The Washington times., 1911-02-04
FOR BIG SAYING ON
PUBLIC PRINTING
Senator Smoot Introduces
Bill to Cut Expenses
,$1,25o,ooo a Year.

Senator Smoot has introduced a bill
in the Senate, which, it is estimated,
will effect savings in the public print
ing amounting to 81, 10000 year.
This bill is introduced for the printing
investigation commission, of which SEN
ator Smoot is chairman. In addition
to providing for complete revision OF
the public printing laws. some of which
have been in force for over a half CEN
tury, the bill proposes several important
changes in printing and distribution OF
Government publications.
A valuation plan for distributing doc
uments TO members of Congress is the
most conspicuous feature of the bill. IL
allows each Senator a credit of $500
year and each Representative, Delegate,
and resident commissioner a credit Oh
81 500 with the superintendent OF docu-
ments.
Saves Distributing Documents.
Government publications only can be
drawn on this credit, and the unused
mart lapses March each year This
valuation plan would succeed the pres
emf quota system of distributing docu-
,nents. It would abolish the folding
rooms of Congress, and center distrlpu-
lion at the Government Printing Once
Rv the present quota system many
documents are distributed to members
for which they and their constituents
have no use. Under the credit SYSTEM
a member could get just what DOORS
he especially wanted for MS cohsIi'u-
ents. Now, tons of costly DOCKS ar"
sold as waste paper yearly, and recentiy
and obsolete pup
Iications were removed from the House
A feature of the bill is for centralized
control over the printing and dlstrlpu
tion of publications LOT CotIsl T,Tirtiner @
the various departments. a prlntlils
clerk in the office of the Secretary OF
the Senate and one in the office OF the
clerk of the House are proVldeu, 10
have general charge over the pTIiiSS p,IiiSinSS
in their respective houses. A DIVISION
of publications in each departing anu
independent bureau or office Is also
provided. This should lead to system
attic handling of the printing.
Much Extravaganza Disclosed.
The investigation disclosed much ex-
travagance in the Government Printing
Office and a top-heavy organization.
The bill provides a definite organiza-
ton. The Public Printer is to get 5000
per annum, or $500 more than now. The
deputy public printers salary is put at
$500. chief clerk at 5000, purchasing
agent 50, 800, disbursing agent $500, and
so on. A solicitor for the Government
Printing Office at $1,000 year is pro-
vided TO succeed the attorney for the
office who gets $500. The pay of
about sixty job compoSitors and lo0
pressmen is increased from 50 to 80
cents per hour. This increase amounts
to about $4,000 per year. Unless spe-
ciically appropriated for. the Public
Printer can pay no salary above S2.6OO.
This will prevent creation OF useless
salaried Jobs.
The Joint Committee on Printing is
given a definite organization and in
creased duties II will exercise greater
power over issuance of paper, maCnin-
cry, and material than in the past
On recommendation of the Secretary
of the Treasury, a provision has been
inserted in the bill authorizing the use
Of power presses instead of hand-roller
presses for printing bonds, notes. and
checks in the Bureau of Engraving. and
Printing. This affects several hundred
employees. The saving will be nearly
S750,000 a year.