The Evening critic., 1882-01-12
DEFREES, DuPLICiTY.
rtts ruIIy and omciaiiy Expose

IL ~ Fully aud Oniciatty Exposed.
The public is familiar with the matters
at issue between Public Printer Defrees and
the employees of tho Government Printing
Office. II is not the first time in the history
of tho incumbency Of the old Pub. Func.
that ho has attempted to deprive the print
ers and tho other employees Of the great
beehive Of their legitimate rights. But
this last act of Defrces is worse than all that
have preceded it, as will be presently
shown.
When the late President Garfield died,
the whole world mourned over his couch.
The Departments were all closed, and that
was expected to include the Government
Printing.oifice and all the places where
per diem salaries were paid. II is a notori
Gus fact that Dcfrees attempted to deprive
thcEmen, women and children, whom ILL.,
fortune placed under his control, of the
advantages which other Government en-
ployes had as to holidays.
Congress remeded that by directing him
in express terms to allow pay for legal holi-
days. They could see no reason why q
clerk who received so much per month
should have more privileges than the men,
women and children who worked by the
day and who were dependent upon their
daily toll or piece-work for tho support of
| their families.
When Dcfees attempted to deTrive his
employees of their pay for the time lost du-
| ring the obsequies of President Garfield,
| the whole community was indignant.
The employees of the Government Print
| ing.oiilce appointed a committee to attend
| to their interests in this matter and to see
whether they could not by law, compel
| Defrees to treat them fairly and honestly.
Mr.. Defrees had decided that the people
| in his employ should not receive pay for
| time lost, although President Arthur had
| by his proclamation declared all depart
| mcnts Of the Government closed. An ap-
peal was made to Comptroller Lawrence.
| A committee representing the printers
and others went to Berkely Springs, where
Defrees was enjoying q vacation, and an
| effort was made to induce him to do iustics.
He was asked whether he would not
| withdraw communication which he
had previously written and reverse de-
cision previously made, and he said that he
would pay the money, if the Comptroller
decided that it was payable.
The Comptroller then went to work and
examined the whole macter, and in a
decision, the substance of which has hitherto
been published in THE CRITIC, decided
that the Printing office employees were en-
titled to four and a-half days pay.
1t was, however, decided that they should
not receive pay for the time lost on the day
of the funeral of Garfield, the very peculiar
ruling being that all patriotic citizens
should give that day to the country.
But the fact should be noted in this con-
nection that the employees in all other De.
partments who received monthly pay did
not lose a dollar.
However, the printers were willing to ac-
cept this decision, unjust as it was.
Meanwhile Mr.. Hawk, of Illinois, who
saw the manifest injustice Of Defrees'
action, introduced the following bill in the
House of Representatives;
"That the Public Printer be, and he is
hereby, authorized and directed to pay the
employees OF the Government Printing-oifice
the pay deducted from them for the time lost
during the obsequies of the late President
James A. Garfield, during the month Of Septem
| Der. 1881
The committee representing the Print.
ing-Offlce employees asked an interview
with the House Committee ON Printing
to urge their claims After Mr.. Hawk had
introduced the bill, however, the printers
committee went to the paymaster to ascer-
tain when the back pay matter would be
settled, and they were informed not until
the 10th of this month, and probably not
until the first of next month.
The committee, in pursuit Of informa-
ton on the subject, called again upon
Comptroller Lawrence, and were by him
referred to the First Auditor, Gen. Rey-
nolds, to ascertain the cause Of delay. They
: then ascertained that the accounts had not
been audited because Of Deirees' duplicity
He had written a letter dated December
16, 1884, in which he deliberately went
back upon what he had told the committee
when they visited him at Berkely, in Sep
tember.
Let it be borne in mind that he haG
told the committee that he was willing Il
pay, if the Comptroller decided that TIN
claimants were entitled to it. In his lette
to Auditor Reynolds, Defrees said that h
entered his protest against paying thi
money to the employees of the Government
Printing Office for the reason that the
asked pGy for ~ork which they lad neeer per
formed.'
Defrees further added in this letter tha
he desired that the responsibility for tn
had never earned according to Defrees
should rest with the accounting officers q
, the Treasury Department.
= 1t will, therefore, be perceived that DE-
frees is himself responsible for the non-pay
I ment, in spite of the following clause froI
G Judge Lawrence's decision:
b. Assuming the right OF the Publ
Printer TO exist, as stated in all cases enume
s ated, and for all the reasons stated, itdoes ne
). meet the case, or questions, now presente'
| except, perhaps, in principle, as 10 the 2ot
: Of September, which day will be reserved fc
separate consideration. The Public Printe
did not dismiss any employ
from the service; he did not flu
Tough any a necessity Of the public servic'
" | or for a similar reason reduce the hours
s daily employment; but, during a period
+, four and a-half working days, b'
! | sides "the day of humiliation an
n mourning" employees were deprived Of worl
0 | and, unless paid the reasonable sum the
; might have earned, must suffer by reason
enforced and unexpected idleness.
h The committee representing the Printing
ing-ofiice had their interview with th
. House Printing. Committee to-day, and
q was very satisfactory. They are led to b.
g lieve that they will get full justice an
= will be placed on an equality1with the mo
favored employees of the Government.
!, NJ. Pasteur, the new French Academ
= clan, whose scientific reputation has gon
. round the world. is man Of mediu
y height, with frank and attractive fac
3 | lie has q handsnmn graY curl resting on b