Evening star., 1899-02-03
WHAT THEY FOUND
Report of Committee Investigating
Bureau of Engraving.
IN TIE MAIN, IN GOOD CONDITION
Recommends the Removal of a
Chief of Division.
HOT BON" UNISHM ENT

hot BON" PUNISHM ENT
The report of the committee to examine
into rhe administration of the bureau Of
engraving and printing appointed ny Sec
r5tary Gage May II. 1897 was laid before
tine Senate today. The report is signed by
Charles Lyman. Charles H. Brown and
Arthur Hendricks. composing the commit
tee
The report is very lous one. comprising
over 1m paseS Of typewriter matter. The
committee sum up their conclusions in the
following language:
''First-The r. W. Devoc and {. T Ray
u"Ids companies have enjoyed undue ad-
vantage in their dealings with the bureau
iu the matter Of supplying treasury mixed
black postage stamp red and national
currency brown
''Ssecond-The methods employed in the
bureau for testing samples Of dry colors,
lin~eed oil. and perhaps other items. for
the purposes of contract are incomplete
aud unsatisfactory and should be perfected
before another annual letting of contracts.
tnsati>fmctor. Schedules.
Third The schedules for proposals for
enuual contracts are in many respects uu-
satisfactory ana should br carefully re-
visrd
The committee Will make separate
tort in rrgari to complaints hy the Adler
color and Chemical Works, A, e. Ansbach
er x Co. RI. kohnstamm x Go. and Har-
riSou Brothers & Company.
We glad to be able 10 report the
committee state. that in the main
have fpund the hur,au 10 be in good con-
diiinn. Ths. administration of the pres mt
director has been efficient. aud. With the
exceptions which will be stated has been
economical and satisfactory as far W.
Eave discovered Discipline which Is a
very important matter in an establishment
~ this sort. has been well maintained.
Many more changes h9v" occurred in the
personnel "f the bureau III the last four
vars than We think were called for hY the
f"4nl 'm"ntS OF good administration.
\ Recommendations.
The present organization of thc bureau.
the report says. is about the s;,tne a. it mas
been for twenty years. The report shows
that Nir. Brown the custodian OF proving
presses. testified that he has no means of
knowing ~ ascertaining If all the impress
sIor@ when they leave his custody. are re-
turned I" him or properly accounted for.
\ recommendation il made that necessary
Irec.t utiprlS be taken looking to a. thorough!
arcoUu,ahillty for al such Impressions.
Tho committee think the chief of the on
graviTg division should he an cugTavpr OF
approved merit. All expert employees as far
IS possible should he trained in the bureau.
The prices being paid engravers they re-
gard Hs fair and reasonable.
Speaking Of tnc culored printers assist
.ut@, th" report states that although they
Were CLASSIFIED. nearly 81 of them had been
dropped Tn cr:nm!tt".- Judging from tn"
results nt their inv, StigJttnu. concluded the
c"i"r.d plate printers assistants Were dis
tasteful To- the director.
Suggests IL Change.
OF th" binding division the report says:
TT j. our opinion that TN interests of the
S-rvic. would be promoted by the dispIace-
ueut uf Mr. McGiH and the reappontment
.t Capt. Rain as chief of this division"
W" have evidence" the report says.
that Mr.. Cr"cker. foreman Of the gum
ming department, condemned without just
cause one of the employees OF the force in
i!> charge {" refrain from SDeakiIg thirty
days. and as a further punishment com
I-lled him (" stand in q position removed
from his work. in close proximity to a
not h"N. Wihch WIS 1t Al temperature Of
llr GrSTrrS.''
Tn, report says that the man who was
punished in This manner WAS an ini -iiigent
c1I1r-I man and - skilled Iihuryr. that
when Mr. MctiTs attention WAS called u
fao matter h. could not interfere with his
fHrrnistu- WI" was held responsible
In Violation of Rules
Tho report states that shortly after My.
Jrhu~ou became director. J. W Erwin his
tr~t cousin. was appointed at 81 - per
aHuuW, without civil service examination
aS. the report states. we believe in clear
violation of the civil service rules" Sub
~~GueutIy. Clarence II. Green Robert l.
Pyle Bcrtram r. PhorueJt and K. l.. Pick
etr w"r, also appointed designatorS Of
stock. the report says. contrary To civil
service rules.
Thr appointment Of number of en-
pipy~S = criticised hy the committee II
lays tina. Charles Morgan was employed
t-mp1TarIly q comp0sitor when the text
was being printed on the Columbian cxpUsi-
zion diplomas. ana shortly thereafter was
assigned tu a clerical position. Tnr com
mI'tr- says MIR Morgan is thu son of
Nl@'uf Al-Nal'lv- gan late di$burSing
o.. -rr 81 -.e purl..tJ. ana a brothcr-in-Ilw
"t ifl" director Hr remained ia the ser
Speaking Of tho r. W Devoe ana G.. T.
Heyn'!d- Company- the committee. con
We are. therefore. with great regret
''ul'"ii'd Z" report that the allegation
contained IL the letter "f Mr.. shepard that
bids have been invited br him tth,. director,
under circumstances which maxi il irnnr,4e
u"dbi' Tor more than one house To hid jS
sustained a. FAR as The three culorS re-
1'rr'd To are concerned
ar. John-on'~ Reply.
Mr. Claude NJ johnson th. director
makes "a reply al length 10 Tho findings of
n" committee tie ~ays that IN atnswcrin.
tn conclusions reached by the committee
al the purchases made during his admins
trats"u nom r ". Deyoe and c. r. Rev
u"ld~ Company. AMI from all her coutr:,c-
tors. have heen i'm strict accordance. with
tn" LAW and the regulations He shows
certain "@pupmy which had been attained
IL ti' purchase of colprS. and goes into In.
Ndrl"us rharges Of the committee. at length
Mr.. Lyman. chairman of the committee
which conducted the investigation again
A'"reSStd communication 10 the assistant
SECRETARY III criticism Of Mr. Johnson's re-
port