The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-09-12
POLITICS PLAYED
: IN BIG PR|NTERy
SOlOnS Of Note Use Their
Influence.
THE MACHINE CONTROVERSY
Alleged That Pressure Was Brought to
Bear in Behalf of Both
Makes.
THE MACHINE CONTROVERSY

Stories of the use of influence by men
of the first importance in political re-
lations. to help one or the other of the
printing machine companies land Gov
ernmeht contracts. are being aired 1t
Is alleged that a number Of men in Con-
gress have been stockholders in the Mer-
genthaler company and have not hes
itated to employ their influence to help
land contracts for that company. The
name of Vice President Fairbanks is
used in some Washington dispatches
which allege that II he is not a stock
holder in the Mergenthaler compan-
some of his relatives are, and that one
of these named Smith. at one time
headed a Merganthaler lobby here.
1t is said that when provision was
mad. in the appropriation bill for money
TO buy machines. the intention was TO
make 1t so specific that only the Mergen-
:haler could meet the requirements: but
this plan failed because Chairman
Hemenway. of the Appropriations Com
ri!ttee. would not consent 10 1t. II is
charged that the Mergenthaler COM
pany sold to the Government machines
at considerably higher price than it
was charging private parties at the
same time.
from similar charges or using influence.
During the investigation by the Keep
commission n letter was sent TO Chair
man Keep. calling his attention TO The
alleged fact that the Lanston ma
chimes sold TO the Government were
priced about twice as high as those sold
TO private persons Whether this al
legation was Investigated by the Keep
commission is not known, though the
receipt of the letter making the charge
was acknowledged by Chairman Keep.
Flowers for Ricketts,.
The Office of the Public Printer at the
Government Printing Office has for the
past two days resembled a flower dis
PLAY
On Saturday. after o. ]. Ricketts, had
been sworn in as acting Public Printer.
flowers of every description began TO
pour in from friends outside the print
cry. and from those within. By the time
of closing 1 o'clock. the Public Printers
Office was completely filled.
Monday being Mr. Ricketts, second
day at the helm. he remained at his
desk the entire day attending to official
business and receiving callers. The
private secretary's doc-keeppe- permitted
everyone TO enter without ceremony.
and stream of callers kept Mr.. Rick
etts busy acknowledging congratula-
tons
One of the prettiest designs received
was floral horseshoe. five feet in
height. Ii contained vari-colored roses
TO the number of 800. and the inscrip-
ton upon the white ribbon in gold let
tiers read: For o. ]. Ricketts-The Sol
diers' Friend" This token was pre-
scented by the officers and men of the
watch force in the new building. COM
posed entirely of Grand Army men. The
captain Of the watch r. b. Harlow,
made the selection
Among the large groups of flowers
that covered the Public Printers desk
was a handsome bouquet from the en-
pIoyes in the Office of foreman of print
ing. The wagonmaster, H =. Marston,
and the employees in his division. re-
nenbered the acting Public Printer
with q large basket. artistically decor
ated.
Double Wagon Needed.
on Saturday afternoon and Monday
double wagon had TO be used to convey
the pretty floral pieces. bouquets, and
baskets TO Mr. Ricketts, residence. 20lS
Fifteenth street northwest. where his
wife and her friends had the pleasure
of viewing the many tokens OF friend
ship and admiration