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filled. The department and the survey are constantly in receipt of complaints about the delay in printing survey manuscripts. A large part of this delay is due to the inadequacy of the present printing fund.

The appropriation for printing the survey's reports has already been excessively reduced. For the fiscal years 1902 to 1906 that appropriation was $215,000; for 1914 to 1918 it was $175,000; for 1924 and 1925 it was and is $110,000; and, owing to the increase in the cost of printing since 1918, the difference in the output is greater than that indicated by the differences in these figures. A comparison of the figures and the results for the fiscal years 1916 and 1924, given below, is significant:

Reduction in amount and in the efficiency of the printing appropriation for the Geological Survey from 1916 to 1924

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Thus handicapped by the demands of what appears to me to be faise economy the survey has been compelled to resort to doubtful means of reducing its printing bills. It has reduced the completeness of its reports, it has employed cheaper and less satisfactory maps and other illustrations, it has cut down editions below the demand, and it has resorted to the questionable expedient of refraining from electrotyping many of its reports, an expedient that prevents reprints, either by the survey or by the Superintendent of Documents.

While it has been practicing these specious "economies" the survey has been compelled to withhold from publication or to delay the publication of a large part of the results of its work. On July 1, 1924, there were in the hands of the editors of the survey manuscripts of reports whose publication, even in the reduced editions now printed, would involve the expenditure of $75,000. Conservatively estimated, the results of half a million dollars worth of work already done and paid for are tied up and unavailable to the public through the lack of this $75,000 for printing. Furthermore, if the usual annual rate of the production of manuscripts giving the results of the survey's work is maintained, there will be added during the present fiscal year matter whose publication will cost about $125,000 more, making a total at the end of the present year of at least $200,000. As the printing fund for the fiscal year 1925 is only $110,000, a balance of $90,000 worth of printing will remain in hand June 30, 1925. The estimate of $102,300 for printing the survey's regular series of reports during the fiscal year 1926 is therefore in my opinion fully justified.

The survey's appropriation for its miscellaneous printing has been similarly reduced from year to year, and reduced in spite of the increase in the cost of printing. These reductions have compelled the survey to resort to the use, for some purposes, of a large amount of clerical work, whose results are less The amounts allotted or approsatisfactory and expensive than printing. priated for several years past are shown below.

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$11,000 10, 000 8,000

10, 000

10, 000

The amounts appropriated for 1924 and 1925 include, respectively, $1,850 and $2,700 for field printing, which was paid for in earlier years from other funds, so that the amount for 1924 that is truly comparable with that for earlier years is $8,150, and that for 1925 is $7,300.

During the last half of the fiscal year dozens of requests received from the several branches of the survey for miscellaneous printing essential to the proper transaction of business have been denied for lack of funds.

In view of the facts thus presented, the request for the appropriation of $12,700 for the survey's miscellaneous printing is, in my opinion, fully justified.

Grand total, $1,233,500.

St. Elizabeths Hospital_.

$2,000

For the printing and binding of the necessary office forms and annual report. The increase of $500 over the fiscal year 1925 is to cover the increased cost of printing and binding, the cost for 1924 being $986.63.

Freedmen's Hospital__.

$1,000

For the printing and binding of the necessary office forms and annual report.

The Alaska Railroad.

$6, 310

For the printing and binding of the necessary forms, letterheads, and information circulars; the increase of $310 over the fiscal year 1925 is to cover the increased cost of printing and binding.

Territory of Alaska..

$200

For the printing of letterheads, binding, and copy of Congressional Record. Territory of Hawaii__.

$200

For the printing and binding of the necessary office forms for the transaction of the routine business.

Board of Indian Commissioners___

$40

For the printing of letterheads, binding, and copy of Congressional Record. Mr. CRAMTON. There seems to be a reduction from $130,000 to $126,000. I suppose you insist on that reduction? Mr. GLASS. Not particularly.

Mr. CRAMTON. Where is that cut made chiefly?

Mr. GLASS. Five hundred dollars from the office of the Secretary, $500 from the General Land Office allotment, $500 from the office of the Indian Affairs allotment, $500 from the Bureau of Pensions allotment, and $2,250 from the Bureau of Education allotment, and $60 from the St. Elizabeths Hospital allotment.

