cieties, may prove the salvation of the International Union and the pension plan in the years to come. The executive council has no desire to build up a large fund merely that the treasury may contain the money. It is looking to the future and endeavoring to render impregnable the pension fund and other beneficial features that add so much to the strength and ever redound to the glory of the organization.

And in this work the executive council desires the earnest co-operation and the best thought of every member.

ENHANCED VALUE OF I. T. U. MEMBER

SHIP.

While the establishment of the Union Printers Home and the adoption of burial benefits, together with the inauguration of an old age pension and a system of craft education have made membership in the International Typographical Union much more valuable than it formerly was, no steps have been taken to secure to the International Typographical Union adequate compensation for these benefits from those seeking admission. In very few instances have subordinate unions to the International Typographical Union increased their initiation fee, and certainly none of them in a sum sufficient to cover the increased benefits that accrue to membership at the present time.

For this reason, and in order that the International may in some manner be recompensed for additional benefits, the executive council recommends the adoption of the following, and propositions providing for the necessary changes in the laws will be submitted to the convention.

NEW MEMBERS.

First-The minimum initiation fee that shall be collected by subordinate unions when admitting candidates to membership shall be $5. Two dollars ($2) of each initiation fee collected by subordinate unions shall be transferred to the secretary-treasurer of the International Typographical Union and accrue to the International funds.

REINSTATEMENTS.

Second-That members of subordinate unions. shall become suspended when four months in arrears for local or International dues or assessments, and that suspended members shall have no standing in the organization. For reinstating suspended members the local union shall collect the local and International Typographical Union dues and assessments that were due at the time of suspension, together with such International per capita tax and assessments as would have accrued to the time of reinstatement. In addition to this there shall be collected a reinstatement fee of not less than $5. Two dollars ($2) of each reinstatement fee collected by subordinate unions shall be transferred to the secretary-treasurer of the International Union and accrue to the International funds. It shall be the duty of subordinate unions, on request of a member who is sick or disabled, to protect his membership in the organization during such sickness or disability, the local union to be reimbursed for this expenditure by the member benefited after recovery.

FINES.

Third-Fifty per cent of all fines levied on members by subordinate unions for violation of International Typographical Union laws shall be transmitted to the International Typographical Union secretary-treasurer and accrue to the International funds.

CHARTER MEMBERS.

Fourth-A charter may be issued to ten or more printers in any city or town. Each charter member shall pay the sum of five dollars ($5) as a charter membership fee. Two dollars ($2) of this amount shall be forwarded to the secretary-treasurer of the International Typographical Union for the charter and necessary supplies. The executive council makes this recommendation for the reason that it will give more stability to the new unions. Under the present plan of granting charters the charter members usually contribute only a sufficient sum to make the $10 necessary for the charter fee and start the organization with no money in the treasury. Under the plan proposed each member would have an investment of at least five dollars ($5) and there would be a fund in the local treasury of at least $30. It is believed that the investment would stimulate the interest of the members in the organization and it would give the International Typo graphical Union some assurance that when a subordinate union was formed it would be of a permanent character. It is well known that people will take an interest in making successful anything in which they have a sufficient sum of money invested.

DUPLICATE CARDS.

Fifth-Owing to increased complaints coming to the secretary-treasurer of the International Typographical Union from local secretaries as to difficulties they experience with members who draw traveling cards and afterwards lose them, the executive council recommends that when a member loses a traveling card, he can receive a duplicate thereof only by applying to the secretary-treasurer of the International Union, who shall issue such duplicate on the payment of $1 after sufficient time has elapsed for an investigation to be made, and on a statement from the secretary of the union issuing the card claimed to have been lost setting forth the fact of its issuance and the number of the card. It shall be the duty of the member applying for a duplicate card to give the name of the union issuing his original card, and duplicates shall be furnished from a series numbered separately from the regular traveling cards and have printed thereon the words "Duplicate Card." No duplicate for a lost traveling card shall be issued to any member unless application therefor is made within thirty days from the time such card is lost, and within two months from the date of the issuance of such card.

this body, the organizer shall furnish application blanks to such as are there and wish to become members of the International Typographical Union, and such blanks, when filled out, shall be forwarded by him to the secretary-treasurer, who shall cause the names of applicants to be published in THE TYPOGRAPHICAL JOURNAL; and if, after the lapse of thirty days after such publication, no valid objection is received, the secretary-treasurer shall, upon applicants subscribing to oath, as provided in section 46, issue a certificate of membership, which shall entitle the holder to all rights and privileges of a member of the International Union. Each application shall be accompanied by an initiation fee of $2, and such member shall be liable for the regular International Typographical Union per capita tax and assessments.

