Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-04
THE BIG PRINTERY
Interest in the Demand for
designations.
TAKEN TO PRESIDENT
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION DE-
MAND SPECIFICATIONS.
Mr.. Ricketts, Friends Say No Act Of
Insubordination Can Be
Shown.
TAKEN TO PRESIDENT

nose VINO are interested in the outcome
OF the demand that has been made by the
public printer for the resignation of Fore
man OF Printing Oscar J. Ricketts, and J..
Z. hay foreman of the job division in that
oiiice, were IN state of expectancy today
lie Dig printing office was deserted today.
pu' OUTSIDE or that office, all over the city
IL 'he MONIES OF the more than 5000 people
VINO are closely identified with the work
VI tne ONCE there was much discussion as
TO what would happen tomorrow at noon.
when the time for Messrs. Ricketts, and
hay to offer their designations expires.
1t is expected that Mr. Ricketts, and Mr.
hay will be at their places of business to-
morrow morning as usual. They will per-
form their duties at least until the noon
hour, when they will see what is to hap
pen. 1t is not regarded as at all likely
that Mr.. Palmer will make good his threat
10 DISMISS these two officials in view Of
"hat mas occurred, since he notified them
10 snow cause why they should not be re-
moved from office for inSubordination by
noon Tuesday. Both Messrs Ricketts, and
Hay promptly determined that they should
oe gwen specifications as to the acts of in
subord1nation charged against them They
poth appealed to the President and to the
civil service commission for the rights
that the civil service law gives all persons
VIII dlS III TIE C1dSSlHeQ service. The CIVIL
service commission at once notified Mr..
Palmer that the rules of the commission
require that charges Of misconduct on the
part OF an emp!oye shall be specified. and
that the time allowed Mr.. Ricketts, and Mr.
hay to reply to such charges was re-
garded as inadequate.
Expect President to Be Heard From.
Mr.. Ricketts, friends feel great confidence
that the President will be heard from in
time to prevent the removal of the two Of
hcials from the government printing Of
flee, at least until they have had a full
opportunity to reply to such charges as Mr..
Palmer may make against them. In this
connection there is great interest to learn
what is the nature of the INSTRUMENTATION
charged against Mr.. Ricketts, Mr.. Ricketts,
friends declare that it will be impossible
for the public printer to point to single
instance in which the foreman of printing
has failed to carry out the instructions of
the public printer They say that while 1t
has been known that various matters
of administration MI. Ricketts, has had views
differing from those of the public printer,
yet such difference of views they claim
cannot be construed into acts of insub-
ordination, because in every case in which
the public printer has not agreed with the
foreman Of printing the latter has naturally
subordinated his views ana has carried out
the wishes Of Mr.. Palmer. 1t is said that
not single exception to this uniform line
of conduct can be brought up against Mr..
Ricketts, and because of the belief that the
public printer cannot cite cases of insub
ordination Mr.. Ricketts, friends are look-
ing forward with great interest to some ad-
ditional word from Mr.. Palmer.
1t is known that this matter has been
fully laid before the President at Oyster
Bay and it is expected that by this even
ing or tomorrow morning some action will
be taken by the President. 1t Is believed
that Mr.. Palmer has laid before the Presi-
dent some statement. but what it is is not
known here. 1t is not known whether the
President will merely indicate to Mr.
Palmer what course he should take or
whether he will give some order that VIII
directly cover what is to be done in this
case It is thought likely that he will COM
municate to Mr. Palmer what course
should be adopted
Specifications Must Be Given.
Even without such an instruction from
the President 1t is not believed that the
pr bic printer will undertake to carry out
his determination to dismiss the foreman OF
printing without serving him with spechca-
ticns of the charges against him, as sug-
gested by the civil service commission as
the proper method to proceed. In ract' II Is
said that for Mr.. Palmer to ignore the IN
struction of the civil service commission
would be so unusual not to be considered
as at all likely.
Mr. Palmer again denied himself to call
ers TODAY 1t was understood that he spent
the morning in consultation with his friends,
who considered with him the course that
should be taken in this matter
Mr.. Ricketts, was seen by Star reporter,
hut had no additional statement to make
SHE will be at his Office tomorrow morning,
as usual and of course should he be given
an order removing him from office at noon
when he fails to hand in his reslgnatlon' ne
will step aside and await developments.
The action taken by the public printer In
the case of Mr. Ricketts, has stirred up
large number of the friends of Mr.. ricketts,,
who are expressing interest IN seeing Una.
he should have an opportunity to state his
side of the case and that he should not be
rem owed except upon specific charges. They
claim that it will not be possible to snow
any such insubordinatlon as the pubic
printer alleges.