Mr. CRAMTON. The increased cost of printing that you refer to is because of the adoption of a new wage scale in the Government Printing Office?

Mr. GLASS. Yes, sir. It is not due to the increase in cost of paper, but to the increase of salaries and wages.

Hon. LOUIS C. CRAMTON,

House Committee on Appropriations.

NOVEMBER 17, 1924.

MY DEAR MR. CRAMTON: As an additional justification for printing and binding appropriations I inclose herewith a letter from the Public Printer, dated the 14th instant, stating that after November 15, 1924, all orders for printing and binding received in the Government Printing Office which are marked "Rush to the limit" will be subject to a 50 per cent increase in charge of all items other than paper stock. The extra charge made heretofore for such rush work has been 20 per cent. Respectfully,

E. C. FINNEY, First Assistant Secretary.

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE,
November 14, 1924.

MY DEAR MR. SECRETARY: Your attention is respectfully invited to the fact that on and after November 15, 1924, all orders for printing and binding received in the Government Printing Office which are marked Rush to the limit" will be subject to a 50 per cent increase in charge for all items other than paper stock. The extra charge made heretofore for such rush work has been 20 per cent.

This action becomes necessary by reason of wage adjustments made in the Government Printing Office under authority of Public Act 276, Sixty-eighth Congress, and the granting of 50 per cent additional pay for overtime work. It seems proper to construe all "Rush" work in the nature of an overtime requirement.

In view of the above, it is therefore respectfully requested that hereafter requisitions on this office from your department for such work be stamped "Rush to the limit-Charge 50 per cent extra."

Yours respectfully,

THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR,

Washington, D. C.

GEORGE H. CARTER,
Public Printer.

Mr. CRAMTON: We will take up the item of printing for each of the bureaus when the bureaus come before us. The next is the solicitor's office.

OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR

STATEMENT OF MR. C. E. WRIGHT, SENIOR ATTORNEY

Mr. CRAMTON. The next item is as follows:

For personal services in the District of Columbia, etc., $120,920.

Mr. WRIGHT. I offer the following justification for estimates for salaries for the fiscal year 1926:

The appropriation for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1925, covered the salaries of 26 attorneys and 2 medical men, and the necessary clerical assistance.

The present estimates are based on a reduction of two attorneys. One of the incumbents of a $2,400 position died, the other resigned a similar position August 31, 1924. The two salaries amount to $4,800. Neither of the positions had been filled at the time the office estimates were before the Director of the Budget, and they remain unfilled.

The annual output for the last five years, with the arrears, shows an increase in matters disposed of and an accumulation of arrears. Only a small fraction of this work comes in the form of appeals from the General Land Office. The figures are as follows:

ANNUAL WORK OF THE OFFICE

July 1, 1920, disposed of 8,756; arrears, 613 (including Land, 456; Pension, 86).

July 1, 1921, disposed of 12,041; arrears, 740 (including Land, 464; Pension, 75).

July 1, 1922, disposed of 16,291; arrears, 677 (including Land, 459; Pension, 140).

July 1, 1923, disposed of 15,927; arrears, 1,050 (including Land, 485; Pension, 106).

July 1, 1924, disposed of 17,872; arrears, 1,049 (including Land, 659; Pension, 98).

By "Land" is meant appeals from General Land Office; by "Pension," appeals from Pension Bureau.

On November 1, 1924, the undisposed of cases had amounted to 1,378, including 671 land and 230 pension cases. The incoming work, July to October, shows an increase of 4 per cent over corresponding months of last year.

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This includes nearly 200 cases taken over on the dissolution of the receivership in the Red River litigation (Oklahoma v. Texas) pending in the United States Supreme Court. Hearings are about to commence in these cases and will consume several months of time. The work for the year ending June 30, 1924, shows a receipt of 2,120 appeals and motions from the General Land Office, with a disposition of 1,937 such cases during the year. In other words, of 17.872 matters disposed of, only 1,937 were Land Office cases-a little over 10 per cent. Pension cases during the last seven months have averaged 120 appeals a month, compared with a previous average for nine months of about 96. Accumulating arrears have put back the consideration of appeals to something like 90 days from docketing. Considering the age of pensioners, this is a bad situation-justice delayed being justice denied. That is, if a claimant dies before favorable action, the amount due from the Government does not become an asset of his estate.