It has been the experience of the executive council that practically all of the printers in unorganized towns who apply for admission to the International Union under the provisions of section 37 of the general laws do so because they have in mind moving into cities where unions exist, or they desire to enter machine schools where only card members are given instructions, and the council believes that the application fee in such cases should be at least an amount equal to the minimum fee charged by local unions for membership, and, therefore, recommends that the initiation fee which shall be paid by applicants from unorganized towns be changed from $2 to $5.

ORGANIZING IN CUBA.

At the Boston convention of 1908 the following resolution was submitted by the New York delegation:

Resolved, That Typographical Union No. 6 heartily recommend to the executive council of the International Union the appointment of an International organizer for the islands of Cuba and Porto Rico.

The resolution was referred to the committee on organization and reported back to the convention favorably. During the consideration of the report of the committee, Delegate Lynch, of Ottawa, Kan., moved to amend the resolution by including Mexico in the proposition. The amendment of Delegate Lynch was adopted, as was the report of the committee as amended.

Carrying out the intent of the resolution, as adopted by the convention, the executive council appointed an organizer to take up the work proposed, but found that it was confronted with the proposition of securing an organizer who understood and could speak the Spanish language and Armand B. Rodriguez, of New York, was selected for the work. Mr. Rodriguez proceeded to Cuba and took up the duties that had been assigned him about five months previous to the closing of the fiscal year. Up to that time he had succeeded in forming two unions-one in Havana and the other in Santiago de Cuba. The expense attached to the work of Mr. Rodriguez for the time mentioned was $1,064.20 and the last report received at the office of the secretary-treasurer from the union formed in Havana was that the larger number of members connected with that organization had refused to pay the one-half of 1 per cent for the old age pension assessment and it was in arrears at that time for tues and assessments. The

union at Santiago de Cuba has not been organized for a sufficient length of time to determine what the result will be in that city.

LETTER OF PROTEST.

The executive council has had a number of letters during the last few months from American printers who have taken residence in Havana, and without exception they all objected to affiliating with the organizations that were formed in that country. There appears in the June JOURNAL a communication from Asa B. Roberds from Havana, Cuba, which contains, among other things, the following:

It was a brilliant mind that conceived the idea of organizing Cuba without first investigating con ditions, possibilities and probabilities. Just like the idea of sending a missionary into some remote place, whether the fact is known that there are heathen or not.

*

The International Cigarmakers' Union should be interested in organizing Cuba, if any other trade in the world should, for the product of the Cuban workmen comes in direct competition with that of the American union. Still no efforts are made to bring the international to Cuban soil. In fact, not much effort is expended to get Cuban cigarmakers in cities like Tampa and Key West to join the American Union.

Why, do you ask? Because the American and the Latin-American ideas of unionism differ as greatly as do the Jew and the Gentile on religion. They have no power to realize the benefits unionism can have without the use of strikes, riots, etc. There is no idea of improving their condition mechanically, morally, physically or collectively.

*

Let me give an example: Nine years ago, when the Havana Post was handset, there were seven or eight men employed, all Americans. The proprie. tors made a big reduction in the pay, and the men all walked out. There was a Cuban typographical union in existence then, and the officers of that union at once furnished the Post twelve men (Cubans) to take the strikers' places. When the striking men protested to the Cuban Union, they were informed that the union was violating no obligation. The pay offered by the Post was more than the Cubans were being paid, so they saw no reason for the union not taking advantage of the Post's liberal pay. Two years after this occurrence the American printers had a chance to get back at the Cuban Union. There was a strike on El Mundo. The American printers were ap pealed to, but not one of them touched a stick. The International Typographical Union is an American institution. The Americans have been bringing things here and giving them to the Cubans for the past eleven years through governmental channels. Maybe the union would do the same thing. That balance in the treasury of the International Typographical Union was an eloquent argument. Why, if a Cuban union had that much on hand it would strike whether it had a grievance or not. Then there has been another reason. The Americans working here have stood together and held up the pay. On the American papers the machine scale is $6 per day. This was advanced from $5 without any more effort than the getting together and asking for it. An American on a Spanish paper sets one page in English, working not over four hours a day. He gets $30 a week, American money, for that. Cuban operators on the same paper work eight hours for less than $20 per week. They see the advanced pay the Americans get, and they grasp at the International Typographical Union straw to pull them up. No competency test has been established for any applicant. There are members of the union here who work many more than eight hours a day, and draw considerably less than the $2 per day mini

mum.

