Evening star., 1922-03-26
UNCLE SAM TO CUT
FREE PAPERS TO 40
Total of Publications Now
266-Saving Will Be
$4,000, 900 Annually.


year the number of journals, maga-
zines and periodicals published and
circulated free by Uncle Sam from
the various departments and bureaus
will have been reduced from 266 to
40, with an annual saving of more
than $2.000,000, according to report
filed yesterday by Representative
chairman of the committee on print
ing.
The copmittee on printing has been
working since March l, 1919, to ef-
feet this reform, and it was one step
in this campaign that caused former
President Wilson on May Is, 1920,
to veto the annual legislative. executive
and judicial appropriation bill. SAVING:
Congress should direct its efforts
to the control of public moneys along
broader lines, fixing the amounts To
be expended and then holding the
executive departments strictly re-
sponsible for their use. THIS can be
accomplished by the enactment OF
legislation establishing an effective
budget system, which 1 have hereto
fore urged. The Congress and the
Executive should function wltnin
their respective spheres. Otherwise,
will be impossible and progress I'M
peded by wasteful forces OF dlsof-
ganization and obstruction.
Would Consolidate Plants.
Supplementing this saving of more
than So, 600, 900 on publications, or Tree
magazines. Congress has pefore ~
bill fathered by Representative Mess
which proposes to close out or -
consolidate some $50 printing plants
now conducted throughout the coun-
try at government expense. ana VIII d
equipment inventoried at $l,O26.OS5.59,
on which Chairman kiess expects TO
get action at this session.
that the public printer shall be au-
thorized to establish eight printing
offices in the continental Lnlteo
States, which shall be under the Juris-
diction, supervision and control OF the
public printer. and which Will reaiiy
be branches of the government pn,n
ing Office 1; is claimed, that aiier
thoroughly equipping these eighd M
branch plants there will be s1oo.ooo
of euuipmnet left as salvage, Desldes
the overhead saving.
In making his report on the JOINT
resolution regarding the printing or
journals, magazines ana perlouiedis'
Chairman KieSS says:
When the joint committee first began
it's investigation OF TINS rechiess
waste of public money in the print
ing of periodicals the total NUMBER
was approximately 266 puoilcations.
1T will be observed that the joint
committee on printing. through ITS
activity in stopping this wasteau,
practice, eliminated more than 2oo
nonessential publications which were
being printed at government expense.
The annual cost of these publications
was estimated at two and one-half
dol con-
sideration the few that now remain.
it is fair to assume that more than
, two million dollars year has oeen
saved by the government.
Would Continue Some.
He urges the passage of the joint
resolution permitting the continuance
of certain publications, which. in
amended form. is as follows:
That the head of any executive de-
partment, independent Office, or estao-
lishment of the government is hereby
authorized, with the approval OF the
director of the bureau of the budget,
to use from the preparations aVaiiaoie
for printing and binding such sums as
may be necessary for the printing OF
journals. magazines, periodicals and
similar publications as he shall certify
to be necessary to conduct the ordinary
and routine business Of such depart
ment, office, or establishment: PROVIDED.
That there may be printed, IN additlon
to those necessary for official business,
not TO exceed 1000 copies for free dis
tribution by the department, office or
establishment issuing the same: Pro
vided. further. That the Public Printer
shall print such additional copies there
of and of any other government publi-
cation. not confidential in character. as
may be required fof sale to the public
by the superintendent of documents at
the cost of printing and binding. plus
10 per centum. without limit as to the
number of copies to any one applicant
who agrees not to resell or distribute
the same for profit; but such printing
shall be subject to regulation by the
Joint committee on printing and shall
not interfere with the prompt execution
of nrintiny for the government.