The attorneys, from January 1 to October 18, 1924, have worked a total of 2,214 hours and 45 minutes overtime. For the total of 248 working days included in this period, this represents 316 plus days, the equivalent of 1.27 plus additional men. The same men have averaged 22 days of leave and 3 days sick leave. The departmental average for sick leave is about 6 days. The illness of three men account for the average, 14 taking no such leave and 6 men two days or less.

The work of this office is unlike the work of many Government offices in that individual members of the public are not merley indirectly, but directly, immediately concerned. That is, we are adjudicating individuals' immediate rights either to public land, oil leases, pensions, heirship in Indian matters, and retirements from the civil service. About 18,000 matters are passed upon during the year not indirectly relating to public interests, but directly involving the welfare of individuals. Consequently, any embarrassment to speedy functioning, any accumulation of arrears, directly, immediately affects specifically members of the public in whose interests the entire work is performed.

In the face of increasing demands on a force numerically smaller, the estimates have been pared to the bone.

Mr. CRAMTON. In 1924 the solicitor's office carried $124,000. The appropriation for the current year is $124,000. The estimate for 1926 is $120.920. Is that correct?

Mr. WRIGHT. That is the approved estimate.

PRESS BUREAU

STATEMENTS OF MR. E. K. BURLEW, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, AND MR. J. H. McNEELY, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE SECRETARY

Mr. CRAMTON. I have noticed for some time that the Interior Department has a very busy press bureau. Can either of you gentlemen give me information as to how that bureau is organized; what it costs the Government?

Mr. BURLEW. Mr. Cramton, the force is composed of Mr. McNeely, and one typist.

Mr. CRAMTON. What is Mr. McNeely's salary?

Mr. BURLEW. $3,300.

Mr. CRAMTON. And the typist?

Mr. BURLEW. The typist gets $1.440. She will probably be promoted to $1,500 soon. The position Mr. McNeely holds is one of the excepted places which a Cabinet officer is permitted to have. Mr. McNeely gets his news from the bureaus.

Mr. CRAMTON. Your pay roll, then, is $4,800?

Mr. BURLEW. Yes.

Mr. CRAMTON. And what other expenses?

Mr. BURLEW. That is the only expense outside of the mimeographing.

Mr. CRAMTON. What are the expenses of mimeographing?

Mr. BURLEW. We have no idea of that, Mr. Cramton, because it is run through the regular run of work. We try to keep the press releases down to one page. Usually they are of that size.

Mr. CRAMTON. Don't you have releases that are more than one page?

Mr. BURLEW. Sometimes they run over, but we try to keep them down to one page. They are generally about one page.

Mr. CRAMTON. I would say they were about five.

Mr. MCNEELY. We try to keep them down to one page, except in

some instances.

Mr. CRAMTON. How large a list do you have?

Mr. MCNEELY. We mimeograph 525 copies. We send them to 370 local newspaper correspondents. Then we distribute some at the Press Club, and have some on the table in my office.

Mr. CRAMTON. I suppose your stationery and other allowances is a negligible amount?

Mr. BURLEW. It is. In addition to furnishing the releases to the newspapers, we use the press releases to answer inquiries. We have a certain number run off for this purpose.

Mr. CRAMTON. How long have you been in the department, Mr. McNeely?

Mr. MCNEELY. I went there from the Post Office Department. I have been there about a year and a half.

Mr. CRAMTON. What was your position there?

Mr. MCNEELY. I was in the press room of the Post Office.

Mr. CRAMTON. Have you had newspaper training?

Mr. McNEELY. Yes, sir; I was editor of a newspaper in Evansville, Ind.

Mr. CRAMTON. What was the scope of the work there?

Mr. MCNEELY. Well, I really run an information office for the Secretary of the Interior. I supply information to the press and to the public and answer inquiries. I also visé publications of the various bureaus and the news releases they give out. Then I work on the annual report every year, get out these news releases for the press, and get up data for the Secretary.

Mr. CRAMTON. These press releases, where do they originate; with the bureau or with you, generally?

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