The Americans here, cardholders in the International Typographical Union, protested to headquar

ters to a man, but they were overruled, and informed that if they did not affiliate with the local union they would forfeit their membership. What can they do? If it comes to a contest it will amount to but one thing: Buy a ticket back home and heap blessings on the missionary man who got up so brilliant an idea. Far better have waited until the political economists have decided whether or not the acquisitions of the Spanish-American war are ready for self-government than to have trusted a charter and label to a lot of inexperienced men. The American government holds a mailed fist aloft over the government affairs, but the International Typographical Union goes to the roof and tosses its charter and its label out into darkness, not knowing whether it will land in a bed of roses or a miry bog.

ANOTHER LETTER OF PROTEST.

In the first part of June a letter which will appear in the July JOURNAL was received from Gilbert I. Brayton, who has traveled extensively in that portion of the world under discussion, and we here quote the following from his communication:

First, referring to Mr. Roberds' letter from Havana in the June number of THE JOURNAL, I can add but little to the statements he has made, further than to say I have personal knowledge that all of them regarding the present organization in Havana are true. At the time the organizer for Cuba, Porto Rico and Mexico commenced his labors, about the first of the present year, in Havana, we who were on the ground went carefully over local conditions with him, explaining that there was not the minimum number of seven Americans to secure a charter, that we all drew $30 or more a week, none worked more than eight hours a day and that we could see no reason for organizing a local of Cubans; that if such local were organized and we were compelled to join, we would be a hopeless, defenseless minority in an organization composed of those whose language we did not speak and whose conception of unionism was utterly foreign to ours, and that we would have no voice in its management and no power of fixing our own scale of prices or framing the laws under which we would labor. Therefore, we requested that some provision be made whereby the American portion of the union to be formed should be separated from the Cuban. The negative answer to our appeal proving that we were already a helpless non-entity so far as the contemplated Havana Union was concerned, we thereupon petitioned the executive council of the International Typographical Union to the same effect. The receipt of this petition was acknowledged, as also the receipt of an explanatory letter which I addressed to the secretary, but the answer came back that the International Typographical Union had taken action at the Boston convention, and that we had no alternative but to subject ourselves to Spanish-speaking Cuban union-this with no guarantee that our rights would be recognized or our welfare protected. It may be said that little damage was done by this action-that inasmuch as Hanava "Union" has no scale of prices, the four Americans there have been left to fix, for the present, their own scale and continue as they were. True, then why organize or continue a union in Havana? There is nothing to gain, and the interests of the Americans, all of whom already receive more than any scale which the Cubans can possibly fix, has been needlessly jeopardized.

And now a few words about Jamaica and Kingston Union. Just before the strike was called at Kingston last fall I visited that place. Walking into the composing room of the Kingston Gleaner, the largest daily newspaper in the West Indies, Í beheld some of our embryo fellow membersthirty-two of the blackest negroes that ever were seen outside the equatorial zone of Africa, none of whom, according to information I secured in the office, received as much as the minimum pay

provided by our International laws before a charter can be issued, and who were working consid erably in excess of eight hours a day. On the Kingston Gleaner I saw but one white man-the manager. Jamaica is a negro country, scarcely more than 3 per cent of the population being white. Not only the printers, but the reporters and editors as well, are largely negroes and mulattoes. It is a beautiful, mountainous, tropical country, inhabited mostly by ragged, barefooted, illiterate negroes with a lower standard of morals than I have found anywhere else in the world. It is a country where women do a large portion of the manual labor, such as bricklaying, hodcarrying, coaling ships and loading them with bananas.

Now what is the object of organizing branches of the International Typographical Union in these countries? Are the West Indies a source of danger to us in that non-union men may be secured here at some future time to man rat offices in the United States? No, the printers either do not speak the English language, are incompetent, as judged by American standards, or both, and in addition most of them are off color to such an extent that any union formed would be dominated by the colored element.

Are English or American printing interests increasing rapidly enough to warrant the establishment of locals under the jurisdiction of the International Typographical Union? Quite the contrary, so far as Havana is concerned, for there are but four white men left there, where formerly there were double that number.

