The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-05-12
Million Wasted Yearly
In Government Printing


annual waste in government publica-
tions TO be- at least sl,000,0OO.
There is also great waste IN many
publications printed for the document
rooms OF the senate and the house
Tons OF useless publications are cart
ed away from the document rooms an
nually ana sold as waste paper Scores
OF tons OF expensive publications are
now rotting in the vaults under the
terraces OF the capitol, the document
room to-which they were allotted not
having been able 20 find members
willing ~ distribute them. To pre-
vent the continuation OF this enormous
loss and at the same time establish
an economical and efficient method or
printing and distributing the docu-
ments OF the government is the pur-
pose OF the bin just introduced
Under the present law, which "
held TO be responsible for SO much
waste, each member OF congress is a.
lowed a certain quota OF each publica.
ton, sometimes 1900 copies, regard
less OF whether the particular docu'
ment is of any interest or value 10
the constituents OF the senators or
representatives. AS an illustration,
the members from such inland states
as Kansas and Nebraska receive as
many copies OF the nautical almanac
and the report of the commissioner OF
navigation as do the members from
New York and New Jersey. The mem
bers from Massachusetts get as many
irrigation bulletins as those from
Idaho, and members from New York
city get as many copies OF the agri-
cultural year book as the members
from Nebraska.
The proposed law does away with
this plan and substitutes a method
whereby each member has an annual
fixed credit with the superintendent
OF documents. which is made available
for supplying documents that are or
special interest 10 his constituents.
Documents are TO be supplied TO the
amount OF this credit, which Is not
available for any other purpose, on
valuation basis, determined by the
cost OF reprinung the documents The
annual credit TO each senator viii DO
81 200, and 10 each representative ST.
soc. In this way, it is felt, members
who represent rural communities will
spend their entire allotment for pub
locations or interest to farmers, and
those representing manufacturing dis
tricts will use their credit in sending
the results OF Investigations into trade
conditions.
In urging the necessity for a new
printing law the house committee
makes the statement that there has
not been revision OF the law since
1895, and in that time new conditions
have arisen which have necessitated
an almost complete change in the
method OF printing and distributing
government documents. The introduc'
ton Of typesetting machinery and
numerous laborsaying devices has al.
most revolutionized the printing trade
since the act OF 1895 was passed A
new printing office, the finest and best
equipped in the world. has been erect
ed since that date.
All branches OF the government have
undertaken methods for publicity or
their operations that were unthought
OF 20 years ago Congress itself has
led in the work OF spreading broad
cast tie fullest information concern
ing public affairs. Today the govern
ment OF the United States is the great
est publisher in the world. No other
nation, says the committee, ap-
proaches this country in the effort TO
enlighten its people by the printing or
millions upon millions OF public docu-
ments year after year.
AS result OF this movement for
greater publicity in the affairs OF the
people the printing expenditures have
fully doubled in 20 years. The com
mittee states that it is time for con-
gress to make more careful survey
of its printing methods, not with
view OF curtailing present-day public
ity in any way, but rather TO further
aid such publicity by bringing TO its
assistance more efficient methods and
abolishing useless waste.