The Washington times., 1905-07-04
THE LANSTON INQUIRY
NOW TURNS TO STOCKS
CONTINUED from First Pagel

was first considering the Introduction OF
typesetting machines, a committee was
named consisting Of Oscar j. Ricketts,
foreman of printing; Chief Englneer
Tapley, and Albert Cottle, cnier OF lne
fifth division Of the printery-
Ricketts, was regarded by the Lam
ston peple as an intense partisan OF the
Mergenthaler machine interests me
committee went to New York 10 make
their investigation. The testimony yes
terday brought out the fact that these
three employees were entertained by
President Dodge, of the Mergenthaler
company, in fine style, including lunch
con at one of the Noted restaurants, a
box at the theater, an automobile ride
about the metropolis, and visitors cards
to several of the clubs. at one OF which,
the Engineers Club. they were also en-
tertained at dinner
To Prove Favoritism.
On this as a basis. Attorney A h
Larkin tried to bring out the idea that
Ricketts, was the Mergenthaler candi-
date for Public Printer as against Palm
er. now serving Underlying it all was
the belief on the part of several en-
ploye5 that Ricketts, was unfair to the
Lanston machine.
These men. who were called as wit
nesses, were Tapley, Cottle and Theo-
division of the Drintery, where eighteen
/ anston machines are in use. In Cottle' $
division there are ten more. From them
was learned the details OF three confer
ences at the home OF ]. MaEry Dove,
president OF the LansIon Company.
Met at Doves House.
The first of these meetings was held
last winter, the second in April and the
third on June q. soon after President
Roosevelt had ordered the inquiry into
the award of the Lanston contract by
the Public Printer
Hodes, Tapley and Cottle had all high
ly praised the Lanston machine, when
the question: DO you know J. Maury
Dover" was asked. All replied In the
affirmative and this led to the elucida-
ton of the meetings at Doves house,
where things were talked over in a
social way, with cigars and other re-
freshments to help pass the time away.
II was developed that at the first meet
ing Dove wished TO find out how loyal
these men were to Public Printer Palm
er; at the second, the state of the
Ricketts, campaign for Palmer's place.
aIl the three men favoring Palmer and
opposing Ricketts, as the MergenthaIer
candidate; at the third, the recent con-
tract for seventy-two Lanstons was
gone over and the determination made
hAONn Dy oONt, according 10 the wit
nesses. of supporting Palmer at every
stage Of the inquiry by the Keep com.
mission.
A Fruitful Inquiry.
The last witnesses called have been B
w. Bonney. chief of the records clerks
division; Estimate Clerk Mitchell, Miss
Ora A Brady. who insnects the con
tracts which pass through Chief CIerl
Brian's Office. and Mrs. Cottle, wife O.
Witness Cotte1. the fifth division chief
Further questions will be put to then
when the commission reconvenes
1t is believed, from the interesting de-
velopments of the first days of t.4e com
mission s work, that succeeding meeting:
VIII bring forth even more interestinl
testimony showing the intense rivalr,
between the two companies It is ac
cepted as already shown that the com
peting concerns regard the present in
quiry as the crisis for their machine ans
that they are determined to make ever,
other consideration secondary to prov
ing their particular machine the best
This may have its good effect for th,
Government in bringing out a succession
OK facts which at the present momen
are not of public knowledge