Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-03

furnished With specifications OF any acts
of continued INSTRUMENTATION alleged. in
order that they might reply TO the charge
made against them. That is one of the re-
quirements of the ru,es OF the civil service
regulations. and the two officials wished to
have the chance to defend their conduct
that is provided in those rules
Mr., Ricketts, was at his office as usual
yesterday morning and when Mr.. J. NJ. A.
Spottsw0od the assistant foreman. offered
TO relieve him of his duties in compliance
with instructions from the public printer
Mr.. Ricketts, said he would attend to his
duties.
a Star reporter called on Public Printer
Palmer last evening to inquire as to his
future action in the case, but Mr.. Palmer
denied himself to all members of the press
he was away from his home in the early
part of the evening and when he did return
he at once retired. leaving word that he
had nothing to say in relation TO this mat
ter
Mr.. Ricketts, Statement.
Mr.. Ricketts, was last evening asked to
make statement OF his case and, speak
ing in behalf OF Mr.. Hay as well as for
himself said:
Acting under advice l do not feel at
liberty at the present time 10 give to the
public the correspondence in connection
with this matter. and can only say tina. Mr.
e4-AiN4 iieRS I'iuCStt'u our ltSlSIldIlOnS De-
cause OF our alleged continued acts of in
subordination, without specifying any act
on the part of either of US which would in
any way constitute INSTRUMENTATION.
we insist that the public printer has
not complied with the civil service rpg1IIa-
lions, which provide that specific alIega-
lions or causes should be made when any
officer is asked to resign. when 1t is pro-
posed TO remove an officer from his posi-
ton We have a. all times in the course
of our long service In the government print
ing office been loyal to our chief and to the
best interests OF the United States
I'VE know of no reason why this request
should be made at this time unless II arises
from the facts that we were called as wit
nesses and testified in the matter of the in
vestigation of the purchase of certain type
setting machines. and in that respect gave
evidence fairly and honestly. as we were
obliged TO do under our oaths.
I'VE have declined to comply with the re-
quest for our designations and have SUBJ
mitted the matter 10 the civil service COM
mission and to the President Of the United
States. and believe that a full and complete
investigation will result in our being ex-
onerated from any charges made against
us by the public printer"
Action of the Public Printer.
The action of the public printer. while
coming as a surprise to many people at the
government printing office was in line with
rumors that have been circulat ted at the Of
fice for long time. When the nvestlga-
ton was on 1t was suggested that the re-
moval of Mr.. Ricketts, was likely because
II was known that many of the officials of
the office who on terms OF intimacy
with Mr.. Palmer were opposed to Mr. Rick
ettS. But when IL was known that Mr..
Ricketts, testimony before the Keep COM
mission was OF q most conservative nature
IL was generally believed that the public
printer could have no reason to base a re-
quest for Mr.. Ricketts, removal.
q, st,Is
ed in favor of having seventy-two Lanston
typesetting machines contracted for were
not intimates OF MIR. Ricketts,, and that
whatever was done in order to bring about
that result was largely without the knowl-
edge of the foreman. Mr.. Ricketts, in fact
testified on the stand. II is stated that he
knew nothing about the proposition to pur-
chase that large number OF Lanston ma
chimes until he was instructed to issue the
order for their purchase. the contract for
them having been signed
Ricketts, Testimony Conservative.
For these reasons Mr.. Ricketts, was re-
garded throughout the investigation as in
opposition TO the public printer, although
II is stated by those who were familiar with
the testimony that there was nothing that
he said before tho committee that showed
that he had any feelings against the public
printer except those that were the most
friendly. His testimony was said to be
conservative. He stated the points of ad-
vantage of the Lanston and Of the Mergen-
thaier machines. and said that he though hit
they could both he used in the office with
advantage. but that the large number of
Lsnstons purchased were, in his view OF the
case. unnecessary for the work that was
to be done, and that the installation of such
expensive machinery should be made slowly
In order TO fully test their efficiency before
large sum OF money is expended. The
same view was expressed by him on both
machines.
In view Of this conservative testimony
II was thought after the investigation
was completed that the public printer
would not take any action In relation to
Mr.. Ricketts,, at least, until after the re-
port OF the Keep commission should be
made public.
What Influenced Mr.. Palmer.
Tho fact that the President has declar-
ed that the contract for the Lanston ma
chimes should stand is supposed by many
or the men at the government printing
Office to have Influenced the public printer
TO act in this matter.
1t Is said that Mr. Palmer regarded that
decision as to q large extent sustaining his
action. But there are others who believe
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