New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-11

&, WAS more convenient for him to transact the
business at Mr. Doves house Mr.. Dove test-
ned that he spent four days each week In Phils-
delphia and had other business interests in
Washington which made it more convenient for
him TO have the Public Printer call at his
house. Commenting these meetings the re-
port says:
Whether the motive for the meetings at Mr..
Doves house was to prevent knowledge OF the
negotiations from reaching other persons ana
especially TO prevent such knowledge from
reaching the Mergenthaer Linotype Company,
or whether these meetings were based upon .hs
business convenience of Mr. Dove, or whether
both reasons were in mind. is a matter Tor con-
lecture If one object was TO keep the neso.is.-
lions Quiet the purpose was fully attained as the
Nerrenthaler Linotype Company appears not
10 have known that any negotiations TOT the
purchase Of machines were proceeding unth the
announcement of the matter was mace IN the
public press.
METHOD HIGHLY IMPROPER
In view of the fact that the purchase of ma
chinery thus agreed upon on June 10Th was one
OF the most important in the history OF tii0
Government Printing Office; in Wow OF tIe re-
quest OF the Mergenthaler people, as eApiess
IN Afr Dodee's letters to the Public Printer
asking to be advised whether adoitlohal puI
chases of typesetting machinery Were IN ooii
templation and Of the Public Printers replS
thereto that he not yet ready TO take Tue
matter up. but that when the time came the
comparative merits OF the two machines woulo
haya his careful consideration: and In view of
the intimate political and personal reia1o,sliLp
between the Public Printer and General Mlch-
ener The counsel for the Lanston Monotype
Company. ii is our opinion that TINS pcfchas s
should not have been negotiated at the private
residences of Mr.. Dove and General Miche a
but at the Government Printing Office and that
the method followed in this case was hlshly I'M
proper: also that the Mergenthaier Linotype
Company should have been Informed that the
purchase Of additional machines was under con-
sideration. and should have been given an OPP
portunity to be heard.
ct.,nstances attending the execution of TINS con-
tract to mention the name Of Oscar j. RlcRetts
foreman of printing in cdlnenIon WIN tLs ilion -
ment to have him appointed Public Printer, ana
to refer the opinion avowed ana expressed
by Mr.. Palmer and General Michener ana MI
Dove to each other and 10 members or Con-
rress that he was the candidate OF the Mersen-
thaier Linotype Company, and that TINS COM
pany was the principal interest and influence
the Public Printer Mr. Dove and General Mich
ener as to what grounds they had Tor thln tiIi
that the Mergenthaler company was oehind
Mr.. Ricketts, The reasons given were OF an
unsubstantiai character and it is only just 10
Mr.. Ricketts, TO say there is not in the evil
dence taken before this committee anything
to show Legitimate connection between MT
Ricketts, and the Mergenthaler company nor rs
there any proof of any act OF Mr.. Ricketts, In
connection with the Mergenthaler and Lanston
machines In the Government Printing once
which IN our opinion, is TO Mr. Ricketts, dis
credit or inconsistent with a preference his
part for the Mergenthaler machine. based on
lis honest belief, as printer that this machine
for much Of the work in the Government Print
ing Office
RJCKETT NOT CONSULTED.
The important fact brought to light in con-
nection with this matter is that Mr. Ricketts,
while holding the position OF foreman OF print
ing and being in immediate charge or the
work done there In the department OF compo-
eitton. and the only officer whose duties gave
him immediate supervision of both machines,
was In no consulted by the Public
PRIMER IN important purchase of machinery
81 O,r-ndf axyf prrh
cr hat he considered Mr.. Ricketts, prejudiced
in favor of the Mergenthaler machines. and
cane to him that the Mergenthaler company
had been the principal influence behind MI
Rickettss candidacy. Such dissension IN a
r-eat government bureau between the head or
the office and one of his principal assistants
could not fail to be prejudicial to the proper
conduct of its business.
It developed IN the course of the testimony
taken by the committee that several persons in
the Government Printing Office were, at me
time covered by inquiries, interested in the
stock of the Lanston and Mergenthaler com
uanes Both Of these stocks are dealt In on
The Washington Stock Exchange, and it is not
surprising that in a body of men as large as
that employed in the Government Printing
Office. whose attention is naturally directed 10
tvpesetting machinery, some speculation IN
Lanston and Mergenthaler stocks should De
found The committee considered such matters
OF no importance, except In the case of persons
whose acts exercised influence upon the re-
ports submitted to the Public Printer about the
typesetting machines. or persons who occupied
Once and might be regarded as assistants 10
the Public Printer.
The Keep report says that the ownership of
stock in a typesetting machine company may
not be a violation of the Revised Statutes, but
its ownership by the wife of an assistant IN the
Office where such assistant is in position 10
exercise influence upon the opinion of the Pub
lie Printer, constitutes gross improperly
WIFE HELD LANsTON STOCK.
Byron w Benney in chargs of the record
clerks division of the Government Printing Of
nee suggested method of computing measure
rnents In the test of composition cost between
the Mergenthaler and Lanston machines His
suggestion acquiesced In by Mr.. Ricketts,.
On the stand Mr.. Bonney testified that he had
never held stock in either company, but the ad-
mission drawn from him that his wife had
formerly held stock in the Mergenthaler
pany. This she had sold year ago. Later she
purchased Lanston stock. selling the latter three
weeks before Mr.. Bonney appeared before the
commission. She had bought the stock. her hus
band TESTIFIED, with her independent means
Albert Cottle chief of the fifth division, where
ten Lanston machines are located. stated that he
had heard that his wife held one hundred shares
of stock in the Lanston company, but he not
sure about it. as she had independent income
and did not always consult him to her invest
ments. Mr.. Cottle the report says. was one of
the three members of committee appointed by
the Public Printer to Investigate typesetting
chimes early in the summer of 1904.
He was" says the report, lone OF the men
mentioned by the Public Printer to General
Kitchener as a friend whom General Kitchener
was free to consult with outside of office hours
about the Ricketts, candidacy for Public Printer
Ee attended several conferences at the house