Evening star., 1917-09-25
TELLS0F BUREAUS
NEEDFOR PRESSES
Director Ralph Says 1t Is I'M
possible for Hand Opera
tors to Do Work.
NO EMPLOYE TO LOSE JOB

In the hearings on the war deficiency
bill. held before the Senate committee
on appropriations. Director Ralph of
the bureau of engraving and printing
told of conditions in his office. espe-
power presses. He said:
81 am prepared to make every man
who is now employed temporarily
permanent employe Of the bureau OF
engraving and printing. procvlded ne
can qualify under the rules OF the
Civil Service Commission, and l say that
the Civil Service Commission has ad-
vertised throughout the country. we
have sent agents to all the cities. we
have depleted the plate printers from
private shops, and we are working
hardship on the private employers.
Every plate printers who wants work in
the bureau of engraving and printing
has It. ] say to you that it would be
impossible to secure an adequate num-
ber of skilled printers to execute the
work, and it would take at least Zo0
more plate printers to carry on the
work we now have on our books. not
to mention the savings certificates and
the other schemes provided for which
Patriotism of Union Labor.
'I appreciate the patriotism manifest
ed by organized labor in supporting the
President in this war. ! would not dis
turb that for anything in the world
have Incorporated in this amendment
everything that l believe is essential TO
safeguard the interests of the plate print
ers so that they could not under any cir
cumstances refuse 10 accept this legisla-
tion. / have had two conferences with
the executive committee OF the plate
printers union on this subject. and point
ed out to them the enormous task that
confronts the plate printers in providing
a sufficient force to carry on the work
and they fully understand the situation,
and in order that they might not be
taken unawares with regard to the mat
ter | gave them a copy of the proposed
legislation on this subject. In addition to
my conferences. l arranged, on the l4th
instant a conference between them and
Assistant Secretary Crosby. at which I
was present and the matter was then
fully discussed and explained to them so
that they are fully informed as to the
necessities Of the government and the
reasons why legislation of this character
Is SO imperatively necessary at this time.
when / appeared as attorney for the
government five years ago and secured
the repeal of this legislation 1t was as
a matter of economy that we appeared
before the committee. and we saved the
present time it is not a question so
much of economy as it is of expediting
the work required of the bureau. so that
the plans of the President and the Sec
retary of the Treasury may be executed
I'm the most expeditions manner pos
sible."
Senator Warren-I ought to say, be-
fore you go on, to piece out what I said
before, that there was before that, espe-
cially-not SO much at that time-the
claim on the part of the plate printers
that some parts of the work could not
be properly done on the machines: and
then there was another complaint about
this washing old currency. 1 should
like to know how you are getting on
with that now.
'I Will say. Senator Warren" replied
Mr.. Ralph, that that claim has been
completely exploded by the experience
we have had. 1t has proved conclusive
ly, and say now as a man of expert
ence and judgment. that there is nc
question but that the work on the
power press is not only equal. but su-
perior. to the average work done on
hand presses in the uniformity of the
high standard Of work, and by that