The Washington times., 1905-09-05
Palmer's AK Restrained
From Decapitating
Ricketts, and Hay.
COOLEY GIVES PLAN
President Interferes in Row
Between Public Printer
and FOremen.

More work for the Keep commission
at the Government Printing Ofice
Oscar ]. Ricketts,. foreman OF printing.
and L C. Hay. foreman of the job di-
vision. whose names Public Printer Pal
mer threatened TO wipe off the rolls at
noon today if they did not show cause
why they should not be dismissed for
INSTRUMENTATION" viii not be dismissed
until the Keep Commission has investi-
gated the most recent row in the big
printery.
The entrance Of the Keep commits
sion into the Palmer -Ricketts-Ha mix
up is made as the result of direct orders
from President Roosevelt.
Cooley Makes Announcement.
This announcement was made today
by Civil Service Commissioner Cooley.
who returned from Oyster Bay this
morning Mr.. Cooley had a conferences
with President Roosevelt on Saturday
and suggested that. inasmuch as The
Keep commission had recently become
thoroughly familiar with the affairs OF
the Government Printing Office it was
in a better position to handle the present
case than the Civil Service Commission
Mr. Cooley said the Ricketts, and Hay
cases would not be looked into by the
Civil Service Commission.
First Assistant Postmaster General
Hitchcock. of the Keep commission. said
today he had not been advised officially
that the Keep commission was 10 deal
with the question of the contemplated
removal of Ricketts, and Hay by the
Public Printer. If the statement is cor
10 the Keep commission. then Mr.
Hitchcock said the communication
would be sent TO Chairman Keep. who
would notify the other members
Only Two Members Here.
The only members of the Keep COM
mission now in the city are Mr. Hitch
cock aud Assistant Secretary Murray.
of the Department of Commerce and
Labor. Mr.. Keep. the chairman. has
been in the Adriondacks. He may re-
turn here tomorrow.
Three members OF the commission
would constitute a quorum IL is not i'm
probable that if Mr.. Ke>e arrives tomor
row ne viii at once call meeting, and
pass upon the question at issue between
the Public Printer and his foremen-
This morning Mr. Ricketts, appeared al
his desk in the printing office before
o'clock. but remained only short while
Mr.. Hay was also at work
Efforts on the part of newspaper men
20 see the Public Printer this morning
were again fruitlesS- Like the Dalai
Llama of Lhassa, the Forbidden City OF
person with mystery so far as repre-
sentatives of the press are concerned
He simply will not see them. and an
nounces through his private secretary
that he has nothing 10 say.
Palmer Denies Himself.
A reporter for The Times broke into
the Public Printers reception room at
noon today. The reception room adjoins
the sanctum OF the Public Printer.
which. il is understood. has been enter
ed by the Keep commission only
a clerk inside told the reporter when
the latter asked for Mir. Palmer that
he would have TO go back into the hall
and send in his caro- The clerk was 3
large man aud the reporter was not
The reporter went out into the hail
and watched several dOorkeepers eat
lunck until the dignified. special door
keeper of the Public Printer came along.
Then he sent in card
Anon the doorheeper came back aud
said the Public Printers secretary
would see the representative of The
porter with affa bility that amounted al
ElOS- to cordiality-
Nj Palmer is very busy" said the
secretary. and Is sorry he cannot see
you
A Glimpse of Palmer.
The reporter assured the smiling sec
retary that the regret was mutual. He
then asked the secretary what the situa-
ton was. The secretary said ne did not
know, but that nothing would be given
ont from the Public Printers office. the
reporter asked n few more questions
and chatted with the secretary a fs-r
minutes
In the midst of the conversation the
Public Printer sauntered INTO the room
IN a le.SCrely manner Seeing what
looked like q newspaper man. he inlrae-
diately went back into his sanctum.
1t is believed that this is the first
time the Public Pr nter has been visible
to the naked eye of a newspaper man
since Friday of last week. when ne
called on Ricketts, and Hay for their
designations. Though visible he was
not audible He uttered no word
Preparing Defense.
In the meantime Ricketts, aud Hay
are preparing TO show cause or causes
why they should not be dismissed for
INSTRUMENTATION The only approach 10
INSTRUMENTATION they can he guilty of
they say, is testify ng before the Keen
Commission in the investigation Of the
LanstOn contract
They add that the Keep Commission
cannot afford 10 let the AK fan on en-
pioyes OF the Government who come be-
fore the commission in response to its
straightforward information concerning
call. and who in good faith give
the departments in which they work
The fate of the Public Printer has not
been announced from Oyster Bay vet.
but the impression is t;lat Mr. Palmer-s
removal from Office is imminent
The President is believed 10 be on the
lookout for a good man for the place
II is thought that rs soon as he can get
the right man 10 take charge Of The
Government Printing Office ne VIII call
TO- MT Palmfrs $ resignation