The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-09-11
CHARGES MADE
WERE NOT PROVEN
Mergenthaler Company Censured by
Roosevelt.
PRINTING OFFICE SCANDAL
REPORT OF KEEP COMMISSION
MADE PUBLIC.
PRINTING OFFICE SCANDAL

Ii President Roosevelt today made
public the report of the Keep
commission on its recent inv stigatfon
OF affairs in the government printing
ONCE at Washington. The inquiry was
made by special direction of the presi-
dent on account of d protest which
he had received from officials of the
Merganthaler Typesetting Machine
company against the award of a con-
tract by Public Printer Frank ". Pal
hler 10 the Lanston Monotype company
Tor seVenty-two machines of its make.
by order Of the president, the con-
tract with the Lanston company was
held up until an investigation could be
made with the view of ascertainfne
whether the charges of faVoritism and
corruption in the letting of the con-
tract were subsequ ntly founded, as
heretofore chrOnicled in these dis
Pltches. The president decided. after
an examination Of the Keep report.
mat the contract for the Lanston ma
chimes should stand. The Keen com
mission reported that if the contract
could De set aside, such a course
would be desirable although the COM
mission states expressly that no cor
fupuon, payment or promise passed
iron the LanstOn MonOtype company
10 the public printer or TO any person
IN the government service"
Wives Were Stockholders.
1t developed by the investigation.
however, that two important assist
ants OF the public printer were indi-
rectiy interested ia the Lanston COM
pany their wives being STOCKHOLDERS
therein. The commission shows that
a iair and impartial test of the Lam
sion ana Merganthaler machines was
not made, and reports that the DIR
chase or so large a number of Lanston
Hdchihes was ''imprOVident," and in
ulcated great partiality and bias on
the part of the public printer" The
commission regards the purchase as
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS."
The report of the commission is vol
luminous. containing about 16 600 words
Accompanying il is a memorandum bv
President Roosevelt, in which he an
proves the report except as To the dis
position Of the contract for the Lam
ston machines, which he has directed
shall stand.
Presidents Conclusions.
The text of the pr, sfdenrs memoran-
DUN follows.
oyster Bay. Sept, 9. 1896.
are hereby approved, save the latter part
or conclusion ]. n does not appear that
thete Is any question as 10 the validity
OF the contract it, question If il had
not been for the conduct of the Afergen-
thalef company Ia prefeTring the charge
discussed by conclusion , that of cor
ruPuon' / should agree with the COM
mission mat II would be desirable to set
aside the contract. If such course were
legal Eut second only to corruption IN
pubic printer i'm iniquitv comes
aaalL L. HHaar
ana this is what the commission finds
me Mergenthaler company has done Ia
this case, its comments being in part:
Charge was Reckless.
In the light of the failure of the
company to produce evidence of such
corruption. il must be held that the
charge was made recklessly. and the
Mergenthaier company should be severely
condemned Tor including such d charge
In formal communication to the presi-
dent of the United States made as a
basis for official action on his part II is !
Fair also 10 the LanstOu MonOtyDe COM
pany TO say that no evidence was present .
ed by the Mergenthaler company. nor
was any obtained by the committee in
the course of its hearing, tending to show
any promise. payment or consideration
OF any kind whatsoever made BY the
Lahston company or any OF its officers
or agents 10 any person in the govern /.
ment service
Had not this charge of corruption been .
made I should have entirely agreed with
the conclusion of the commission that
If IL were possible ~ hich il is nott. il
would be desirable to cancel the contract ,
in question.
Cases to Be Taken Up.
Public Printer Palmer has been re-
moved from office The cases of the sub .
Ord!nates alluded TO in the report must
be taken up in connection with the dis
cipline and reorganization of the bureau 4
when Mr.. FatmeT'S successor assumes .
office. THEODORE ROOSEVELT" 4
The Keep commission was appointed
some time ago 10 make "a general i'm
vestigatiOn of the business methods in .
all the government departments with a
view 10 simplifying and improving them.
It's report on the affairs of the gov
eminent printing office Is signed by .
Fl. Keep, assistant secretary of the treas .
ury. chairman, Lawrence .. Murray as
sistant secretary OF commerce and la
Dor, and James Il. Garfield. commissioner .
OF corporations i'm the department OF .
commerce and labor.