Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-26
Duplication to Libraries.

Another cause of the excess in govern
ment publications is in their duplicate
distribution to libraries by the superin-
tendent of documents, the departments
and by members Of Congress.
The commission has made compilat ton
of the reports of the superintendent OF
documents showing that in the last fifteen
years he has distributed a total of 1906
So government publications to libraries
throughout the country, of which 5.J32. 9U.
went to designated depository libraries
1.636.O31 to miscellaneous libraries and
611,S12 to geological depository libraries
In the same fifteen years the superintend-
ent of documents has had returned from
these libraries total of 1879, 1874 docu-
mentS, or an average of more than 100,
600 q year.
This return of documents discarded by
the libraries is rapidly increasing. as the
reports show that In the last three years
the superintendent of documents has re-
ceived 1J.367 documents, on which the
government has had to pay double post
age, in addition to the enormous expense
of printing, and then dispose Of them as
waste paper.
Correction of Waste.
To correct this vast excess in the sup
ply of documents to depository libraries
the commission first furnished each de-
partment with copy of the mailing list
Of the superintendent Of documents and
suggested that all Implications be
stricken from the departmental lists.
names of 2,166 libraries that had been
receiving government publications in
duplication from the departments and the
superintendent of documents.
The bureau of education furnishes an
example of the extent of this duplica-
ton. On its mailing list were the names
of 42S out of the 457 depository libraries
that the superintendent of documents is
required by law to supply with the an
nual reports of the commissioner of edu-
cation. The prevention of this duplica-
tion alone in the futurer will save nearly
$500 year.
Departmental Distribution.
An extended inquiry was made also
into the subject of departmental print.
ing and binding and the method of dis
tributing public documents by the de-
partments The commission found that
only two departments had continued tt
observe President ROOseyelt's order fol-
the Capitalization and Standardization OF
departmental printing and binding as
contemplated by the act of 1895.
The commission makes the following
recommendations to Congress in this re.
gard:
Il. The establishment by law of a di-
vision of printing and publications in the
office of the Secretary or head of every
executive department. wherein there shall
be centralized the, supervision of the de-
partments printing and binding and dis
tribution of publications.
'.c The establishment of section OF
printing and publications in every indie
pendent Office and establishment of the
government, wherein there shall be CEN
traIized the supervision of the printing
and binding and distribution of publica-
tions of such independent offices and es-
adjustments.
20 The enactment into law Of a pro-
vision prohibiting printing and binding
outside Of the government printing office
by the executive Office, Congress, the ex-
ecutive and judicial departments, indie
pendent Offices and establishments Of the
government, unless specifically provided
for by law.
~ The enactment OF a provision OF
law providing that on before Decem-
Der / of every year committee, con
sisting of the chiefs of the printing divi-
sions and sections of the executive de-
partments and Independent Offices and
| establishments of the government shall
confer and recommend to the public
printer a uniform stock of paper fol
| similar classes OF printing and. binding
work and that the public printer shall
| take these recommendations into consid