Are we endeavoring to protect ourselves for the future by gaining a foothold now? If so, then search out the minimum of seven white printers in any city in the West Indies and organize them into a union. There are but five in Cuba and the Isle of Pines combined.

Is this movement intended as charity to the native printers of these islands? Then let it be done as such. Let negro unions be openly organized as negro unions, and Spanish unions as Spanish unions, with provisions whereby the interests of white members of the International Typographical Union will be safeguarded.

It is the opinion of your correspondent, as well as the unanimous opinion of all those who were in Havana when the movement was begun, that the organization of locals in the West Indies is, until there are at least seven white men in one community, a useless, senseless extravagance, answering no good purpose, and tending to weaken, rather than strengthen, the International Typographical Union.

DISASTROUS STRIKE IN KINGSTON.

During the past year a disastrous strike occurred in Kingston, Jamaica, in which city a typographical union was reorganized in 1907. About one year after the reorganization had been effected the union adopted a new scale of prices which was two or three times higher than the scale in effect and asked the sanction of the executive council for a strike. The executive council at first declined to sanction this strike, thinking that conditions were not propitious for a successful fight in that city at that time, but the union persisted that the time was ripe and advised the executive council that if a strike were sanctioned it would not last three days. Upon this assurance the council authorized the calling of the men from the offices, but informed the union that only one week's benefits would be paid. Subsequently the council authorized the sending of $1,000 to Kingston for the purpose of paying benefits for such time as that amount of money would last. After the strike started the union soon discovered that it was a hopeless struggle, and within a very short time many of the men who came out returned to work,

and the secretary of the union, who was also acting as International Typographical Union organizer, absconded with all the funds in the treasury, together with the balance left of the $1,000 sent to No. 98 by the executive council. Writing the council under date of December 4, 1908, Secretary Gregory, of No. 98, among other things, said:

I regret to say the strike of this union is still on, the employers resorting to any and everything to fight the union. No. I strike reports are too few for our purposes. Send us now about thirtysix. I am in great haste to catch the outgoing mail, which leaves in about half hour's time, and can not write much.

On receipt of this letter and accompanying reports we would be glad if you could arrange with the National Bank at Indianapolis to cable the bank of Nova Scotia at Jamaica to pay to my order the sum of $626, being the amount for strike benefits, in order to save time, otherwise the strikers will go without benefits five weeks before hearing from you. If you decide to do this union the service requested, kindly cable me also so that I may be informed and apply to the bank here for benefits. I am sure you will take into consideration the great distance we are from headquarters, which hampers this union. We have no desire to see some of our members starved into submission.

On receipt of this letter the executive council instructed the secretary-treasurer to forward to Secretary Gregory, of No. 98, the sum of $626, together with an additional sum sufficient to make $1,000, with the intimation that the council will not "hereafter pay regular strike benefits, but will consider from week to week the necessity for further appropriations, and, if action is favorable, will appropriate such amounts as in the judgment of the council may be necessary."

VILLAINY AND DECEPTION.

On January 12, 1909, R. W. Parris, who had been elected secretary of No. 98 in place of Mr. Gregory, wrote the secretary-treasurer as follows:

I beg to inform you that at the last general meeting of Kingston Typographical Union No. 98, held on January 10, C. A. Aaron, ex-president of No. 98, was elected president, vice I. MacDonald, resigned, and R. W. Parris was elected secretarytreasurer, vice J. A. Gregory, and it is with deep regret that I have to pen these lines to you and, through you, the executive council, acquainting you of the vicissitudes through which No. 98 has passed since the opening of the New Year.

In the first place, cable message sent by President Lynch, in answer to Organizer Gregory's letter re being able to win out in three days, was not put to the members of No. 98 in its real form. Gregory and local executive for some reason or other thought best not to do so, and all the membership in general understood was that executive International Typographical Union had sanctioned a strike and No. 98 could go ahead. The result was that in a ballot taken at the same meeting a unanimous vote was given to tender two weeks' notice, according to local law. The membership was misled from the outset and, instead of being informed in an intelligent way after inauguration of strike that requisition forms could only be filled up and returned after being out one week in order to receive benefits, they were led to expect benefits weekly by every incoming steamer from America, and in some instances being made to believe that benefits had already been lodged in local bank.

