Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-09-06
PALMER IS OUSTED
Has Two Weeks to Forward Resignation to President.
ACTION TOWARD RICKETTS, CAUSE
Thorough Reorganization of Work ing Force of Government Printing Office Will Occur Under
 New Official,

WASHINGTON, Sept. 6. Public Printer F. W. Palmer practically has been busted from office. It was learn. ed authoritatively last night that Pres ident Roosevelt had demanded Mir. Palmer's resignation, to take effect on the 10th inst
 The denand of the president for Mir. Palmer's resignation was due prima- rily to the latter's action in trying to force Oscar J. Ricketts, foreman of printing, and L. c. Hay, foreman of division, out of the government print ing office. Mir. Palmer asked for the resignations of Ricketts and Hay on the ground that they had been insub- ordinate The public printer formulat- ed series of charges against the two men. These charges, it is known, were forwarded to Oyster Bay.
 As soon as President Roosevelt learned of the situation that had devel- oped he directed Public Printer Palmer to forward to him his resignation, to take effect in two weeks.
 It has been known for some time that Mir Palmer would not be reap pointed to his present office. For sev- eral months before President Roose- welt left Washington for Oyster Bay he was casting about for suitable man for the position of public printer. He offered it to John A. Sleicher of New York, but he declined it.. having something better in view. Until this time there has been no change in the situation.
 The investigation made by the Keep commission into the letting of con tract for seventy-two typesetting ma chimes for use in the government print ing office disclosed serious condition of affairs in the management of the of- flee. Prominent men in the office force were divided into cliques. These cliques were so detrimental to the in terests of the government that the standard of efficiency in the establish ment was reduced materially.
 The evidence adduced by the con- mission in the course of it's inquiry ere ated much bitter feeling among the men holding high positions in the of- flee. One of the direct results of this feeling was the demand made by Pub lie Printer Palmer for the resigna- tions of Ricketts and Hay. As the Keep commission inquiry, so far as known, developed nothing to the disad- vantage of Ricketts or Hay, the presi- dent acted promptly in taking the whole matter out of Palmer's hands and placing it in the hands of the Keep commission for such further investiga- tion as might be necessary. Coupled with this action of the president was the demand on Mir. Palmer for his res ignation.
 With the incoming of Mir. Palmer's successor and there Is ample authority for the statement that he has not been selected yet-it is expected thorough reorganization of the working force of the government printing office will take place. Among the men mentioned in connection with the office are Oscar J. Ricketts, whom the public printer sought to remove; H. T. Brian, chief clerk of the office; William S. Rossiter, chief clerk of the census bureau, and John Leech, public printer in the Phil ippines. The office pays salary of S4,5O0 year. The annual disburse- ments for the government printing of- flee aggregate about S7.0oO,O0O.