Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-17
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL r. KENNEDY.

There Is operated in the Government
Printing Office an apprentice school for
the proper training of skilled workers,
which is now in its sixth year. This
school began on July 5. 1922, with the
instruction Of class of 25 apprentices,
the number then limited by law.
On recommendation of the public
printer, Congress increased the limita-
ton to allow the employment of 200
apprentices under the act of February
20. 1923. Since then the number Of
apprentices under training has been
maintained at approximately the maxi
mum number. These apprentices have
been assigned to the several trades
including printers, bookbinders, press
men, stereotypers, electrotyperS, photo
engravers and machinists.
Sixty-eight apprentices satisfactorily
completed the first four-year courses re-
quired to qualify them for appointment
as journeymen. Of these. SO are now
employed in the Government Printing
Office and are reputed to be among the
best qualified and most industrious
journeymen in the office. Public Printer
Carter says that mo better or more dill
gent group of ambitious young men has
ever entered any school in the country
than those who have chosen to begin
their life's work in the Government
Printing Office"
The widespread and inspiring interest
In this school manifest throughout the
country has been shown by the fact that
more than 800 young men from all
parts of the United States enrolled at
the last Civil Service examination for
apprentices. To date, 1913 apprentices
have been enrolled in this school, in
Guiding those now In training and
those who have completed the course or
left the school, Graduation exercises
are held. On January Is, 1928, the
public printer handed to so of the ap-
prentices their certificates as Journey
men emitting them to employment in
their chosen trades in the Government
Printing Office.
The lunch and cafeteria problem Is a
big one in practically all of the multi
farious Government workshops in the
National Capital. Many Of these estab-
lishments have cafeterias for their en-
ployes either In the building or have
arranged with private parties to operate
a lunchroom convenient for the Gov
eminent workers, because some of the
establishments with hundreds and even
thousands of employees are some dis
lance removed from the business
thoroughfares.
Perhaps the largest and most success
full of these cafeterias run by an en-
ployes' volunteer association Is in the
Government Printing Office, where there
are 4,076 workers with a pay roll of
S8.541 sos year. During the past year
this cafeteria served 840,410 orders of
food, which was an increase of $4,000
orders over the preceding year and ar
increase Of $4,000 over two years ago
The daily average number of orders was
2,609 and the largest number served in
any one day during the year was 1926
The gross receipts of the cafeteria
and the Recreation Association for the
past year were 1921. 1855. which is ar
increase Of about $4,000. All of the
operating expenses of the cafeteria, In
Guiding the cost of all materials and the
wages of 56 employees, is paid from the
receipts. The employees association has
expended $4,000 for requirements
and improvements in cafeteria and kit.
chen equipment originally installed By
the Government at q cost of about
$45, 900.
The cafeteria association also finances
all the recreational and entertainment
activities Of the Government Printing
Office. including two championship bass
ball teams four regulation bowling al.
leys and numerous programs of enter
tainment and instruction in Harding
Hall. which have an average attendance
OF more than 5000 persons. One of the
principal entertainments Is an annual
Christmas tree for more than 1000 chill.
dren of employees.