The balance of this appropriation has been contracted for by requisitions on the insular purchasing agent.

Chief Bureau of Architecture and Construction of Public Buildings.

REPORT OF THE PUBLIC PRINTER FOR THE PERIOD FROM MAY 29, 1901, TO JUNE 30, 1902, WITH APPENDIX COVERING THE PERIOD FROM JULY 1 TO AUGUST 31, 1902.

BUREAU OF PUBLIC PRINTING, OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC PRINTER,

Manila, P. I., September 16, 1902.

SIR: In compliance with your letter of September 4, 1902, I have the honor to present the following report for the period from May 29, 1901, to June 30, 1902, with appendix covering the period from July 1 to August 31, 1902:

It is a matter of great pleasure that I am permitted to announce the installation of the public printing plant for the government of the Philippine Islands.

I was appointed to my present position on May 29, 1901, in the manner suggested by the civil governor, upon the recommendation of Hon. Frank W. Palmer, Public Printer of the United States, and approved by Hon. Elihu Root, Secretary of War. Certain instructions embodied in cablegrams were furnished to me by the Chief of the Insular Bureau as a basis for the equipment of this plant. These instructions indicated the quantity of body type and the number and size of cylinder presses required, and further stated that the Philippine Commission desired a complete printing plant, including stereotyping and electrotyping outfits and a photo-engraving plant, together with necessary supplies.

In accordance with these instructions I prepared the following schedules. The same were duly advertised in the newspapers and Bids invited. Copies were sent direct to well-known firms in the respective mechanical lines:

A. Type. (July 2, 1901.)

B. Electrotyping and stereotyping outfits. (July 11, 1901.)

C. Bookbinding outfit, etc. (July 11, 1901.)

D. Composing room and press-room equipments. (July 17, 1901.)

E. Readvertised and additional machinery, etc., for bookbinding and press-room outfits. (August 5, 1901.)

F. Photo-engraving outfit, supplies, etc.

G. Power plant, etc. (August 12, 1901.)

(August 15, 1901.)

H. Printing inks and copying printing inks, bronzes, dry colors, varnishes, etc. (August 16, 1901.)

I. Electrical supplies, etc. (August 15, 1901.)

A glance at the above dates will show that all the schedules had been prepared and printed by August 16, 1901, two and a half months after the selection of the public printer.

When the bids were received abstracts of all prices submitted by the several bidders were prepared by item number, my recommendations being indicated thereon and the reasons therefor given. The abstracts, bids, and awards, with letters recommending to whom awards be made, were then submitted to the Chief of the Insular Bureau and by him transmitted to the United States Public Printer for his indorsement and such suggestions as he might deem proper. The recommendations I had

the honor to make received his concurrence in every instance. Copies of abstracts of bids and of the awards made to each bidder, along with the letters recommending to whom awards should be made, the letters of transmittal of the Chief of the Insular Bureau to the Public Printer of the United States and his indorsement thereon, accompanied my preliminary report to the Chief of the Insular Bureau on August 19, 1901, which was forwarded to the civil governor with his report on the status of the plant at that time.

The award on the cylinder printing presses was made, under cable instructions, to the Miehle Printing Press Company.

Acting under the verbal order of the chief of the insular bureau of August 12, 1901, I made requisition on the Mergenthaler Linotype Company, based on a proposal submitted by them, for 4 linotype machines, complete in every detail, with all necessary supplies and extra parts. Purchase was ordered on August 15, 1901. The original letters of this purchase are in the files of the insular bureau.

The automatic feeder for the folding machine, an acetylene gas plant, and a few minor articles of equipment were purchased on circular bids.

Mr. J. G. Jester, United States disbursing agent of Philippine revenues, purchased the reference books, copying press and supplies, file cabinet, 2 typewriters, desks for same, and some office supplies, on lists furnished by me.

All necessary cabinets, wood furniture, tables, benches, make-up and type banks, tubs, wood sinks, type racks, etc., were purchased in Manila through the insular purchasing agent.

There have been added to the equipment 2 ruling machines, 2 numbering machines, 2 perforators, all in fair condition; 2 Challenge Gordon presses, in poor condition, transferred from the insular purchasing agent printing branch, and 2 Gordon presses, in fair condition, from the post-office printing branch.

In the absence of specific instructions from the Philippine Civil Commission, a difficult problem presented itself in the question of supplies to accompany the plant. The War Department queried the Government Printing Office officials on this point, receiving a reply to the effect that "it was not possible to make even an approximate estimate of kinds and quantities of supplies to be purchased in the absence of data as to the amount and character of the work." The matter was then placed entirely in my hands. This being determined, an endeavor was made to have them purchased by the Public Printer of the United States under his contracts, who was unable to do so owing to legal obstructions. I therefore recommended the following plan, which was approved by the War Department:

To take the contracts for paper for public printing and binding made by the Joint Committee on Printing of the United States Congress, for envelopes made by the Postmaster-General of the United States, and for stationery, material, etc., made by the Public Printer of the United States, and to address the several contractors a circular letter asking them to furnish this bureau under said contracts and at those prices f. o. b. ship, Manila Bay, plus freight rate from New York, payment to be made from Philippine funds on cable notification of invoice verification at Manila, P. I. The supplies listed in this report other than those enumerated in schedules were purchased thereunder.

In selecting the personnel of the force the following method was adopted: Tender of application, submitting recommendations and medical certificates, my indorsement to the Chief of the Insular Bureau, inquiry by him of the Public Printer of the United States as to efficiency, qualifications, and general character of the applicant, the reply of the Public Printer thereto, the necessary transfer papers through the Civil Service Commission, and tender of appointment, as follows:

WAR DEPARTMENT, DIVISION OF INSULAR AFFAIRS,

Washington, D. C.

SIR: By virtue of authority conferred by cablegram from the Philippine Commission, and by proper transfer from the United States civil service, you are appointed

Meanwhile, while under my direction, you are to assist Mr. John S. Leech, the recently appointed superintendent of the Philippine printing office. Your tenure of

office of this position is to be at the pleasure of this office until you start for Manila, and at that of the civil governor of the Philippines upon your arrival there.

Your duties will be such as may be prescribed by proper authority, and will specially include the instruction of any unskilled or native laborers that may be employed in said office in Manila.

Kindly acknowledge your acceptance of the position on the foregoing terms.
Respectfully,

CLARENCE R. EDWARDS, Chief of Division.

Upon the acceptance of an appointment the prescribed oaths of office were administered. The first member of the force was appointed on August 1, 1901.

On August 17, 1901, a cablegram was sent to the civil governor, giving approximately the floor space required for the plant as a whole and for each mechanical branch.

Believing it would expedite the preparation of the building for this bureau, on the approval of Col. Clarence R. Edwards, Edwin C. Jones and James A. Hoggsette were ordered to proceed to Manila in advance of the force to install the plant. They