The Washington times., 1905-07-12
Merits of the Machines
Intruded as an Issue

The Keep commission was again in
session this forenoon. The usual care
full precautions we're observed to secure
absolute secrecy.
The merits of he Mergenthalcr and
Larston machines are forcing them
selves into consideration as leading
issue. despite the initial desire of the
commission to exclude this.
II was the wish of the Investigators TO
carry Their inquiry only 70 the matter
of the regularity of the contract Tor the
seventy-two LanstSn machines ms
raised the set of questions about the
preliminary tests OF the rival machines.
the method of making them, and The
fairness of special report No. B. on con-
c,us;ons of which the Public Printer.
according to his explanation. acted IN
buying TIE Lanston machines
Rut the irvestigatfon Of these facts
has necessitated consideration OF merits
of the machines, and the attorneys ana
experts of the Mergenthaler company
have taken advantage of every oppor-
| tunity to press this consideration, de-
| spite the original feeling of the commits
| sion that it was not germane.
| Experts Are Examined.
| Experts in printing and printing ma
| chtnery were examined, with a view to
| determining the regard in which the diff
| ferent machines are held by practical
! printers Charles Boutwell,, supertnten-
dent of printing for the DeFinne house
told of their use Of Mergenthalersz foi
fine book work, ems of the economies eff
! iected.
! The use of pristing machines in pub
Ec work fairly comparable to that re-
quired of the Government Office, WAS
discussed by a former printing super
intendent of the Pennsylvania State Of
fee. Mr.. Bush He, Hike Foreman l.
c. Hay. of the job department OF the
Government Office, admitted having
sold the Mergenthaler company de
| vice for improving the tabulat ton Worl
| of the Mergenthaler- He said he haf
been given $500 for it. 1t consists o
a device for saving a groove in the cas-
sugs of type from the machine, between
the columns of figures into when
small rule is set by hand The Hay
invention for the same purpose, 1t VII
be recalled, consists in casting a Wid'
rule in the slugs and then, with SINAI
machine, shaving this down so that l
shall present only ha1r-ilne rule, per
fectly straight
Mr.. Bush presented work from thu
| PENNSYLVANIA State office done on Mer
genthaler machines and tod oil tn
economies as compared to hand compo
sition.
What Palmer Told Hume.
Secretary Hume, of the Washington
Stock Exchange, was quoted in con
nectioH with some statements that hat
been made concerning the method o
letting the Lanston contract. W. J
Father, of the Riggs Bank. testiiie
that he was Informed. about June
, by Secretary Hume. of the WashinGto
Stock Exchange, that Public Printe
Palmer had determined to buy tn
seventy-two Lanston machines Thi
; was two weeks before the contract wa
signed Mr. Father was very positfV
: as TO dates, and recalled that az
i the contract was announced ne hit
noted how accurate was the adVdnc
, Information Mr.. Hume had given hin
even to the extent of correctly Glvin
The nuglber Of machines that Woul
t be bought.
. On the other hand, it had been show
; that on June q. more than fortnfgf
after the matter, according to M
E Fathers statement. had been settle
er Palmer wrote n letter to Preside1
Dodge of the Mergenthaier Compan!
which seemed to indicate that the ma
ter was still open, and that u had bee
. taken up for consideration within II
last ten days" The object OF this IL
uuiry was to show, If possible. thf
Mr.. Palmer had given the Mcrsenthal'
o people to understand the matter ".
| still pending when in fact it had alread
= been settled in favor of the Lansto
;, | concern.