The Washington herald., 1909-05-22

Colncident With the removal Of the
Treasury branch Of the Government Print
ing once TO the main building in North
Capitol street comes the announcement
that about sixty Of the subsidiary Office
have been Indefinitely furioughed-
This order was promulgated yesterday
By Public Printer Donnelly. each Of the
men at the Treasury receiving sep
arate orders. With the exception Of Ben
jsmin r Constantine. foreman; John
Gaylor. assistant. and twelve Of the
women employees. every one in the branch
vas notified that his services would not
be required until further notice.
Although the recent edict Of the super
visiag architect requiring that the quar-
ters in the Treasury building De vacated
came as q surprise 10 those affected. the
latter order Of the Public Printer WAS
wholly unexpected. and It created a stir.
Change Is Debated.
Most Of the men have been employed In
the branch for more than twenty years
Whether OF not the new move viii prove
beneficial 70 the department IS a debated
question.
Mr.. Donnelly agrees with the supervis-
ing architect that the floor space IS
needed By the Treasury officials. but he
Is OF the opinion that the printers
formerly employed In the branch could
not be given positions at his Office except
at loss al this time He is understood
10 believe the change and reduction VIII
insure q saving
The Treasury has contained a printing
ONCE under its roof since 1852. and the
department chiefs declare Il has bern of
great convenience because Of the prompt
ness with which all work was executed
and delivered.
The suspended printers viii probably
join forces with those similarly situated
al the big printery 70 obtain reappoiEt-
nent. They are said 70 be considering
plans not unlike the proposal made by
the navy yard employees 10 retain their
positions
Most Of the men left the shop yester-
day afternoon with tears in their eyes
The old plant had for years been located
on the top floor Of the Treasury and had
come 10 be regarded as q landmark
building IN 1852. several rooms being ap-
portioned OF IN the basement H A
watkins and Capt. P. L. Rodier were
in charge. and they and their subordi-
mates we're under the immediate super
vision OF the Treasury Department. which
furnished the materials, employed the
hands. and paid expenses.
an act Of Congress finally required that
al departmental printing should be ex-
ecuted al the Government Printing Office
Accordingly. In June. 1883. the Congress
siOnal printer fthe Office Of Public Printer
was not created until June 1870 took
charge OF the Treasury printing material
and organized a branch Office, TO be con-
tinued IN the basement OF the building
Treasury Material and Men.
The Treasury material consisted Of
power presses, / ruling machine, paper
cutter, type, &c. The employees number
ed q. including foreman, proofreader,
s compOsitors, pressmen. apprentice,
cutter and counter. I feeders, l ruler.
and 1 Iaborer.
The branch Office reached the zenith
o. its completeness about 1880 It then
Rad & printing presses. 8 ruling machines.
1 paper cutter. &c Seventy-three hands
y ere employed, 50 males and % females.
4 feature Of the work in those DAYS. as
a. present. was the changas-iu the ad-
dresses and ownership Of bonds. There
we're about 1900 pages Of these bonds. in
cluding a comprehensive index. which
was kept in type and the changes made
as required
The present outfit, before transfer con-
sisted OF sixty-one employees. including
foreman and an assistant. Fifteen Of
this number were woman press feeders
and sewers, twenty-seven were com
pOsitors. makeTs-up. and imposers. there
were four pressmen and three binders
There were i've presses. two ruling ma
chimes and paper cutter. with COM
piete assortment Of type and other neces-
sary material for turning out a large
amount Of frst-clsss work In point of
continuous service in the printing Office
proper. John Gaylor. the assistant for
several years past takes the lead, he
having twenty years 20 his credit.
Character of Work.
TIE character Of the work lately turned
out included job work Of all kinds from
an envelope 10 the largest blank. Sew
eral days, at intervals. were devoted n
The revision Of government bond owner
ship. The following publications we're
issued weekly: Treasury Decisions. de-
voted to the customs. internal revenue
and court decisions in customs cases.
ReappTaisements OF Merchandise nv
United States General Appraisers a cir
eular for collectors OF customs and otberS
National Bank Bulletin. devoted N +he
changes in the officers and reserve agents
Of national banks. new banks Organized
applications. &C. throughout the country
one Of the largest jobs turned out an
nusllv was the book Of Estimates o.. An
propTiatiOns. a volume OF about 80 oua-fo (
pages. consisting OF tabular and orbar
matter This comprehensive and elabor-
ate work was laid on the desks Of Sen
ators and Representatives at the CAPITOL /
promptly on each opening day Of a new
Congress.
The following were foremeu OF the /
branch. in the order named: Messrs 1
Roaier, McNeir, Foss, Kehoe, Pearson. !
Constantine. Calhoon, and Constantine.