Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1905-09-09
PALMER MUST RESIGN
Has Two Weeks to Forward
Resignation to President.
HIS ACTION TOWARD RICKETTS,
Reorganization Of Working Force OF
Government Printing Office Will
Occur Under New Officials.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 6. = Public
Printer Il. W. Palmer practically has
been ousted from office. 1t was learn
ed authoritatively last night that Pres
ident Roosevelt had demanded Mr.
Palmer's resignation, TO take effect on
the 18th inst
The demand Of the president for Mr.
Palmer's resignation was due prima.
rily to the latter's action In trying to
force Oscar j. Ricketts,, foreman Of
printing, and L. @. Hay, foreman OF
division, out Of the government print
ing office. Mr.. Palmer asked for the
designations of Ricketts, and Hay on
the ground that they had been insub.
ordinate. The public printer formulate
ed series of charges against the two
men. These charges. it is known, were
forwarded to Oyster Bay.
As soon as President Roosevelt
learned of the situation that had devel
oped lie directed Public Printer Palmer
to forward 20 him his resignation, to
take effect in two weeks.
II has been known for some time
that Mr.. Palmer would not be reap
pointed ito his present office. For sew.
cral months before President Roose-
welt left Washington for Oyster Bay
he was casting about for a suitable
man for the position of public printer
lie offered it to John A. Slelcher of
New York, but he declined it. having
something better in view. Until this
tilc there has been no change in the
situation.
The investigation made by the Keep
commission into the letting of con
tract for seyenty-two typesetting ma.
chimes for use In the government print
ing office disclosed a serious condition
of affairs In the management Of the Of
fee. Prominent men in the office force
were divided into cllques. These
cliques were so detrimental to the in.
terests Of the government that the
standard of efficiency in the establish
ment was reduced materially.
The evidence adduced by the COM
mission In tile course of its inquiry ere
atcd much bitter feeling among the
men holding high positions in the of
flee. One of the direct results Of this
feeling was the demand made by Pub
lie Printer Palmer for the resisna-
tions of Ricketts, and Hay. As the
Keep commission inquiry, so far as
known, developed nothing to the dsad.
vantage of Ricketts, or Hay, the presi-
dent acted promptly In taking the
whole matter out of Paimer's hands
and placing it In the hands Of the Keep
commission for such further investga'
ton as might be necessary. Coupled
with this action of the president was
the demand on Mr.. Palmer for his res
ignation.
With the incoming of Mr.. Palmers
successor-and there is ample authority
for the statement that he has not been
selected yet is expected thorough
reorganization of the working force OF
the government printing Office viii
take place. Among the men mentioned
! In connection with the Office are Oscar
j. Ricketts,, whom the public printer
sought to remove; III. Il. Brian, chiei
clerk of the office; William $. Rossiter
chief clerk of the census bureau, ant
John Leech, public printer In the Phil
ippines. The Office pays a salary o.
$500 a year. The annual disburse
ments for the government printing Of
fee aggregate about $7000,000.