Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-10-28
Government Printing Office Again

To the Editor of The EVENING STAR.
The fact has several times been brought to
public notice that NJ. ID. Helm who holds the
important position in the Government Printing
Office of foreman of the Congressional Record,
is business manager of the Critic, paper in
this city largely owned and controlled by Brady
and his star route gang. don't know the in
fluences that were brought to bear upon Mr..
Rounds to make such an appointment, but have
heard it ntimated that this man Helm made it
appear to Rounds when he first entered the
field as candidate for Public Printer. or about
that time that he (Helm) was a very important
parsonage; that he figured cOnspicuOusly in 20
litical circles on account OF his newspapOrial
connections, and that he could probably do
more to bring about his appointment and CON
firmatiOn than most any other party in Wash
ington. 1t is well known to those who read the
Critic during last autumn and winter that its
columns were Oyerburdened with the most
outrageous and grOundless attacks upon,
and most malignant and scurrilous arti-
cles and falsehoOds about, the late Public
Printer, Mr.. Defrees, more strictly upright
and honorable man than whom never held pub
lie or private Office and it is said that copies of
these papers found convenient way to Mr..
Rounds, the then erpectdnt, who, highly elated
with them and being kept constantly under the
exhilarating influence of such nauseating stuff
spurned by all who knew Mr.. Defrees and his
unimpeachable integrity came to regard
Helm really as his chief champion. Nearly
every issue of the Critic at that time itemized
and editorialiZed the superior qualifications and
almost infinite fitness of its immaculate candi-
date, and it is scarcely too much to conclude
that when Mr.. Defrees resigned on account of
the sickness that but so recently terminated his
earth-fe Mr.. Helm the more vigorously pushed
Mr. Rounds claims, with the expectation and
possibly promise of receiving the best place
under his favOrite. And when Rounds was
made Public Printer, Helm scas made foreman
of the Congressional Record really the best
place under the P p, and especially so for
Helm, because while ostensbly in charge of the
Record, he could, at the same time, attend
strictly. as he has ever since his appointment, to
the business interests of the star route organ.
He unquestionably would have preferred and
secured the position of foreman of printing, but
for the fact that the laws of the United States
prohibits the foreman Of printing from directly
or indirectly engaging in the publication of any
book or newspaper, and, besides. there is a DIFF
ference in the annual pay of the two positions
Of only some $500. That the man has any par
ticular or peculiar fitness for the place over hun
dreds of his craftsmen is sheer nonsense. He
has an inOrdinate amount of confidence in him
self that absolutely amounts to what is vulgarly
called cheek" and buZZes around the office
and the Public Printer and foreman OF printing
as If he owned the one and commanded the
others; but it is conceded by all impartial wit
men under him on account of his bullying, POM
pOus tyrannical bearing, and consequently. it
Is an absolute impossibility for him to accom-
plish for the government az much as any man
could who had the respect and good wishes of
his men, al his immediate predecessor. Mr..
Ford, had. But even If he were perfect gentle
man. and q really superior workman and had
the unbOunded confidence of his employees,
such man should most certainly not be in the
employ of the government His paper has done
Io<i To- afD roI1 to- oh; old
ism OF the most gigantic proportions by defend
ing those who have robbed the government and
its abuse and defamation of our law officers
newspapers and public men. who have dared to
denOunce them, are as outrageous as they are
malicious. Should Mr.. Rounds, as head of one
of the largest and most important offices under
the government, retain prominently In his
employ the business manager of such paper?
To this man Helm is attributed the unenyiable
credit Of causing the late heartless discharge of
District men and women from that office-many
of whom were unquestiOnably the best work
men i'm the whole Establishment How much
more honorable on the part of the Public Printer
would it have been had he retained them, and
said to Helm: You may be voter, but as
manager of q sheet that Is constantly abusing
officers of the government l can't keep
YOU You must go, but l shall retain those
whom you have advised me to discharge
Will man work for the best interests Of those
he at least consents to see maligned and out
ragged? Or, what would be thought of q brother
who should give employment to man who had
been robblng his family. or was the defender OF
those who had been doing SOP II Mr. Rounds
proposes to kick out of Office men who are un-
| fortunate enough to be nOn-v0ters and this at
the dictation Of the manager Of q paper whose
| chief existence depends upon diatribes Of abuse
against officers of the government for attempting
| to discharge their duties faithfully and fear.
lessly, it Ia time that the matter be brought ia
the attention of President Arthur. It is an out
rage that demands. and trust may receive. the
| highest official attention and treatment
| October Is. 1882. REPUBLICAN,.
| A Scottish National Demonstration Of
/ Women" is to be held in Glasgow on November
s. In honor of the first exercise of the municipa
/ suffrage by the Nsskar sey ard to arouse ~