The Washington herald., 1909-03-21

WILLIAM l.. AGSEW,
Chief Platoman.
William L. Agnew was born in San
Francisco. Cal, and was graduated from
public schools in Adrian. Mich Started to
learn printing trade on a weekly paper in
Adrian in 1884 AfterWard worked on
newspapers in jackson and Detroit. Mich,
and Atlanta. Ga, in capacity OF compost
tor, proofreader, and reporter. he came
to Washington in 1900 as compositor In
/ the Census Printing Office Received an
appointment as compOsitOF in Government
Printing Office in October. 1902. being as
signed 70 the Old Fourth division. with
Mr.. COttle as foreman. In 1903 he was
! transferred 10 the plate vault Was ap-
pointed chief plateman in February, 1903.
Andrew l. Barker. Charles A. Lucas.
and William J. c. Greevey have been
| transferred 20 the pressroom from the
document section.
William H. Albeit and Jesse G. Jones
have been assigned positions in the
/ pressroOm.
A number OF changes were made during
/ the week in the clerical force Of the Office.
The Bookbinders' Union Is pursuing the
proper course in endeRvoring 70 have its
discharged members made eligible for re-
appointment without taking a civil service
examination. Much injustice has been
done competent and worthy printers by
requiring men and women who have
worked in the Office for years, and demon
strated their ability 20 nj the position, 10
take a new examination every time they
are dropped, and there have been numer-
Gus instances when the law or the rulings
Of the commission have been set aside
when parties had the necessary backing
70 make IL appear that their services were
necessary.
Columbia Typographical Union had
three deaths among its membership dur
ing the past month.
Regular stated meeting OF Columbia
Typographical Union to-day at go D. m.
J. Nat Steed was welcome addition 10
the proofroom during the week. Nat Is a
fellow-eountryman Of Bill Brockwe1, and
to say he IS Of the same stripe is recon-
mendation enough.
Mrs Nancy J. Russ wife OF Edward L.
Russ. an honored member Of the proof
room chapel. died at her home 81 Eighth
street northeast. on Monday last. aged
seventy-twO years the funeral taking
place on Wednesday. the nth instant.
from the lexington Presbyterian Church.
Florida avenue and North Capitol street.
interment being in Greenwood Cemetery.
Mrs Charles W. Trey. who has been a
patient at SibIey Hospital for the past
three weeks, has so far recovered as 10 be
taken home.
Pressman Tommy Ryan and Mrs. Ryan
have been entertaining a number Of Bos-
ton friends, visitors at the inauguration.
and Mrs Ryan accompanied a party
through the office on Monday last.
Mrs. C B. HolInger returned 10 duty
in the pressroom during the week. after
two months absence caused by illness.
Miss Margaret B. Hurley has been
transferred TO the pressroom from the
bindery.
A perusal Of the report OF the Public
Printer for the year 1876 shows many
things that are interesting by way Of com
parison with the Office to-day. The salary
of the Public Printer was then 5000 and
the total for his cfice. which included
six clerks and one messenger. was not
quite $1,000. The pay roll OF the en-
ployes aggregated then per month less
than it now does for one week. and the
total disbursements for the year are
given as a6l7. .469O9.-just about one
fourth what Mr.. Donnelly will expend
next year. Many OF the articles that
enter into the production Of printed
matter were very much higher then than
now. Ordinary book paper cost about
10 cents per pound. and printing ink cost
much more For instance. copying ink
cost at that time S. per pound, and ordi-
nary black ink from 50 cents up and
roller composition was 50 cents. Writing
papers were much higher, and ali book
binders supplies. also The paw of the
printers and preSsmen and bOokbindArs
was 81 per day Of eight hours. but then
there was no extra for overtime except
for Sundays and holidays. and the amount /
Of overtime worked was something
in as high as 500 hours in the year-1OO
extra days-and some even received nav
for as high as 1.10O extra hours during
the year 1876. Capt Brian was foreman OF
printing. and. with Mr.. SpottswOod as
assistant, managed all the work OF com
position. except the job room. which was
unoer the charge Of a separate foreman. /
ana the Congressional Record, the force
for which was put on at the beginning OF |
session Of Congress and laid on after
adjournment The salary OF the foreman
Of printing is given at S2,100 and Of his |
assistant. $l,67+.6S. OF the printers then
IN the Office there are yet a number on
the rolls, among them c. NJ Robinson.
d. w. Beach. Jim Bright. Johnny Burn |
side, George McNeir, l. H Patterson. W /
L. Schalof. W. Rhoderick. Oliver /
Shaw, J. NJ. Maloney, Byron Ford. Jesse
Grant, Clarence Lewis. J. NJ Montgonn-
cry. ] W. Pamer. and others. and Of the l
pressmen Charley Parsons, Ira E. Cole
Steve Brown, and Jim Furbershaw are
still on the rolls.
In the bindery were II. c. and Blake /
Espey, George Barnes. Tommy Kelly |
Thomas Penicks. Billy Johnson. Charley
Knockey, and others, while in the foundr-I,
were II. c. Cowell and Billy Kelly. and
Jim Hughes was IN the machine sbon /
and his brother Ellis. was In the carpen-
Ter shop.