The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-09-09
PUBLIC PRINTER PALMER OUT.
PRESIDENT REMOVES HIM FOX
DISOBEYING ORDERS.


DISOBEYING ORDERS.
Had Previously Demanded His Resignation
to Take Erect Sept. lS-FOreman
Ricketts to be Acting Public Printer
Until Successor Is Appointed
OYSTER BAY, Sept. s.-President Roose-
walt. it was announced at the executive
offices, to-day removed Gen. Frank W.
Palmer. head Of the Government Printing
Office. The cause was oisobedience OF the
Presidents orders. The report made by
the Keep commission. which inveetiga ted
the Government Printing Once recently,
left the President no choice but to ask Gen.
Palmer to resign. Last Saturday the
President accordingly did notify the Public
Printer that his resignation was desired, to
take effect on Friday next, Sept. is.
Gen. Palmer was dissatisfied with some
testimony Oscar j. Ricketts,. foreman, and
L. G. Hay, division foreman, are SAID 70
have given before the Keep commission
and he charged them with INSTRUMENTATION
and demanded their resignations Ricketts,
and Hay refused to resign. claiming the
privileges of civil service employees. Gen.
Palmer then gave them until last Tuesday,
Sept. s, to show cause before him why they
should not be removed.
In the meantime, on Monday. Sept. l.,
Gen. Palmer received the President notice
that his resignation was wanted and In
structing him to suspend proceedings
against Ricketts, and Hay or any other
employees Of the Printing Office. Instead
OF abandoning the proceedings. Gen. Palmer
simply gave Ricketts, and Hay until to-
morrow to appear before him and show
cause why they should not be removed.
This was directly contrary to the Presi-
dents orders, and to-day when the Presi-
dent learned the fact he decided to remove
Gen. Palmer at once.
In the meantime Oscar j. Ricketts,, fore
man Of he'Printing Office. will be acting
Public Printer. There has been some specu-
lation as to whether Mr.. Ricketts, will be
Gen. Palmer's successor. 1t is known that
Mr.. Ricketts, is very well indorsed, but his
appointment is deemed very doubtful here.
WASHINGTON. Sept. s.-The action Of the
President to-day in removing Public Printer
Palmer is something Of puzzle here. It
did not hinge upon the contract for Lanston
machines which resulted in tho recent
Investigation and which the President ap-
proved. In view OF that action the Presi-
dent. it is presumed. was inspired to remove
Public Printer Palmer on account Of the
latter's persistent quest for the scalps Of
Ricketts, and Hay. foremen. which he was
pursuing relentlessiv. regardless Of the
fact that the President had accepted his
resignation to take effect Sept IS.
But the Government Printing Office story
is not ended by the removal Of Public Printer
Palmer. He has influential friends in Con-
district. IL was learned to-day from
sources close to the retiring Public Printer
that be he's determined to demand an in
vestigation by Congress. This request for
an investigation cannot well be denied him
and his friends in Congress- will insist that
include the charges that the authotity to
install typesetting machines In the Govern
ment Printing Office. and the necessary
appropriation therefor. was inserted in the
appropriation bill at the request Of power
to the Public Printer, Mr.. Palmer installed
forty-seven Mergenthalers and twenty EIGHT
Lanstons. He said recently that he was
moved to give the Mergenthalers tho bigger
slice Of the contract because he accepted
the popular idea then prevailing that the
meTS0nJndleT WAS Il superior machine.
The actual test of the two machines con-
Quoted in the printing offce. however,
proved that the Nergenthaler was not 60
well suited to book, pamphlet and tabular
work as the Lanston, and that was the
reason the recent contract for seventy-two
machines was awarded to the Lanston
Mr.. Palmer said tonight that the action
of the Presi dent in removing him was wholly
unexpected. He declined to mr,o any
statement reg arding it. but said Lo might
later II he deemed It desirable. He severed
his connection with the office this after
noon and removed his personal papers.
Whether the Keep commission will conduct
the inquiry ordered by President Roose-
welt last week of the continued acts OF
INSTRUMENTATION" charged BY Mr.. Palmer
against Ricketts and Hay is not known
here. On this point Chairman Keep Is
awaiting instructions from Oyster Bay.
Mr. Keep could not say tonight whether
the new developments would cause the
President to change the program. A day
OF so ago Chairman Keep addressed q letter
to the President asking for INSTRUCTIONS ~
to the proposed Investigation Of Ricketts,
and Hay.