The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-09-11
1T LOOKS SUSPICIOUS.
But Keep Committee Failed to Find
Evidence of Graft.

Oyster Bay, N. Y, Sept 11.-Presi-
dent Roosevelt has made public the re-
port of the Keep commission on its re-
cent investigation of affairs in the gov
eminent printing office at Washington.
The inquiry was made by special direc-
ton of the president, on account of
protest which he had received from
officials of the Mergenthaler Typesetting
Machine company against the award of
contract by Public Printer Frank W.
Palmer to the Lanston Monotype COM
pany for seventy-twe machines of it's
make.
BY order of the president, the con-
tract with the L.anston company was
held up until an investigation could be
made, with the view of ascertaining
whether the charges of favoritism and
corruption in the letting of the contract
were substantially founded.
AS heretofore chronicled in these dis
patches, the president decided, after an
examination of the Keep report, that
the contract for the Lanston machines
reported that, If the contract could be
set aside, "such a course would be de-
sirable, although the commission states
expressly that no corruption, payment
or promise passed from the Lanston
Monotype company to the public print
er, or to any person in the government
service"
1t was developed by the investigation,
however, that two important assistants
of the public printer were indirectly in
terested in the Lanston company, their
wives being stockholders therein" The
commission shows that fair and inn
partial test of the Lanston and Mergen-
thaler machines was not made, and re-
ports that the purchase of so large a
number of Lanston machines was I'M
provident,' and indicated great parti-
atty and bias on the part of the public
printer The commission regards the
purchase as "maiadministration
The report of the commission is vol
luminous, containing about $1,000 words.
Accompanying it is memorandum by
President Roosevelt in which he ap-
proves the report, except as to the dis
position of the contract for the Lanston
machines. which he has directed shall
stand. as
The Presidents Memorandum.
The text of the presidents memoran-
dunn follows: 10 ~
Oyster Bay Sept. 9, 1905.
1.-THE conclusions of the committee are
hereby approved. save9the lister part Of
conclusion first. 1t does not appear thai
there is any question as to the validity
of the contract in question. If 1t had
not been for the conduct of the Mergen-
thaler company in preferring the charge
discussed by the committee in conclu
sion two, that of corruption, 1 should
agree with the committee that it would
be desirable to set aside the contract, i
such a course were logical But SECOND
only to corruption IN, q public officer il
| less charge of corruption, and this il
what the committee finds the Mergen
thaler company has done in this case
it's comments being in part:
In the light of the failure of the
company to produce evidence of such
corruption, it must be held that the
charge was made recklessly and the
| Mergenthaler company should be Sc
verely condemned for including such
| charge in a formal communication
| to the president of the United States
made as a basis for official action or
| his part. 1t is fair, also, to the Ian
| Ston Monotype company to say that NJ
| evidence was presented by the Mer
genthaler company nor was any OBJ
| tanned by the committee in the cours'
| of its hearing, tending to show an.
promise, payment or consideration o
any kind whatsoever made by tn
Lanston company, or any of its officer
or agents, to any person in the gov
| eminent service.
Had not this charge of corruption
been made, I should have entirel,
committee that if it were possible
(Which it is notl it would be desirab BIZ
to cancel the contract in question.
Public Printer Palmer has been re
moved from office. The cases OF tn
| subordinates alluded to in the repor
must be taken up in connection witt
the discipline and reorganization o
the bureau when Mr.. Palmer's sue
! cessor assumes office.
| THEODORE ROOSEVELT
! The Keep commission was appoint
ed some time ago to make a genera
| investigation of the business method
in all the government department
with a view to simplifying and i'm
proving them. It's report into the at
fairs of the government printing of
fee is signed by c. H. Keep. assista n
secretary OF the treasury, chairman
r. H. Hitchcock, first assistant post
master general; Lawrence o. Murray
assistant secretary of commerce ant
labor, and James 3. Garfield, commits
sioner of corporations in the depart
ment of commerce and labor
PALMA FOR SECOND TERM