Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-13
INTERESTED PRINTERS
Disappointed at Action of tha
Union.
NO MEETING WAS HELD
TO CONSIDER RESOLUTION Foa
REPRESENTATION.
testimony Adduced at the Meeting Of
the Commission This Morning bv
Witnesses Examined.


placed before the commission WAS far from,
satisfactory to the men whose interests ara
at stake
The employees OF the Office today verv
generally expressed their opinion that thu
duty of their union was to present their
Claims Tor an open session, or at least for
a representative of the union at the meet,
ing of the commission, regardless Of tho
action the commission might take on tho
request. There were many men I'm the big
printery today who expressed the opinion
that their officers in Columbia Typograph,
lcal Union will hear from their action in
the future, and that their failure to ener-
getically urge their rights before the com-
mission will be definitely disapproved al
some future meeting.
Reassembling of the Commission.
The members of the Keep mum com,
mission assembled in the secret chamber al
the governent printing office on time this
morning. and the employees of the big build-
ing in the Railways and corridors promptly
assumed respectful attention It was obs
served that several OF the Lanston people
carried packages. and that led TO the state-
meht that they were to have their inning to.
day.
Later in the day a man appeared at tho
office hearing "A dress suit case and one OF
the laborers remarked
There amt no dress suit in thar I'll
pet 1t Is filled chock full of papers. and
that II keep this here thing a-goin' TIL next
christmas. and Wei all be kept on pins
and needles"
one of the I.anston representatives in
formed the commission today that report
No. ., which has become as noted as
Thos. +. Waggamans list of notes No
l. was made by a commission appointed
by Public Printer Palmer soon after tho
adjournment of Congress and prior TO the
appointment of the Keep commission.
The government printing office commits
tee, or commission, was appointed. It was
said FOR the express purpose of going over
each detail OF the operation of the big
printery and reporting every matter which
in its opinion should be changed. 1t was
also said the committee made its reports
from time TO time.
Discussion of Testimony.
The expert testimony introduced by the
Mergenthaler side yesterday was generally
discussed today. and the Lanston people ara
said to be considering whether # will be adj
visable for them to put on the witness stand
some of their experts.
The testimony of Mr.. Oscar ]. Ricketts,,
foreman OF printing is said to have made "a
deep impression on the commissioners and
portions of II We're quoted today by tho
Mergenthaler representatives.
The Lanston people retaliated by quot.
ing from the testimony of Capt. Brian,
chief clerk of the government printing of
flee.
Mr.. Ricketts, said in the light Of past
and present events he would not, had he
been public printer, have contracted for
the seventy-two Lanstons.
Capt. Brian on the contrary declared
that had he been in Mr.. Palmer's official
shoes he would have given the order
1t was said this afternoon that the Lam
ston people have commenced the presen-
tation of their case and that their attors
neyS have made Il general attack on tho
testimony presented by the Merg people.
There a report in circulation at the
government printing office this afternoon
that Public Printer Palmer had intended to
appeal to the President for open sessions OF
the secret commission, but had been diss
suaded from so doing by his friends.
Last Nights Session.
When the evening session OF the Keep
commission was convened George Bishop
Putnam of Putnam & Sons, New York. pubs
fishers. testified. 1t is said that the Lanston
machine, with the Empire had been used
by his firm for four years with most satis-
factory results. He has charge of the me.
chanical work. and spoke as an expert The
Mergenthaler attorney submitted to him
proofs of work done at the government
printing office by the Mergenthaler and
Lanston, the straight composition
and the other on tabular work, and asked
If in the measurement the Lanston would
not have the advantage At first he thought
not, but later said that the tabular product
would give an advantage Of perhaps 30 per
cent. His testimony of a technical
character.
Mr.. Ricketts, Testimony.
Mr.. Oscar j. Ricketts,, foreman of print.
ing, was recalled and closely examined He
made frank answers to all interrogations.
He was asked where he first met President
Dodge of the MergenthaIer company, and
replied: In the office of the public print-
er." Mr. Ricketts, added that he had never
visited his office in New York or been a
been entertained by Mr.. Dodge at the Engi-
neers' Club in New York when with Messrs.
Tapley and Cottle, as committee, he being
the chairman, a trip was made to the Mer-
genthaler works to purchase supplies Be-
fore accepting such entertainment he CON.
ferred with his fellow committeeman. and
they decided there was no impropriety in 1t.
1t the custom of New York businesS
men thus to entertain their patrons. He
had similarly accepted hospitality from the
Lanston company.
Then Mr.. Ricketts, was asked as to his
relationship with Mr.. John L. Kennedy
Washington agent of the Mergenthaler, and
said they were close personal friends. He
had known him for fifteen years. having
formerly worked with him at the printing
office He had only once visited Mr.. KEN
nedy's house, and that was by chance, for
few minutes one evening, when. seeing
Mr.. Kennedy sitting on the step, he Stop
ped and chatted with him. The efforts TO
entangle or dscredit the witness were
pressed vigorously by the Lanston attor-
neys. prompted by President Dove, but
nothing sensational was brought out. When
the evening session closed Mr.. Ricketts, was
excused for two days. owing to the death
of Mrs. Ricketts, mother.
Foreman Berg.
Foreman John r. Berg of the Congress
sional Record denounced special repors
No. s." it is said. This report had pre-
viously been handed to him with instruc-
tions tn studv If ga ref,llv M n u. m civa the