Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-05
Proposed Removal of Ricketts,
and Hay Disapproved.
MIR. PALMER NOTIFIED
MATTER HAS BEEN REFERRED TO
THE KEEP COMMISSION.
Action Of the President on Being In
formed on the Status Of Matters
in the Big Printery.

the matter OF the removal OF Mr.. Oscar J.
Ricketts,. foreman of printing. and Mr.. l.. c.
Hay. foreman of the Job division. were
brought to a sudden halt this morning by
the receipt OF a message from Oyster Bay.
This was from the President. who in
formed Public Printer Palmer that he had
placed the protest Of Messrs. Ricketts, and
Hay in the hands Of the Keep commission
for Investigation and report. and directed
the public printer to withhold action on the
matter until that commission has had an
opportunity to investigate the case and
make a report OF It.
The Presidents action cut short the pro-
gram which looked to the summary removal
OF Messrs. Ricketts, and Hay at II o'clock
sharp for alleged INSTRUMENTATION. Mr.
Ricketts, was at his desk at the govern
ment printing Office this morning and again
this afternoon. attending to business as
usual To the casual caller In the big
printery there is nothing in the demeanor
Of the Office of the foreman of printing to
indicate that he Is In any danger of being
displaced. He Is at his big desk attending
to the multitude of details that come before
him.
Palmer and Ricketts, Reticent.
Mr.. Ricketts, was seen by a Star re-
porter and informed that the President had
directed the public printer to defer action
until the Keep commission could look into
the controversy that has grown up over his
case and make some report. Mr.. Ricketts,
declined to make any comment on this ac-
ton or to say whether he had any informa-
ton concerning It, He declared that he
could add nothing to his public statement
published several days ago Dispatches
from Oyster Bay indicate that the Pres
ident is taking a great deal Of interest in
this matter and that he proposes to have
1t looked into with great care.
star reporter also called on the public
printer. but Mr.. Palmer declined to see any
newspaper representatives, giving as rea-
son for so denying himself the explanation
that he was very busy today.
commission in town, Messrs. Garfield and
Hitchcock. Messrs. Keep. Murray and
Pinchot are away on vacations. Mr.. Gar
field returned to. the city today after being
away five weeks and was not acquainted
with the developments in the government
printing Office investigation. 1t will prob
ably not be possible for the commission to
get down to work on this matter for a
week or two at least. Therefore 1t is not
expected there will be any further action In
the matter Of Mr.. Ricketts, and Mr.. Hay for
some time.
Specifications Prepared.
After the public printer was informed
by the civil service commission that the
furnishing Of specifications Of alleged acts
Of INSTRUMENTATION on the part of Messrs.
Ricketts, and Hay would be necessary to
comply with the requirements of the civil
service commission. such specifications
were prepared to be forwarded to Mr.. Rick
etts. Mr.. Ricketts, friends express conf
dence that acts Of characterization cannot
be cited. They assert that the only thing
that can be charged against Mr.. Ricketts,
Is that he has not always agreed with the
public printer as to methods of admins
tration. but they declare that, after ex-
pressing his Views. Mr.. Ricketts, has uni
formly carried out the instructions of the
public printer without unnecessary delay.
Mr.. Ricketts, friends are inclined to think
that the removal of the foreman of print
ing has been desired because of his testi-
they assert that II q subordinate cannot
testify as to facts without fear Of dismiss
sal investigating committees will have a
hard time in securing information in the
future.
The Coming Investigation.
This case was referred to the Keep
commission instead OF to the civil service
commission by the President because the
Keep commission is familiar with the
facts and will be able to make a prompt
report Ordinarily the case would have
gone to the civil service commission, but
when Commissioner Cooley laid the mat
ter before the President the latter de-
cided to ask the Keep commission for a
report. because the controversy in the
government printing office is one that
has involved so much testimony. and for
q new set of men to undertake to unravel
the intricacies of the investigation would
require a great deal Of time. 1t is be-
lieved that as soon as the matter can be
brought before the Keep commission and
the commission has heard both sides of
the case decision will be rendered very
quickly concerning not only the facts but
the question of the propriety Of removing
from the printing Office the foreman of
printing, because he Is known not to be
wholly in accord with the methods of
administration.
Civil Service Commissioner Cooley says
the investigation of the entire matter of
the administration Of the printing Office
will be continued by the Keep commits
siOn and that Mr.. Palmers effort to dis
pense with the services of Messrs Rick
eth and Hay will be included as an in
cident. When the commission finishes
it's work the President will take action.