The sun., 1903-08-21
PRESIDENTS LABOR INQUIRY.
THE CORRESPONDENCE UPON
WHICH 1T WAS BASED.
Copies or tho Two Letters He Sent 70
Secretary Cortelyou About the Miller
Case We're Sent TO Each Cabinet Officcr
TO Indicate the Presidents wishes.

Secretary COrtelyOu About the Miller
Case We're Sent TO Each Cabinet Oniccr
TO Indicate the Presidents Wishes.
OYSTER BAY, n. Y, Aug. 20,--A copy Of
letter sent from the Executive Office here
to the heads Of each of the Government
departments on which. 1t Is said, the in
vestigatons that are being carried on in
Washington to ascertain the extent of the
influence of unions on Government work
are based, was made public here tonight.
1t is dated Oyster Bay, July %. and reads
as follows:
MY DEAR SIN: The President directs me
to send you herewith. for your information,
copies Of two letters sent to Secretary Cortei-
ing Office, which define the attitude of the
Administration in connection with the SUB
iect discussed. They are sent to you. for
Indicate the policy of the President in this
matter Very truly yours. b, +. BARNES.
Acting Secretary TO tho President.
1t s said that when the two Miller case
letters. along with the above note from the
Executive Office here, came before the
heads of the various departments at Wash
ington. the hint was sufficient to start tho
Investigations which are now in progress.
1t IL denied authoritatively here that any
other action was taken in the matter by
the President, and the investigations as they
tand now, it is said, arc purely depart
mental affairs, taken on the initiative OF
those at the heads of the departments.
The text of the President S two letters to
Secretary Cortelyou, bearing the dates
respectively July l3 and July IA. as given
out here. is as follows:
My DEAR SECRETARY CoRTELYou: In 40
oorclance with the letter Of the Civil Service
Commission Of July ., the Public Printer will
reinstate Mr.. W. A. Miller in his position;
Meanwhile Will withhold my final decision
of the whole case until have received the re-
port of the investigation on Miller's second
communication. which you notify me has been
begun to-day, July Is.
On the face of the papers presented. Miller
would appear to have been removed In viola
ton Of law. There ID no obJecton to the
employees of the Government Printing Ot-
fee constituting themselves into union
If they so desire but no rules or resolutions
the laws of the United States. which it is my
Please Communicate copy of this letter
to the Public Printer for his information and
that of his subordinates: Very truly yours,
MY DEAR Mr.. CoRTEIYbU: In connection
with my letter Of yesterday call attention
10 the judgment and award by the Anthracite
Coal Strike Commission In ther report 10 me
I'll is adiudged and awarded that no person
shall be refused employment or IN any way
Disseminated against on account OF member
ship or non-memberShip in any labor organiZa-
tion: and that there snail be no dscrimtna-
ton against OF interference with any EN-
plOycc who is not member OF any labor
organization by means OF such orsaniza-
ton.
/ heartily approve OF this award and judg-
ment by the commission appointed by me-,
which itself Included IL member Of labor
union. This commission was dealing with
labor organizations working for private
employers. IT ~. of course. mere Elementary
drccnCy 10 require that Ill the Cover nment
departments shall be handled In accordance
with the principles thus clearly and fe ariessly
enunCiatcu.
Please furnish copy of this letter both
TO Mr. Palmer and to the Civil Service Com
mission for their guidance Sincerely yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 Acting Secretary
of the Navy Dn ling said this afternoon,
lest there should he misunderstanding Of
the position OF the Navy Department in
regard to the employment OF workmcn,
that the policy followed by the Navy De-
partmcnt was that there should be no dis
elimination against union or nou-union
worInrn.
He also remarked that tho Navy De-
partment did not recognize any labor
union when it came to the control of the
Departments workmen, or involved the
employment of any person. Equal treat
ment of every person, whether union or
non-union, was the principle which he
declared would be strictly adhered to-
Referring to the source OF the order for
the inquiry, he explained that his attention
was first called to the subject by Mr. Gar
Labor, and that any additional information
as 10 who hal originated the inl es cation
would have TO come from the Department
of Commerce and Labor