New-York tribune., 1905-07-27
IrRoN rHE TRIBUNE prnr.r1


of the commission OF i've Tor investigators tea-
eral departments and bureaus is lust closing q,
inquiry al the Government Printing Of4oa -.
garding the proposed purchase Of seventy-tEro
Lanston monotype machines. the oonrract ro-
which was held up by President Roosevelt, i'm
lneaistely after II had been signed. and before
she necessary requisition to accompany II had
been issued. An abundance OF testimony was
tsken at executive sessions. beginning early In
July both the Lsnston and the Mergenthaler
linotype companies being represented The
lawyers hled their last briefs to-day. and IN
short order the papers in the case. together with
he commissions report and recommendation
VIII so forward 10 the President az Oyster Bay
The csse is important in several particulars
j has shown that remarkable state OF affairs
exists in the Government Printing once and
that further investigation is not improbable
So soon the facts already ascertained reach
she President II has also shown beyond ques-
tion the existence OF hostile clioues within the
Government Printing once. arrayed against
ssch other ana utterly at variance IN the proper
management OF the big shop the largest estab-
rshEnent OF It's kind IN the world Some time
ago President Roosevelt decided 10 appoint a
new Public Printer. The investigation OF the
Keep commission VIII undoubtedly hasten him
IN that action. and win probably result also in.
che removal ot other officials in the office.
While the specific findings OF the Keep COM
mission IN regard 20 the contract for Lsnston
machines. 70 approximately S23oOO0. will
re OF great interest TO the two companies and
their stockholders. its verdict with reference 10
the conduct OF the Government Printing Ofice
officials VIII be OF far greater moment 10 the
general public.
AfERGENTHAL.ER COMPANY'S CHARGES
II was charged by the Mergenthaler Com
81 -rl-ue had 10aer
awarded. that the contract was secured by i'm
proper methods. and also that il had been ex-
cuded from an opportunity 10 furnish its ma
chimes II was also charged that the Govern
rleut Printing Office had room for the rea-
sonable use OF such large number Of Lanstons
About year ago. after years OF lighting against
rypesettinF machinery. fOrty-six Mergenthalers
and tweury-eight LanstOns We're installed in the
Office. The Mergenthaler Company solicited or
ders al various times in the last winter for
more os its machines but was informed by the
Public Printer. Frank v. Palmer, that he did
not have the purchase OF any more machines
under confederation. Great secrecy was OBJ
served about the Lanston order. although hints
OF the prospective purchase had reached brokers
q the Washington stock Exchange two or three
weeks before the contract vas signed. on the
witness stand MI. Palmer declared that the pur-
chase Of more machines was not contemplated
until ten days before the contract was signed. y
Many witnesses were introduced 70 impeach
Mr. Palner's testimony in that particular, and
also for the purpose OF showing that there was
a alleged. organization among a few fore
men ana others. whom the Public Printer
relied 70 boom the Lanston machine without
regard 10 the merits Of its work. It also
charged that M Palmer had studiously ignored
his foreman OF printing in buying more ma
chimes. although the federal statutes specifically
state that all machinery for the printing Office
snail be purchased on the requisition Of the
foreman OF printing. who al present is Oscar J.
Ricketts II shown that Mr.. Ricketts knew
nothing OF the order for Lanston machines until
the contract was placed in his hands where
upon Mr. Palmer demanded that Mr.. Ricketts,
tign the necessary requisition.
CHARGES AGAINST PUBLIC PRINTER
The fight between the two rival typesetting
machine companies was waged earnestly for
about two weeks. Philip T Dodge. Of New
York president Of the Mergenthaler company.
and J. Maury Dove Of this city and Phila-
oephia- president OF the Lanston company. were
present most OF the time. One OF the damaging
bits of evidence brought out at the first Mr..
Palmer being a witness. was that he had sew
era umes visited the residence OF Mr.. Dove in
THE city 20 discuss the proposed Lanston con
tract instead OF transscting that business in his
orlce. II developed also, from the testimony
that L 7. Michener, Of the law firm OF Dudley
q Michener. was always present al these meet
ingB. That firm is the local counsel Of the
Lanston company. and. as was declared by wit
nesses. drew the Lanston contract which Mr..
Palmer signed
These meetings az President Doves home
were q feature OF the investigation. Captain
Henry T. Brian, chief clerk Of the Government
Printing Once and for about forty years con-
noctsd with the Office. also went 10 Mr.. Doves
home two three times. once accompanied by
Mr.. Palmer and always by Mr.. Richener Cap
tain Brian said when a witness that-"Ice cream
and little cakes" always served at these
conferences. II also shown at the hearing
that the chief engineer ". Fl. Tspley: the
suditor E 7. Bushnell and foreman Albert
Cottle-slL like Captain Brian, vigorous advo-
Gates OF the Lanston machine-rnet al President
Doves home discuss the contract
Another matter that figured IN these con-
ierenoss AZ the Dove residence the possible
choice of Mr.. Pnlmer's successor as Public
Printer Mr.. Michener old and seasoned
politician. Attorney General OF Indiana
ws1 n charge OF Mr. Palmer's campaign for
other term &r. Palmer has held the Office OF
Public Printer fourteen years but unwill-
frJ 20 step down unless the President thought
be had served long enough. or unless the Presi-
Cant Intended 20 appoint Oscar J. Ricketts,, who
had been a candidate from the time he learned
that the President would not appoint Mr.. Palmer
again This campaign IN Mr.. Palne-'s behalf
sne the securing OF contract for more Lanston
machines were shown by the testimony OF many
Witnesses 20 have been intimately associated
Before the hearings closed MI Michener. M
Dove and "a fact All those who attended the