposition to authorize
the printing of material for the next CEN
sus by a private contract when considered
necessary by the director Of the census.
The House had required the printing to
be done by the government printing office.
The Senate amended 1t so as to authorize
the letting of the work to outside firms
in case the printing office could not do 1t
as expeditiously as by private contract.
Mr.. Tawney moved to concur in the
Senate amendment He said that the di-
rector Of the census, after having esti-
mated the probable cost Of printing the
next census at 100000, had been con-
fronted with a fiat increase in the rate
for tabular matter of 80 per cent and an
increase of 20 per cent in other printing.
with this state of affairs is the
fact that the Cuban census printing,
which cannot be given to the government
printing office, is now being done at pri-
vate contract at a rate IS per cent less
than it would cost II done at government
printing Office rates.
Representative Tawney Explains.
Mr.. Tawney went on to explain that
the director Of the census Is helpless
in the face of this proposed increase in
the cost of the census work, because
the public printer fixes arbitrarily the
scale Of prices. The director of the
IL
mate would increase to nearer $1,000
600 than 100000. and that when an
increase in the scale Of rates amounting
to 80 per cent Is proposed the House
could see how much tho census printing
would probably cost.
Mr.. Hepburn of Iowa asked if the IN
creased cost Is occasioned by the fact
that the government printing office is
run as a labor union establishment.
Mr.. Tawney automatically replied
that he did not know whether the Of
hce was run as q labor union establish
in the government printing Office which
undertake to arbitrarily fix the rates
of compensation to be paid for service
rendered the government. Mr.. Taw
ger Of work giving out at the govern
ment printing office and no danger
of any man now working losing his en-
ployment. He said there ts no excuse
for any representative voting against
the Senate amendment because labor
organizations might be concerned, for
If the work were done outside by pri
vate printing firms organized labor will
still be employed and get share. while
the men in the government printing office
will have enough to do.
Mr.. Crumpacker Neutral.
Mr.. Crumpacker Of Indiana, who was
in charge of the conference report. said
the conferees had not discussed the
amendment. He himself wanted to be
perfectly neutral and have the House de-
termine the question. He said he had no
doubt that in the long run all of the
work for the census will be done In the
government printing Office. =,
Mr.. Dawson of Iowa suggested that one
reason for the changes In the scale of
prices at the government printing office
is the disturbed condition of affairs gen
orally and the frequent changes in the
head of the office.
Mr.. Lands of Indiana. who has had
long experience on the committee on
printing. then made an explanation. BY
this time the attention of the entire
House had been attracted to the discus
sion and members crowded the aisles and
leaned over the desks nearest to those in
the debate. Mr.. Lands contended that
in the matter. He said that the scale OF
prices at the printing office had changed
three times within eighteen months and
in that period there had been four public
printers.
Change in the Scale.
The old scale. which had prevailed for
fifteen years. was changed. Then last
June he was notified that a new public
printer intended to put into effect the
Philippines scale. He wired him to with
hold action until the secretary Of the
printing commission could see him, but
notwithstanding that the public printer
went ahead and put the new scale into
effect, SO that tabular matter which pre-
viously had cost $11 per page was in
creased to $16.
I'VE have now" said Mr.. Lands. Ger
tain changes in mind and certain regu-
lations to be enforced by which we hope
in the future to restrain the exercise by
the government printer of this arbitrary
power to change the scale and rates."
Mr.. Hull of Iowa said that If the Senate
will be taken away from the government
printing Office. Mr.. Hale of Virginia ad-
vocated giving the director of the census
privilege to make outside contracts.
Result of Rising Vote.
After further debate. participated in by
Mr.. Hitchcock Of Nebraska, Mr.. Dickson
of Indiana and Mr.. Dawson Of Iowa, con-
cluded by statement from Mr.. Tawney
a vote was demanded on the amendment
The motion was that the House should
recede from its disagreement to the SEN
ate amendment. On the rising vote there
were 7S ayes and 50 nays. The effect Of
this vote would be to agree to the Senate
proposition to authorize the director of
the census to have any part OF the census
printing done by private contract.
Those who were opposed to this propo-
sition were not satisfied and called for the
ayes and noes which were ordered.
August Belmont Recovering.
NEW YORK. January 2S.-The condi-
ton of August Belmont. the financier.