Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-29
Commissioner Garfield Con-
fers With the President.
THELATTER'S ATTITUDE
IT IS THOUGHT THAT HE HAS
TAKEN FINAL ACTION.
Some New Charge Must Be Brought UP
to Cause a Observation-Disclosures
ing Office Charges.

James r. Garfield, commissioner of cor
porations, and acting secretary of the De-
partment of Labor and Commerce, spent
some time with the President today. and the
celebrated case of Miller, the reinstated as
sistant foreman of the government bndery,
was the principal topic of the conference
With Secretary Cortelyou Mr.. Garfield has
handled the case and is familiar with every
phase of 1t. 1t is pretty we'll understood by
those who have talked with the President
about the matter that he has taken final
action and that there is no more to be done.
The Indications are said to be strong that
he will stand pat on the position he took
at the beginning, and that he will not take
up the Miller case for consideration unless
there is something new to be taken up.
Miller will remain where he Is unless ineff1-
Gent work or something else that is consid-
cred legitimate cause should arise to secure
his dismissal or change.
To Analyze Cost of Work.
The discussion of the case has brought
up the question of the cost of work done
In the government office. Public Printer
Palmer has appointed commission to re-
wise the list of charges that are made for
work done by his office and to make a
thorough investigation of all conditions en-
charge. An inventory is also to be taken
of all material in the office of the public
printer prior to removal into the new build
ing
The following statement concerning the
reasons for the appointment of this COM
mission to revise the charges of the office
has been given out at the office of the
public printer:
Discussion growing out of the W. A.
Miller case in the government printing
office has developed criticisms in some quar-
tiers of the rates of charges for printing
and bookbinding, but as profit has ever
been expected for this kind of work, the
purpose being merely to charge cost prices
and 10 per cent added for non productive
labor, such that of clerks, messengers,
doorkeepers, watchmen, etc, the public
printer has taken steps, by the appoint
ment of commission, to revise the list of
charges, so that all cause of complaint
in respect to government work in the office
will be obviated
The public printer has also appointed a
commission who are engaged in taking an
inventory of all the stock of material In the
office preparatory to the removal to the new
fireproof extension of the office
Employees Desired Investigation.
In reference to the cost of work done at
the government printing Office prominent
labor leader said today that Mr.. Robert
d. Barrett, the president of the Bookbind-
ers' Union in this city, has twice within the
last two years requested members of Con-
gress to introduce resolutions for the pur
pose of having a congressional investiga
ton both of the bindery and the printing
divisions.
1t Is said that Mr.. Barrett never succeed
ed in having such resolution introduced.
His purpose. it is said, was to show that
while it does cost more to have work done
in the government printing office than in
private establishments there are reasons
easily understood for such excess of cost.
which in no way reflect upon the employees
or the methods of economy that are used in
the office.
1t is also said that these causes for a
high price of printing do not in the least
reflect upon the good management of the
office by the public printer, but due to
circumstances over which he can have no
control. The manner in which much con-
gressional work has to be done Is said to
be responsible for a large part of the ex-
cessive cost
There is some talk Of an investigation
of the government printing Office to show
II trade unionisn has any influence upon
that office in increasing the cost of work
done there