The Washington herald., 1918-06-07
G. P. 0. CHIEF
ASKS GENERAL
RAISE IN PAY
Public Printer Writes Con-
gress Committees Urg-
ing Passage Of Bill.

Urging a repeal of existing laws
covering salary rates for printers,
bookbinders, laborers. folders and
pressmen in the Government Print
ing once. Cornelius Ford, Public
Printer, addressed a letter yester-
day to the chairman Of the House
and Senate Appropriations Com
mittees urging them to do their
utmost to have laws enacted trans
ferring the fixing OF salaries from
the statute books to his ONCE.
By reason of his having exact
knowledge of the work to be done
and his familiarity of working con-
ditions. Mr.. Ford states. he urges
the change. Following a joint
meeting of the printers, bookbind-
ers, pressmen, etc, the following
rates were placed in Mr.. Ford's
hands for consideration: printers,
75c an hour; bookbinders, zoe an
hour, and 75c fiat for pressmen.
The new rates are about 25 per cent
higher than the rates now in force.
Production Doubled.
The Government Printing Of
flee. remarked Mr.. Ford, after an
interview with the President, will
produce this year almost double
what il did last year. amounting to
approximately s13.O0O,000 as against
$4,000, 900 for last year. This alone,
according to Mr.. Ford. warrants the
desired increase. In his letter Mr..
Ford says:
"A situation has developed in the
Government Printing ONCE that re-
quires immediate consideration and
action by Congress.
Under the law-appropriation
bills and separate statutes-the
compensation of certain employees
of the Government Printing ONCE
is fixed, and an advance in the COM
pensation cannot be made unless by
statute fixing a higher rate or by
the repeal of the limitations placed
by various acts and appropriation
bills.
AT the present time the Public
Printer cannot increase the COM
pensatiOn of printers. linotype and
mOnotype operators. okbinders
and pressmen above the following
rates per hour:
Printers, 50 cents: linotype and
montotype operators. so cents:
bookbinders, 50 cents; pressmen, 55
cents.
In addition to the foregoing are
the skilled laborers, male and fe-
male, folders and laborers under the
superintendent of documents. who
receive 1926 per annum fixed by law.
and under the statutory rate now
paid l am without authority to in
crease their compensation above
that which they are now receiving.
For some time the force at the
printing ONCE of the above men,
toned employees has been gradually
decreasing through enlistment in
the army and navy. and to outside
positions carrying a higher rate of
pay.
The large quantity Of printing
coming into the government print
ing ONCE demands not only that
the force of a few months back be
kept up, but that additional help
be employed so that the work can
be properly handled. ..--.
Get More Elsewhere.
Printers, bookbinders and press
men will not answer the calls from
this ofice. when higher rates can
be received outside the government
service.
so as to overcome this serious
condition. respectfully request
that immediate action be taken to
remedy the hardships placed upon
the government printing Office, and
urgently request with all the en-
phasis at my command that the
public printer be authorized to en-
ploy such help as may be necessary
for the proper conduct of the gov
ernment business at compensations
comparable with outside establish
ments. the limitations now existing
being repealed.
publishers Of the City OF Wash
mgton have agreed to pay printers,
linotype and monotype operators.
on a seven-hour-day basis. a rate
of 7S4-7 cents an hour for day
work. and S5 ST. cents for night
work. All overtime is compensated
for on a basis of price and one
half"