The first week was met by the amassing of local funds of the combined unions-typographical, pressmen and bookbinders-and by a loan of $138.80 from the pressmen's union, their benefits baving arrived in advance. The end of the second

week brought no benefits, and this, along with the importing of three linotype machines and two operators from New York and sinister rumors by men of responsible positions to the effect that Americans were not going to support West Indians and that the proprietors were in communication with the International Typographical Union so disheartened the weaker members of the organization that the beginning of the third week was the signal for ratting. In order to save the situation it was resolved that sanction be given to seek em ployment in non-union offices on the Thursday of the third week out on strike.

The arrival of the first week's benefits and an advance of second week's ($1,000) was safely received on December 21. Of this amount $576 was paid out two days later on the first week's benefits, less $1.08 (dues and old age pension fund), and the amount that was borrowed from allied

unions.

Under pretense of taking to Moutego Bay (a seaport town of Jamaica about ninety miles from the capital), in accordance with direct instructions from the president of the International Typographical Union, the requisition forms for the sig natures of two of the members who had obtained sanction to go there and also to solicit aid toward a printing plant outfit to help unemployed members, Mr. Gregory obtained the consent of No. 98 to proceed thither on December 31-his stay to occupy two days. His non-return on the 2d of January elicited no surprise, and it was generally believed that the work of appeal had hindered his return. Letter received under date of January 4 from one of the very members whose signature he had gone to obtain, asking for information re progress of strike, etc., was the first intimation of foul play. Inquiry was made the next day at his residence, and, beyond the fact that he was away, his wife professed ignorance of his whereabouts. A search was immediately instituted, and among the first things found was the requisition forms supposed to have been the purport of his journey. His bankbook was found to contain only $5.25, although the secretary treasurer was supposed to have lodged the remaining amount on the 28th of December. He has not been heard of since, and there can not be the slightest doubt whatever that the secretary-treasurer has absconded with the funds of No. 98 to the extent of about $700 to $800. The matter has been placed in the hands of the police, who are making efforts to effect his capture.

The secretary-treasurer is bonded in the American Federal Union Surety Company in the sum of $500, particulars of which will be forwarded by President Aaron. No. 98 craves the indulgence of the International Typographical Union and begs that every consideration be shown them, as in the present decrepit condition of their financial affairs they are unable to meet their obligations until the collection of such bond. Doubt is entertained as to whether the per capita tax and pension assessment have been forwarded you for December, as the books are only made up to November 30.

No. 98 has been placed in a very bad position owing to the unfortunate termination of the strike and the inhuman action of its secretary-treasurer. Forty-five men have been thrown out by the linotype and scab printers. Some are men with families dependent upon them, who are debarred from getting employment on account of the stanch support they gave the union. I can not too strongly emphasize their respective positions (perhaps the enclosed clipping from the Guardian of 11th of January will give a better idea) and to enlist the prompt sympathy and aid of the executive council and to beg of the council the privilege of the defense fund and section 21 of the general laws. have endeavored to lay before you a correct view of the situation and to show how defeat was accomplished where success was assured.

I

The result of organizing in Jamaica, as illustrated in the two communications from which we have quoted that were received from the former secretary and the present secretary of No. 98,

would seem to justify the communications written by Messrs. Roberds and Brayton.

It appears to the executive council that the amount of money necessary to be expended for the purpose of continuing to carry out the resolution adopted by the Boston convention will be much greater than any benefits that can accrue to the International therefrom for years to come, and it would, therefore, recommend that the resolution be rescinded and the executive council instructed to withdraw the organizer from that territory.

PRINTING OF RETURN CARDS ON EN

VELOPS BY THE GOVERNMENT.

The following resolution submitted by the New York delegation to the Boston convention was referred to the executive council:

Whereas, The United States postoffice department is sending broadcast through the country offers to print the return card on stamped envelops at a price which makes the printing almost free, provided same are purchased in amounts of 500

or more.

Resolved, That the delegates to the International Typographical Union convention in Boston be instructed to bring the matter before that body, and that a protest be registered by them with the postmaster-general against the practice as benefiting only a small class of our citizens, while it is detrimental to the large body of men engaged in the printing and stationery business.

