The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-09-08

fice-ptiblic Printer Palmer CaIls for
tic Ecs'g nation OF Two Department
Foremen and They Refuse-His
Own Head Said to be In Danger.

Washington, September Am ugly
ment printing office which will un-
doubtedly result in a sweeping change
iii the personnel OF that institution
Public Printer Palmer has called for
the resignation of Oscar 7. Riekett,
foreman of printing and T. @ Hay.
foreman of the job division. These
officers have refused 10 resign on he
ground that the public printer has not
acted in compliance with the civil ser
vice law and regulations. The public
printer has given Messrs. Ricketts, and
Hay until Tuesday noon to hand in
their designations. If they do not
comply with his request by that time
they will then be called upon to show
cause why they should not be removed.
Two versions of this affair were
given here today. One was that he
public printer asked Tor the resigna-
tons of Ricketts, and Hay on the re-
ceipts Of mandatory orders from Oyster
Bay. The other was that Public Print
er Palmer. conscious that he himself
would soon be asked to retire from
the public service, desired TO besmirch
Ricketts, and Hay, alleged to be the
disturbing factors in the government
printing office, before his retirement.
Ii. his letters to Ricketts, and Hay
asking for their designations Mr..
Palmer stated that he so acted be-
aus of certain acts Of INSTRUMENTATION
on their part. Ricketts, and Hay
promptly declined TO comply with the
request. They insisted that the public
printer had not followed the civil SER
vice regulations, which provide h a
| sDecific allegations or causes should be
| cited when any officer is asked to re-
| sign. or when it is proposed TO remove
| such officer from his position. lhey
| said they knew of no reason why their
| RESIGNATION should be called for at
| this time. They informed the public
| printer that they had submitted the
| whole matter to the civil service COM
| mission and President Roosevelt.
During the investigation by the Keep
| commission it was developed that Mr..
| Ricketts, last winter consented to per-
, nit his friends to start a campaign IN
| his behalf for the office of public print
| or in succession of Mr.. Palmer.
| WINE the uu0SLlou "
| ton was not part of the Keep commiS~
| sion's inquiry it was interjected IN the
, testimony given by several officers rel
| alive to the merits or dement's of two
| rival typ setting machines. Charges
were made at the time that Ricketts,
, had sought to undermine the head OF
the office. This was not denied by MI.
Ricketts,. His only explanation was
| that he had been advised by friends
that Mr.. Palmer was lot to be reap
pointed.
! The report Of the Keep COMMISSION
relative to the Lanston contract ana
other matters in controversy Ill Ine
, printing office has been in the hahus
| of President Roosevelt for a week OF
| more, but it's recommendations nave
| not beer made public. The Lanston
| contract, however, which has been helo
! ND pending the Investigation, was py
order of the President finally approx
| ed. What the Keep COMMISSION re-
| commended regarding the p~ersonnei OIL
the printing office is no known mere
Raleigh Post Special.