Evening star., 1924-01-14

ment employees is grossly inadequate
is one of the outstanding complaints
in the annual report Of Public
Printer George II. Carter. who says
1t gives little inducement to younger
persons capable of rendering the best
service to the government"
He warns that the old buildings,
some of which were erected before
the civil war, are constant menace
ployos in the government printing
Office, and recommends new s3,500.-
600 building. - :
The new classification act which
goes into effect July l.. is unjust to
shop laborers, the public printer ad-
vises Congress. He advocates that
all mechanical forces should be e:i-
enpt' from the terms of this act
The government printing, office is
doing it's full share toward keeping
expenditures down, Public Printer
carter reports. In addition TO saving
1852, 1877 by not expending all avail
able appropriations during the last
three years, he turned back into the
Treasury as miscellaneous. receipts
from sale of waste paper, useless
equipment and surplus government
publications sS15,1S4.
Advises Economies.
Still greater economies must be put
into practice, he advises. Supporting
the proposed plan for the purchase.
supply and Capitalization of paper
stock at the government printing
office, he quotes report to the di-
rector Of the budget from the per-
manent conference on printing.
He stresses the need for more ef-
fcient machinery.
He urges the sale Of all government
publications, calling attention to a
tremendous waste" in the careless
distribution of books and other pub
lications. THE present free distribu-
tion OF government publications is
causing expenditure of at least ST.
100000 year for books and pam
phlets, most all of which are wasted y
He calls attention that the folding
rooms of the Capitol are now filled
with thousands of publications that
are either obsolete or worthless for
public distribution. Some of these
date hack ffty years. f
During the last year there We're
two fires in the old buildings, Public
Printer Carter says In stressing the
need for a new building.
One fire caused loss of $1,000. in
cluding nearly $4,000 publications
with a sales value of $500. The
other was gaining headway in a room
full of books when It was discovered
Both fires are believed to have
been of incendiary origin" he says.
Fortunately they were started early
in the morning when employees were
passing through the buildings on
their way to and from work. Had
either fire been set at time when
few employees were about it undoubt-
edly would have caused serious loss,
if not endangered the entire plant.
with these nerve-racking remind
part of the worlds greatest printing
plant, / feel compelled to renew most
earnestly the recommendation for
new building to replace the old struc-
lures. now partially useless even for
storage rooms.
In presenting to Congress the urg-
ency of removing this fire trap and
replacing it with model structure
adequate to the needs Of the service,
Public Printer Carter says:
"a considerable portion OF the old
building was erected prior to the civil
war, and all of it was completed more
than fifty years ago. Except for It's
brick outer walls, practically the en-
tire building is of wooden construc-
ton, even to the columns supporting
its four floors. Many of the, wooden
columns and girders are twisted; the
floors are badly worn, needing con-
stant attention to keep them even
reasonably safe: wooden window sills
are rotted. and the roof boards are In
such condition that extensive repairs
will be necessary within the next
year. to keep them in any semblance
"Of necessity, the old building has
to be used as a warehouse for paper
and other inf1ammable materials for
which there is no room in the new
building. The carpenter, paint, ma
chine, blacksmith and electrfca! shops
have had to be located In the old
an already perilous situation. II
Are once got under headway in this
structure II is believed by every one
who has studied the matter tnat n0tn,
ing could stop the flames until tney nao
wiped out not only the old building.
but also the new building and the
documents office as we'll.
Disaster Constantly Threatens.
.rSuch a disaster should not be pos.
sjbIe, vet it constantly threatens as
long as the old building Is permitted
to stand in it's present condition.
therefore, I can not allow thls
opportunity to pass wltnounn -. asnn tha
lives Of more than 1000 employees In
a FIRE that would quickly destroy the
worlds greatest printing plant. MOO
ern fire-fghting apparatus mas pesn
installed in various parts OF tns
building, numerous fire alarms ana
escapes provided, and suitapfe nre
drills arranged, but even with these
precautions it is doubtful IL al tne
employees could escape.
Secondary only to the Importance
of tearing down the old fire trap is
the necessity for an ADEQUATE ano
safe warehouse for the vast quantity
of equipment, materials and supplies
which this office has to keen con-
stantly on hand. A stock costing
the government more than three
fourths of a million dollars. and Oft
times exceeding a million dollars In
value, is constantly exposed to total
loss by fire, without cent OF In
surance.
TT is urge ntly recommended. there
fore, that Congress at once authoE1Ze
the erection of new building that
will be adequate and suitable not only
for warehouse and shop purposes. but
will also provide much-needed space
for the activities that are crowding
the so-called new building, now more
than twenty years old. The superin-
tendent of documents is also in dire
the distribution and sale of govern
ment publications that are increasing
at tremendous rate. The superin-
tendent OF documents could easily
build up a sales business amounting
to more than S1.G00,0OO a year IL he
had adequate room In which to han
die such a growth in his work.
Cost Near s3,5OO,O 1000.
"Ail of the old buildings facing on
II street, from North Capitol street to
and including the office of tba .,,nar