Complying with the purport of the above resolution, the executive council took up with the postal authorities of the United States government the question of printing return cards on stamped envelops furnished by the government for business houses, and the following communication received from Third Assistant Postmaster-General A. L. Lawshe explains the position of the postal department in this matter:

WASHINGTON, D. C., December 18, 1908. J. W. Bramwood, Secretary Executive Council, International Typographical Union, Indianapolis, Ind.:

SIR-Referring again to your letter of December 12, I desire to avail myself of the opportunity which it affords to present through you to the International Typographical Union the department's position on this subject of the printing of return cards on stamped envelops, and also certain plans which have been formulated to improve the service in connection with stamped envelops to the benefit of the public, the printing and envelop trades, and the postoffice department.

First let me explain that the printing of return cards has been done for years under an act of congress which limits the printing to "a printed request to return the letter to the writer." A copy of departmental circular S-28, dated July 6, 1908, containing the law and some revised regulations adopted for its execution, is enclosed herewith. You will observe that the rules restrict printing by the department to that which is essential to the return of undelivered letters. Nothing beyond that, in the way of advertisements, cuts, or wording which is not essential to the purpose of a return card, is printed. When anything of that nature is desired by users of stamped envelops they must have it done at their own expense by private printers or lithographers.

The return card is a valuable part of an envelop, stamped or unstamped. The envelop is incomplete without it. It insures prompt return of undelivered letters to the writer-often a matter of greatest importance-and saves an enormous amount of

work to the department's division of dead letters. If all envelops were printed with return cards, it would practically do away with the dead letter office. Were the department to cease furnishing them, undelivered and unreturnable mail would vastly increase.

The printing of return cards is done without extra cost to the department, the contract providing that the envelops shall be furnished with or without printed return cards, as may be ordered. Therefore, no extra charge can be made to purchasers for the printing; but return cards are not printed on envelops ordered in less quantities than 500. The printing of return cards can be done by the contractor at comparatively trifling expense, because it is done on special machines simultaneously with the embossing of the stamp on the paper before the envelop is folded and gummed.

These envelops bearing printed return cards are of great mutual advantage to the business public and to the postal service, and, of course, the printing of return cards very largely encourages and increases their use. The envelops save the labor and time required to affix adhesive stamps-no small item for business concerns. There is no danger of the stamp being lost from the envelop in transit, as may happen where the gum is washed from the adhesive stamps because of excessive moistening by careless office help. It is possible, too, for unscrupulous persons to use adhesive stamps which have once performed postal service but have escaped cancellation, but the department can not be defrauded in this way when stamped envelops are used, because the envelop is canceled even though the cancelling mark appears elsewhere than directly upon the embossed stamp itself. Stamped envelops are further advantageous to the public because it is possible for the department to redeem them from purchasers when spoiled in addressing, or in case a purchaser has a larger supply than needed. This facility can not be granted in the case of adhesive stamps, because it would greatly increase their use for remittance purposes and thereby disarrange the equalization of postmasters' salaries and other allowances under the law. Another important advantage is in the fact that the selling value of stamped envelops covers the cost of manufacture in addition to the postage value, so that the department is reimbursed for their cost. This is not true either as to adhesive stamps or postal cards. There is, furthermore, little or no danger of theft of stamped envelops either from postoffices or from business concerns because of their bulk.

Stamped envelops, with or without return cards, are required by law to be furnished for sale to the public at cost of production, including administration, as nearly as such cost may be ascertained. To illustrate, for the No. 5 envelop, the size most largely in use, the department pays not quite 79 cents per thousand, printed or unprinted, and sells them at $1.24 per thousand in addition to postage. The gross selling value of stamped envelops and newspaper wrappers issued to postmasters in the fiscal year 1908 was $25.416.344.54, and their postage value was $23,743,563.68, leaving $1.672.780.86 to defray the cost of manufacture and distribution. The contract cost of manufacture was $1,058,197.95, leaving $614.582.91 to defray the cost of distribution. Their production does not contribute to the postal deficiency.

Coming now to the plans mentioned in the first paragraph of this letter, I have to say that, if au thorized by congress, they would divert orders for stamped envelops very largely to the printing trade, and particularly to local printers.

The stamped envelop contractor now makes envelops of prescribed sizes and out of particular grades of paper. The printing which the government will do is restricted as above stated. Practically every business man would use stamped envelops if he could get the kind of printing he wants, including cuts, special designs, advertisements, etc. The waste and the difficulty, because of the flaps, of producing good work on plain stamped envelops prevents their use in that way.

Under the scheme which the department has under consideration, the local printer could take or