Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-11-11
The Attorney General and the Pul,lfc
Printer.
! LOOSE MANAGEMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT PRINT

The Attorney General and the Public
LOOSE MANAGEMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT PRINT
ING OFFICE.
To the Editor of The EVENING STAR:
me recent unpleasantness at the Government
Printing office between the Attorney General and
a clerk to Public Printer Rounds relative to the
premature publication In Philadelphia paper OF
q conhdential circular from the Department OF
Justice respecting the duties OF United States mar.
shals at elections, is but natural result of the
manner In which business is managed In that es-
adjustment When Mr.. Rounds came into power
we were informed that the Office would be run on
business principles" Well, this difficulty with
the highest law officer OF the land means more
than appears on its face to the casual observer II
was not an accident, as some might imagine that
Caused II; When duties that an Official himself
should discharge are habitualy, systematically,
eft TO clerk or some 1nconseQuential irrespOnst-
oe o1,1 u1nderling to perform. oughtn't such dis
personally supervised the printing OF the docn-
ment In question, as he should have DONE and as
ms predecessor did in such cases, the leakage
and the Attorney General would not have felt con-
stralned TO have given the warning, "that, in case
he the rg
age ever happened under Mr.. Derrees' administra-
ton But then he didn't do business on "6a1siness
had no manager of the internal workings OF the
ONCE like Helm, and you know, Mr.. Editor, that
an INDUSTRIOUS, interruptions, newspaper man who
mas cn1eny MS own pockets and personal interests
IN view, when once he gets the reins OF an institu-
tlOh ike the Government Printing Office In his
grasp, can almost unlmitedly assist outside news
paper correspondents to valuable items conflden-
tiai and otherwise; and If he holds sort of grudge
against the Attorney General On account OF the
ably and fearessly prosecuted the star reuters. an
opportunity to give to the public confidential cir
cuiar,ev before cabinet meeting had eliminated
might be taken advantage Of especially II II were
thought that the Objectionable features aroremen-
e,ohea M would initiate against the Attorney Gen.
and himself SO maligned by the paper OF which
SAID internal manager referred to is business
that somebody In the Government Printing onice
dtd M give TO newspaper correspondent the cir
cuar IN question, and that the Attorney General
matters are again similarly violated, "the matter
would be laid before the President" It is a fact
which believe has never appeared in print, that
when President Arthur came to the point of hay-
ing MS inaugural address put in type, he sent his
private secretary to Mr. Derees to ascertain II he
II II cOuIG, IL was to be done. II not, the Presi-
aent would submit the document IN manuscript,
of H u m mas m that not word or syllable
gentlemen OF the press Mr.. Defrees summoned
Ma Major Davis, his foreman. who assured them that
done-how we'll, the President and the ambitious
neWssgatherers ne VS. ga VIM remember. Not one word
TGned WneS had the public gn the whole address
ana re-revlsed by the President himself, was
gSen III iegtlmate manner, and this, too, when
I @ oi Interested persons were IN state Of
almost WHO expectancy, ready and willing to give
extraVagant sums for the honor OF being first pre-
malntained without unremitting labor and watch
Iuiness The work OF revision and nnal printing
extended through two days ana two nights, dur
ing tne whole OF which time either Mr.. Defrees or
~, ms foreman exercised personal supervision over
tne work Had Mr.. Rounds been more watchful
and less less trustfu the Attorney General might have
laa iess cause for complaint and he himself would
nave Deen spared another humiliating Illustration
Oh the TACT that as Ear as competency and economy
are concerned, his administration Is miserable
Iallure, and ne is sailing under false colors which
Inc next session OF Congress may be called upon to
sTah naIi Gown; IN TACT IL is the sammoning up OF
SUCH miSinanagement and lncOnpetency on the
part OF republican officials who ought never to
nave Deen entrusted with responsible duties to SO
outTageousiy abuse, that has In great measure
assisted IN the late overwhelming defeat of our
parry ana IL Is to be hoped that lesson has been
Taught that VIII end in some displacements before
IL saa! De too late to rally for the next Presiden-
taI conteSI = REPUBLICAN.