The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-07-31
WASHINGTON LETTER.

ministration by many persons in Wash
ington, has just taken place in connec-
ton with the dismissal of William A.
Miller from the Government Printing
Office. 1t appears that Miller became
Objectionable to the Book binders Union,
of which he is member, aud was ex-
PEELED by that organization. The officers
of the organization maintain that Miller
was, in his position of assistant foreman,
domineering and abusive, and that he
attempted to get more out Of his subordi-
mates than the rules of the union permit.
Miller maintains that he was merely
doing his duty and trying to save money
for the government. No sooner had he
been expelled from the Union than Pub
lie Printer Palmer dismissed him from
Government employ, giving Miller's ex-
pulsion as the ground for his dismissal.
Miller appealed to the President and 10
the Civil Service Commission, and the
latter having found that dismissal on the
ground named was contrary to law, Mr..
Roosevelt ordered Miller's reinstatement.
The Union promptly issued statement
setting forth that it appreciated that the
Presidents action was inevitable, in view
of the law, but that the same grounds
which prompted Miller's expulsion from
the Union would prove ample to warrant
his dismissal from the government SER
vice and that charges against him would
be filed with the Public Printer. Incl
dentally the Union stated that its mem
beers could not work with a non.unior
man, and if Miller were to remain the
bookbinders would be obliged to strike.
*x*
When the charges against Miller were
filed with the Public Printer copy was
given to Secretary Cortelyou to forward
to the President. Then came the shock
to the labor interests. Secretary Cortel-
you refused to forward to the President
the charges, saying that was matter for
the Public Printer, and further letting it
be known that in deciding Miller's case
the President had enunciated principle
which he proposed should govern every
department of the government dealing
with organized labor, his principle being
that there should be no discrimination
between union and non-union laborers.
In support of this proposition, which he
characterized as mere elementary de-
cency" Mr.. Roosevelt cited the decision
ofthe Anthracite Coal Strike Commission,
that there must be no discrimination be.
tween union and non-union miners de.
clared that this "opeu door policy
for labor should prevail throughout the
government service. What the outcome
predicted.
~
The Postoffice Investigation still con.
tinues although the Postmaster Gen.
eral is not in Washington and has
not been for some time. First Assistant
Postmaster General Wynne is acting post.
master general and Fourth Assistant Post.
master General Bristow is still pursuing
the investigation. Since Mr.. Payne left
Washington Charles Hedges, superin.
tendent of city delivery, has been sum-
marily dismissed for classifying his pay
accounts. Numerous instances were dis.
covered where Hedges had taken oath 10
having been in one place when he was
actually in another and to having been
engaged in official business when he was
attending to his private affairs. By SO
misrepresenting the facts Hedges secured
from the government 81 per day for trav.
elllng expenses to which he was not EN-.
titled. Hedges was the first assistant OF
A. w. Machen and the intimate friend OF
II. II. Rand, confidential clerk to the
Postmaster General There are mauy
charges against Rand who was intimately
associated with several of the men who
have been dismissed, and in some instau.
ces indicted, and he himself is now
undergoing an investigation. George
w. Bevers, the former superintendent OF
the division of salaries and allowances
has been indicted although not yet appre-
hended. His indictment is based OH his
having accepted commissions from the
fraudulent Automatic Cashier Company
whose machines were extensively pur.
chased by his division.
*x*
The Bureau of immigration has lust re.
ceived an important report from Conf.
dental Agent Marcus Braun who advises
the Bureau that large number of the
most undesirable Jews from KishiueG are
making arrangements to immigrate to
this country, as a result of the recent
massacre. Mr.. Braun also reports that
many very undesirable Jewish immigrants
are coming to this country constantly
from Roumania and other parts of Cen
trail Europe. He further reports that the
contract labor laws of this country are
laughed at. Herefers especially to wood.
choppers intended for work in the Ten.
nessee forests who are sent to Galveston
and other southern ports aud thence bv
rail to Tennessee. Another favorite route
Tor illegal immigrants is via Mexico, the
immigrants being slipped over the line
at points off the line of railroad.