The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-07-23

William A. Miller on May % last
was removed by the public printer
from his position of assistant foreman
of the government printing office be-
cause he had been expelled from the
local union of the International Broth
erhood of Bookbinders. Mr.. Miller
complained to the civil service COM
mission and on July it requested
Mr.. Miller's reassignment to duty, his
removal being contrary to the civil
service rules. Complaint also had
been made to the president, and by
his direction Secretary COrtelyOu in
vestigated the matter. On July 13
President Roosevelt wrote as follows:
MY Dear Secretary Cortelyou: In
accordance with the letter of the civil
service commission on July 6, the pub
lie printer will reinstate Mr.. w. A.
Miller in his position. Meanwhile,
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 been begun today
July 13.
"In the face of papers presented
Miller would appear to have been re-
moved in violation of law. There is
no objection to the employees of the
government printing office constitut.
ing themselves into a body if they de-
sire to do so, but no rules or regula-
tions of that union can be permitted
TO override the laws of the United
States, which it is my sworn duty to
enforce
please communicate a copy Of this
letter to the public printer for his in.
formation and that Of his subOrdi-
mates"
Strike Commission Report.
The next day the president follow
ed this letter with the following let
ter to Secretary COrtelyou:
"In connection with my letter OF
Yesterday | call attention to the judg
ment and award Of the anthracite coal
strike commission in its report TO me
of March IS last.
1T is adjudged and awarded that nc
person shall be refused employment
or in any way Disseminated against
on account of membership or non
membership in any labor organization
and that there shall be no dicrimina
ton against or interference with any
employe who is not member of any
labor organization by members of such
union.
Il heartily approved this award and
Judgment by the commission appoint
ed by me. which itself included g
member of labor union. This com
mission was dealing with labor or
ganiZations working for private en-
ployers 1t is of course mere elemen-
tary decenCy to require that all the
government departments shall be han
died in accordance with the principles
thus clearly and fearlessly enunciated
please furnish a copy of this let
ter both to Mr.. Palmer and to the
civil service commissioners for their
guidance.
1t is announced that the public
printer, Mr.. Palmer, on Wednesday
July 16. notified Mr. Miller that he hal
been reinstated and might report fo
duty any day.
President Barrett of the local organ
ization of bOOkbinders. yesterday an
nounced that every boOkbinder in th'
government printing Office and mem
bers of the allied unions will quit i
w. A Miller, assistant foreman in tn
| government printing Office, whose dis
missal from that office the presiden
| recently revoked is permitted to re
sumo work.
| A public statement issued by tn
| Bookbinders' union says Miller in tn
office and in public places made us
| of scurrilOus and insulting remark
! about the employees.