LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS FOR 1964 HEARINGS BEFORE A SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS EIGHTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION SUBCOMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATIONS TOM STEED, Oklahoma, Chairman COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS CLARENCE CANNON, Missouri, Chairman GEORGE H. MAHON, Texas JOSEPH Μ. ΜΟΝΤΟΥA, New Mexico NEAL SMITH, Iowa ROBERT N. GIAIMO, Connecticut JULIA BUTLER HANSEN, Washington EDWARD R. FINNEGAN, Illinois CHARLES S. JOELSON, New Jersey JOSEPH P. ADDABBO, New York BEN F. JENSEN, Iowa WALT HORAN, Washington CHARLES RAPER JONAS, North Carolina ODIN LANGEN, Minnesota II KENNETH SPRANKLE, Clerk and Staff Director LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS FOR 1964 TUESDAY, MAY 14, 1963. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WITNESSES JAMES L. HARRISON, PUBLIC PRINTER HARRY D. MEROLD, DEPUTY PUBLIC PRINTER FELIX E. CRISTOFANE, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLIC PRINTER HARRY J. HUMPHREY, DEPUTY COMPTROLLER CARPER W. BUCKLEY, SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS WILLIAM H. ADDISON, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS MERRILL C. GLEASON, BUDGET AND ACCOUNTING OFFICER, OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS Mr. STEED. The committee will be in order. We have two new members on the Legislative Appropriation Subcommittee this year who, as chairman, I would like to welcome today, Mr. Joelson on my side of the table and Mr. Langen on Mr. Horan's side. We are very happy to have you gentlemen join us and hope you will find this committee work as interesting as those of us who have been with it for several years. We want to offer you every cooperation we can and encourage you to take an active interest in the work of the subcommittee. Today we begin the hearings on the 1964 legislative branch appropriation bill. We have with us the Public Printer and his staff. You may proceed, Mr. Harrison. GENERAL STATEMENT OF PUBLIC PRINTER Mr. HARRISON. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the committee, I would like to express my pleasure at being here today, and to thank you for this opportunity to discuss with you the programs and plans for the Government Printing Office. After 2 years in office, I feel justifiably proud of our accomplishments and in the fact that our agency is operating at a degree of efficiency unequaled in its 100 years of existence. The printing industry is in the midst of a technological revolution which is producing new machinery and processes at a prodigious rate. Through our Committee on Modernization of Machinery and Equipment, we endeavor to choose the best equipment for replacement purposes, with the object of increasing production and reducing costs. Recently installed in our pressroom were 2 web-fed offset presses, 2 radically new wrap-around letterpresses, and a new, highspeed embossing press. A completely automatic machine for the production of notebooks has recently been erected in the bindery. These are but a few of the many new machines that we are using to increase production and modernize our plant. All new equipment is carefully evaluated to insure a recovery of costs within a reasonably short period of time. During the recent Cuban crisis steps were taken to preserve, by means of safe storage, personnel records, manuals, electronic tape programs, systems, rates, and other vital records, to the extent that printing services for the Government could be continued with a minimum of delay in the event that the present plant is destroyed. Much of this material is being reduced to microfilm for compact storage. In our continuing efforts to make the Government Printing Office a leader in the industry, and with the approval of the Joint Committee on Printing, we established during the past year an electronic research program. We are now investigating and evaluating the numerous electronic devices related to the printing industry which are becoming available, especially those which actuate typesetting machines by means of electronic tape. We are constantly seeking ways to set type for the Government more economically and efficiently. Savings to be realized and the amortization of costs must be justified to the Committee on Modernization of Machinery and Equipment. Increased emphasis placed on the incentive awards program during the last fiscal year resulted in a gratifying gain of 350 percent in the number of acceptable suggestions, with attendant monetary savings to the Office. Our position in this regard, compared to agencies employing approximately the same number of people, improved from seventh place to first place. APPRENTICE PROGRAM In October 1962 a class of 52 men was inducted into our apprentice school, increasing the total number receiving training to the maximum of 200 allowed by law. I am hopeful that legislation will be enacted during this session of Congress which will remove this limitation and enable me to train more nearly in line with my needs. Textbooks are being revised and republished and the school is being reorganized under a newly appointed supervisor of apprentice training. In addition to thorough instruction in trade practices, the students participate in comprehensive courses in English grammar and mathematics. These well-trained men will supply a needed reserve of manpower for replacement and expansion purposes. To increase efficiency among our employees, 46 different training courses were held last year, involving 956 persons. So far this fiscal year, 22 separate courses have been taken by 513 employees. These courses include those held at the Office, interagency programs, and seminars conducted by private industry. This activity is in addition to apprentice training and to the editorial planning course mentioned elsewhere. Due to the hazardous nature of much of our work, a vigorous safety program is stressed at the Government Printing Office. This has resulted in a very gratifying frequency rate of 6.8 lost-time accidents |