The Washington times., 1905-09-03

HAVE RETAINED COUNSEL
Storm of Big Dimensions
Predicted for Government
Printing Office.

Who asked for the resignation OF Os-
car J. Ricketts,. foreman of printing,
and l.. c. Hay. foreman Of the job di-
vision. Of the Government Printing Of
fcey
I'D President Roosevelt. after read
ing the report Of the Keep commission
on tie Morgcnthale--Lanston imbroglio
in the pr.n.ery. decide that Ricketts,
and Hay we're guilty OF insubordinaticr
and direct Public Printer Palmer to ask
for their designations. or did the Public
Printer. on his own initiative, call on
Ricketts, ard lzy TO voluntarily quit
the Government Printing Office?
This is the question that was being
asked on all sides last night by those
irtere sted in the affairs OF the Gov
ernment Printing Of.ice and in the az
fairs of the Lanstcn and Mergenthalor
companies after the announcement The
Tim,s made exclusively in Washington
yesterday afternoon that the resigna-
tions OF Ricketts, and Hay had been
called for
The letters received b. Ricketts, and
Hay from the Public Printer were
brief They contained request for their
reeiynations on accouIsc OF insubordinA-
ton. and the announcement that they
would be given until September TO
show cause why they should rot be dis
missed
Palmer Retscent.
Public Printer Palmer denied himself
TO ali callers last night II was saic
at his house early in the evening sha'
.Mr. PcImer was mot at home, ana
later a spokesman for Mr., Palmer said
that the Public Printer had retired. and
would not answer any Inquiries what
ever relating to the Ricketts, and Hay
case
The friends OF Mr. Ricketts, state posi-
tively that the President had no hand
in the matter. but that Mr.. Palmer
took a farewell ..swipe'' at mis- two sub
ordrates before taking leave OF the
printery himself.
Mr.. ricketts, and Mr. Hay both an
-Younced that they would fight. They
refuse to resign and have appealed to
the President and the CIVIL Service Com
mission to determine whether or ::Ss
they we-e guilty OF INSTRUMENTATION. the
charge upon which Mr.. Palmer based
his request for their resignation. They
have engaged Senator John VI. Thurs
ton as their attorney.
In response TO inquiries Mr.. Ricketts,
gave out the following statement las;
night for Mr. Hay and himself.
Ricketts, Statement.
.-Tha. acting under advice he does
not feel at ls5e-ty at the present time
TO give the pnblic the correspondence n
connection with this matter and can
only say that Mr.. Palmer has requested
the resigna lion OF these officials becauss
of their alleged continued acts of ir-
subor6ination. without specifying any
act on the part OF either of them watch
would in any way constitute insubo7-
dination
.-Thcy insist that the Public Printe,
has not complied with the Civil Service
regulations. which provide that specific
allegations or causes should be made
when any officer is asked to resign, OF
when it is proposed 10 remove said of.
ficer from his position.
..They say that they have at all times
in the course of their long service n
the Government Printing Office been 10y
al to their chief. and 10 the best inter
ests OF the United States
1t Is stated that when Ricketts, an,
Hay called on A. w. Cooley. of the Civil
Service Commission. ard laid the mat
ter before him. that official was so per
turbed that he at once departed for Oys
ter Bay TO confer with the President
IL was on Friday that the two fore
men OF the printery called on Commits
sfoner Coo.ey. and he left washington
on Friday night.
Storms Brewing.
lively stir has been created by Mr.
Pairicr's action. and the Indications ar
that the Government Printing Office vii
be a storm center OF various kinds o
politics FOR some time TO come unles
President Roosevelt takes summary &C
tion In the matter
Both Ricketts, and Hay have stronl
political backing Ricketts, has for sey
eral months been prominently mention
ed as the successor 10 Palmer az Publ
> Printer In the event OF the re,irenen
of rhe latter
Il is said that the report OF the Kee
commission made mention OF Mr. Pal
mer's advanced age. and those who ar
not particularly friendly to the Publ
Printer declare that his removal fror
office will follow shortly upon the re
turn OF President Roosevelt TO Wash
ington.
The Ricketts, adherents ia the Govern
ment Printing Office go further and sa
that Mr.. Palmer knows he will not sta
In the Government Printing Office Ion