The sun., 1903-07-21
LAW ABOVEUNI0NLABORRUL
PRESIDENT RETNSTATES MAN IN
PUBLIC PRINTING OFFICE.
He Was Discharged Because lie Had Been
Expelled From n Labor Qn!on--The
President Says No Rules Of a Union Can
Be Permitted to Override the law


President Says No Rules Of mon Can
Be Permitted to Override the law
WASHINGTON. July Secretary Cort"l-
you of the Department Of Commerce and
Labor made the announcement this after
noon that the President had directed the
reinstatement of William A. Miller, who
was removed some time ago by Public
Printer Palmer from his position Of as
sistant foreman at the Government Print
ing Office, mostly because Of the fact that
he had leen expelled from Local Union
No. 4, Internal ional Brotherhood Of Book
binders.
Millers offense against the labor union
consisted in giving information to Mem
ber Of Congress showing how the expenses
of the great printing establishment might
be reduced and saving to the Government
effected. He contended that his action in
giving this information was perfectly
proper and stifable, but as it contemplated
possible reduction of the force in the
printing Office II was Objectionable to the
International Brotherhood of Bookbinders.
which at once expelled him.
Notice was accordingly sent to the Public
a member in good standing of the labor
union. Public Printer Palmer acted ac-
cordingly and directed his removal eX-
planning in his letter to Miller that it was
because of the action Of the union in OK
pelling him from membership. Miller at
once appealed to the President and the
Civil Service Commission. President
RCosevelt's letters on the subject cali at
tention TO the paramount lmportanc" Of
the laws of the United States over the rules
of labor organizations and also 10 TIN" fact
that the Anthracite Coal Strike Commission
decided that no person should be dsCr1ml-
mated against because he was or was not
a member of labor organization. Secrc-
tary COrtelyou'S statement Is a. follows:
ON May is, 1908. William A. Miller was re-
moved by the Public Printer from his position
of assistant foreman NJ the Government
Printing ONCE MIR Miller filed a complaint
with the Civil Scrvic" commission, alleging
that his removal had been made in violation
of the Civil Service law and rules. After an
invest CATION of the complaint and upon
July q. the Civil Service Commission advised
the Public Printer of its decision as follows
Section OF civil scrvic" rule MI. govern
ing removals. provides that no person shall
be removed from 4 competitive position
except for such cuusc as will promote the
efficiency of the public service The COM
mission does not consider expulsion from
labor union. being the action of body in
no way connected with the public service
and not having any public employees to De
such a cause as To prornote the efficiency OF
the public service As the only reason given
by you for the removal of Mr., Fuller ia that
he was expelled from the Local Union No A
1. a. 4
vised that the commission cannot recognizes
his removal and must request that he be- re
assigned to duty in his position"
Mr. Millers complaint had also been filed
with the President. under whose direction
il was being investigated by the Secretary
of Commerce and Labor simultaneously with
the investigation by the Civil Service Com
mission. As result of such investigation
the following letters. under dates OF July
l3 and A. 1902, were written by the President:
PRESIDENT ORDERS REINSTATEMENT
Oysrvp nav T,ly "a
Nv Dv., SEc,yr,pv coyrvIvoIr. In a.
cordopce with tho letter of the civil
Service Commission of ,Julv q the Public
prtnter will rainst,te Mr. W . Nilar in bis
nosition No,nwbila will yyithbold INV
final decision of the whole coso until I have
received the report of the Investigation nm
NiI,er,a scrord cnr,r,unirotinr Ybich ,o,,
potiP,. IN. I'm. lsor hoe,,n to-d,,, I,,I,, "a
On tho face os tho nanars ,,rasantsd NlIor
would ,nnanr to bov, hoen re,,oyed in viola
tion or Iaw There ia M ohieo+ion +o w.,
ar,nIo,,oss Of tl,n I;o,orn,,on, printi,, oNio(,
constituting themselves into union - ,i,e,,
GO dssira, hrt ,,o r,,Ios a. ra,,,l,.ia,a - ~.
union c,n hc ner,rit,ed =, o,,errida tbn ,a,.s
or tho Initcd statcs yhicb :, 10 ,,,,. s,rorr
du.v 20 on,aroo " ''
pioan, a,",,.s; ... = ,-..
to the Public Printer for his information and
that of his subordinates. Very truly. yours
THEODORE ROOsEvELT