Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-18
THE G. P. 0. INQUIRY
IT HAS REACHED THE UNGUESS-
ABLE STAGE.

The investigation Of the government
printing Office by the Keep commission IL
said to have reached the interesting and
unguessable stage The attorneys OF the
Lanston and Mergenthaler typesetting ma
chimes are perspiring over their briefs.
which. according to orders from Mr.. Keep,
must be I'm the hands of the commission be-
fore next Monday.
The attorneys are being ably assisted In
their tasks by the officers OF the two com
panies. and each side is trying to make the
best possible showing
The decision of the commiss on. said a
government printing office Official today.
will be much like the decision of jury of
award. according to my notion. II II Is de-
cided that Public Printer Palmer did wrong
In entering upon the contract for the sew
enty-two Lanston ma chines. then the Merg-
enthaler people will declare that the Keep
mum commission has in effect decided
that the Mergs are the best machines. based
upon the testimony OF expert witnesses.
If. on the contrary, 1t Is held that MIR.
Palmer did the right thing I'm purchasing
the Lanstons. the representatives OF that
machine will declare with much gusto
that their typesetters have been decla red
to be it by an important government com
mittee, which means virtually by the go'-
eminent itself.
Much Free Advertising.
mission. as The Star has appropriately
named that body. will have TO do some
shrewd work and some clever lodging If it
does not want to be placed in the light of
making Uncle Sam the umpire of the con-
tentions of two corporal tons as 10 which
machine is the best.
THE matter strikes me- too. In the light
of contest between rival companies to Sc
cure some colossal free advertising at the
L.
which has been shrewdly called upon to de-
eide whether the Mergenthaler or the Lam
stOn is the better machine for certain kinds
of work or for all sorts of work genel
ally"
The same official said that President
Roosevelt is too far-sighted to lend himself
to any such purpose, and that he would
handle the report of the invest eating COM
mission with gloves and exercise due eau
ton in making his findings thereon
1t was reported this afternoon that Pub
lie Printer Palmer would prepare a state
ment to be sent to the President when the
report of the Keep commission goes to Oys-
ter Bay for executive perusal This report,
however. could not be confirmed. but an
official of the printery says he has heard
1t Is true.
Mr.. Oscar ]. Ricketts,, foreman of print
ing, is said to be preparing today his Of
fetal report as to the amount of tabular
and straight matter that has been executed
in the several divisions of the Office. 1t Is
believed there will be made comparison
by the commission of hand-set and ma
chine-set work in the printery.
Last Section of Testimony.
1t is said the last section of the type
written testimony in the government print
ing Office investigation was placed yesser-
day In the hands of the Keep commission.
1t Is labeled No. IT, and its last page is
1850. showing what volume of testimony
has been taken. One copy has been handed
to each Ct the commissioners, who expect.
this week, to hold several conferences to
consider the matter brought out during the
prolonged hearings.
Yesterdays installment consists chiefly of
the testimony of Gen. l.. T. Kitchener of the
law firm of Dudley & Kitchener, who testi-
fed Saturday evening.
1t is said that a conference OF the Keep
commission was held today. but when and
where Is not known. 1t was ultra-secret, In
keeping with the sessions held at the gov
eminent printing Office.