Evening star., 1936-03-23
BY J, A, FOX,

Tee Government Printing ONCE
this week celebrates its diamond jill
blee, the first superintendent Of
public printing" as the head Of the
establishment then was known. hav-
ing been appointed by President Lin
coin on March 23. 1851.
The original incumbent Of the Of
was four-storied brick structure at
North Capitol and H streets, 243 feet
long, 6lla feet wide. and employing
between 500 and 400 persons. Today
the plant Is valued In excess of $l0,-
900 900. employs 5000 workers. has
% acres of floor space. and an ex-
pansion program is under way to meet
ver-growing needs.
The story of the development Of
the &c. P. o." as 1t is customarily
called, Is an interesting one.
The establishment came into ex-
istence under an act passed in June.
1860, which authorized erection or
purchase Of a Government printing
Office to execute printing and binding
for "the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives, the executive and judicial
departments and the Court Of
Claims"
Acting on the advice Of the Joint
Committee on Printing. the Govern
ment paid sl35.o0o for the printing
plant at North Capitol and H streets
then owned by Joseph T. Crowell. It
had been built five years previously
by Cornelius Wendell.
Ole Problem Solved.
And there long-stsnding problem
wsS solved.
For many years prior to the enact
ment OF legislation that was to bring
about the consolidation Of Govern
ment printing and its related activi-
ties, various commercial firms over
the country did the work, and from
the initial session Of Congress In 1889
until the Government took over the
job. the question of awarding printing
contracts always was controversial.
At the outset results were unsatis-
factory. because of lack Of uniformity
in style and composition, and this
pointed the way for need for changed
methods.
Prior to 1894 contingent funds in
Congress and departments were used
for printing. In that year an appro-
priation of 0,000 was made for fire
wood, stationery and printing"
Set Up as Government Unit.
The situation remained unchanged
until 1918, with low bidders getting
the contracts to supply both stationery
and printing. In December, 1918.
resolution was adopted under which
joint committee was named ito con-
slider and report whether any further
provisions of law are necessary to
insure dispatch, accuracy and neat
ness In printing the documents Of the
two houses OF Congress"
After exhaustive study Of costs and
methods the committee reported that
a printing ofice should be set up as
a governmental unit. but nearly half
a century passed before the report
was taken under adviSement and acted
upon, and in the meantime, ways Of
handling Government printing were
changing constantly.
Appointment by ballot each year in
Senate and House was the method Of
awarding contracts and each year
satisfactorily executed printing form
Of documents and publications proved
the exception rather than the rule.
These were the conditions prevail
ing when the Government Printing
ONCE started to function. Almost
Immediately there was noticeable
improvement. Under Defrees q stand
ard was adopted for all Government
matter, and saving Of Is per cent
over commercial prices was effected.
Original Equipment.
The original plant was considered
complete in every detail. 1t consisted
of a drying room, press room, Job
room, folding room, proof room, ofice.
bindery. machine shop, boiler house
and stable.
Among the items Of equipment were
one timepiece, five wrenches, one 40
horsepower engine, 1o4 pressboards,
two wetting tubs and large assort-
ment Of book and Job type. In the
reading room (proof room) there were
eight arm chairs. two pine desks and
one mahogany desk. The bindery had
very few machines, with but two ruling
and two cutting machines. However.
the list carried 10 pairs OF shears, four