The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1903-07-23
IMPORTANT RULING.
President Roosevelt Directs a
Letter to Mr.. COrtelyOn.
A Discharged Government Employe
Reinstated, Which Causes
Discussion.
THE DEPARTMENTS POSITION

Washington, July 25-William A,
Miller, on May is last was removed
by the public printer from his position
of assistant foreman of the govern
ment printing office because he had
been expelled from the local union of
the international Brotherhood of
Book binders. Mr.. Miller complained
to the civil service commission, and
on July 6 it required Mr.. Miller's re.
assignment to duty, his removal being
contrary to the civil service rules.
Complaint also was made to the presi-
dent, and by his direction Secretary
Oortelyou investigated the matter. On
July 10 President Roosevelt wrote as
follows:
my Dear Secretary Cortelyou-In
accordance with the letter of the civil
service commission of July the pub.
lie printer will reinstate Mr.. W. A.
Miller in his position. Meanwhile 1
will withhold my final decision Of the
whole case until have received the
report of the investigation on Miller's
second communication, which, you
notify me, has begun today, July 10.
ION the face of the papers presented
Mr.. Miller would appear to have been
removed in violation of the law.
There is no objection to the employees
of the government printing office con-
shutting themselves into q body IL
they desire to do so; but no rules or
resolutions Of that union can be per-
mitted to override the laws of the
United States, which it is my sworn
duty TO enforce.
"Please communicate copy Of this
letter to the public printer for his sat
isfaction that Of his subordinates.
The next day the president followed
this letter up with the following letter
to Secretary Corelyou
"In connection with my letter of
yesterday i call attention to this
judgment and award by the anthra.
cite coal strike commission in Its re-
ports to me of March Is last.
IT is adjudged and awarded that
no person shall be refused employment
or in any way Disseminated against
on account of membership or nom
membership in any labor organ.zs
ton, and that there shall be no dis
elimination against or interference
with any employe who is not a mem
Der of any labor organization by MEM
bers of such organization.
81 heartily approved this award and
judgment by the commission appoint
ed by me, which itself included
member of labor union. This COM
mission was dealing with labor organ
iLhtluus NOihihS WIN lii'otO ohhpANJ
ers. II is, OF course, mere elementary
decency TO require that all the gov
eminent departments shall be handled
in accordance with the principle thus
clearly and fearlessly enunciated.
please furnish copy of this let
ter, both to Mr.. Palmer and to the
civil service commission, for their
guidance.
1t is announced that the public
printer, Palmer, on Wednesday, July
10, notified Mr.. Miller that he had
been reinstated and might report for
duty any day.
The case of Miller came mp Tuesday
night at a meeting Of the union, at
which about 500 members were pres
ent. After session held behind
closed doors President Barrett Of the
union announced that a Statement. of
the case from the union standpoint
would be made. A copy of this will
be furnished to the president, to Sec.
rotary Cortelyou, to the civil service
commission and TO Public Printer
Palmer