Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-12-01
washington, D. C., Nov. 2s.-A

sheet Of paper is a light and, flimsy
thing, but by the process Of maltiph-
cation, it becomes q problem. Each
year the problem of what to do with
sheets of paper looms bigger in the
federal government establishment.
Rudyard Kipling wrote q rather
lengthy poem entirely about the files.
He found II atfruithful subject. Ex-
perts have written lengthy prosela rti-
cles about files and manufacturing
companies and business colleges have
lots of expert advice to give
ing files. The eason the. subject Is
|so important and has so many COM
mentators is that files represent. first,
the records of what people have done,
|ahd, second. they represent an ever
increasing problem in storage. First,
they are vehicles of information; sec-
ond, they are dead weight, On both
counts, they require much attention.
A good example is the interstate
commerce commission. BY following
case through that body. an idea can
be obtained how the files, the slips
of paper, grow in BULK. A shipper be-
lieves he is being charged too much
freight. He files a complaint with
the commission. This starts a, new
file. It il given a docket number. The
commission notifies all railroads in
volved that the complaint has been
filed and they must defend the exist
ing rates. These notifications add
more slips Of paper. A hearing ia set
by the issuance of an order. Another
slip Of paper. Testimony is. taken.
evidence being given on both sides.
This may add anywhere from a dozen
sheets of typewriter paper to a J a
ton OF typed and printed matter. de-
pending on the Importance of the case.
Sometimes great stacks of statistics.
Called exhibits. intended to illustrate
the Justice or injustice Of rates are
added to the documentary evidence.
Then all parties file briefs. which are
printed arguments. In a big cage a
brief may be as big as an unabridged
dictionary. All of these must be re-
tanned in the files. Finally, the com
mission renders an opinion and issues
an order. These arc added to the files.
There are some half dozen cases Z
day brought before che com mission
and each new case starts another file
which grows as the case progresses
All these papers must be retained as
they are federal records. The prob
lem Is growing constantly and 1t is
expected that the commission soon
will have t erect a great warehouse
lin addition to its present commodious
quarters. merely to store these slips OF
paper.
Patent Office Files Extensive.
The patent Office is another. govern
Iment agency where files accumulate
rapidly. The general land office IL
another. Since the war the veterans
bureau and the war and navy depart
All: the other departments commits
sions, boards, and bureaus stagger
under the same ever-increasing incu-
bus consisting OF slips of. paper. each
one of which il too light to tilt any
thing but a precise and sensitive scale.
These files must be tended, too.
Thousands OF clerks are employed
merely to take care of. them-to put
new slips Of paper, In and take old
slips Of paper but for examination.
It isNproposedito build a federal hall
many Of the files will be concentrated
and the pressure on existing office
space will be lightened, but now every
government building at washington, Il
bulging with files. h
Beside the vast quantities OF papers
retained in the files there 10 a daily
output OF waste paper which may be
|dkposed Of. In an establishment az
great % the American government,
waste paper is more ola problem thar
seems posAble to the ordinary citizen
who finds that q library waSte-papAr
basket, ennptied perhaps once 9. week,
problem 10 big enough to; have q spe.
ciaI committee Of the. house Of repre-
sentatives In gensralS.chargs. Tho scOm.
mIttee on disposition Of useless D4pef1
IN executive Departments Thls1coYn.
[xnittse periodically snperyiaes SSsthe