The Washington herald., 1920-12-21
Open Court
Letters to
TheHerald
Views of Readers on
Matters of National
And Local Import.
LAUDs G. r. o. EFFICIENCY.

LAUDs G. r. o. EFFICIENCY.
To the Editor. ne wsshiastoa Her.h:
In the changing Of the heads OF
the various government depart
ments In the event Of change OF
administration. there is one insti-
tuition that Is invariably given a
wide berth by the press. or. as a
rule, but little comment prevails
as to the selection Of its head out
side Of its portals. when at the same
time Il Is conceded 10 be one OF
the most interesting establishments
under the government and at the
same time one of the largest f
not the largest. of its kind In the
world, and that Is the Government
Printing once.
Employing approximately 5000
people-printers, operators. book
binders, electricians, machiniss; in
fact. the varied personnel-this in
stitution is unlike In many respects
any other government department
in that q visit to any other depart
ment one can only see an array
of clerks. stenographers. bookkeep-
ers. etc, delving into figures. die
tating letters. nling, and other de-
tail work. while at the Government
Printing once the majority Of the
employees are a machine within
themselves operating a machine To
the unfamiliar, on visiting the place
he is at a loss TO know what kind
and class of work the individual Is
performing. An instance may be
recalled that during the war days
a certain laborer was given employ
ment in one OF the divisions ana
in visiting an adjoining section-the
proof room-where over 100 proof
readers daily ''rastle" with the Con-
gressionaI grind, he was quite as
founded at the confusion OF voices
and the reading OF one to the other.
and he Immediately reported the
matter to his chief and desired to
know what that "wrangling" or
'fussing" was about in the adjoin-
ing division. This is merely Illus
trative of the many sections in the
Government Printing once.
while Cornelius Ford, the present
Public Printer. -will be replaced in
time by the change of administrs-
tion March 4. IL is universally con-
ceded that the present incumbent
has been one of the most popular
executives to head the big printery.
employees he stated that everyone
would get a square deal, and from
unbiased opinion that has been true
Through the war days and since
the establishment has been taxed
to its utmost in production and the
volume of business turned out has
far exceeded the output under any
former administration. and at one
period during the most strenuous
days of the war two large presses
were in operation continuously for
thirty days-night and day and
Sundays.
As to who will be the next Pub
lie Printer to replace Mr.. Ford is
matter OF much speculation among
the employees OF the establishment
Among those advanced by the "ru-
NOR committee" may be mentioned
Frank Wallace. former foreman OF
printing under the Donnelly regime.
but now in the printing business
in Pennsylvania He is said 20 be 4
close intimate friend of Gov. Sproul.
of that State. and the wise ones
place him at the head of the list
Of prospective candidates. Milo
Shanks, another former employe OF
the office, who has been publishinC
the Elmira IN W. Advertiser. Is
in the field. II has been reported
that he was desirous OF disposinC
of the paper with the object in
view Of seeking the once OF Public
Printer. Others mentioned are
Frank Kidd, former member Of Co
lumbia typographical Union. lol. a
Western Congressman" foreman OF
the Marion COhio) Daily Star
President-elect Harding's paper: and
George II. Carter. the present clerk
to the Joint Committee on Print
ing. J. l. DIISAVER.
WASHINGTON.