Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-10-21
WASTE IN PRINTING OFFICE
Congressman Lands Discusses EI.rsva-
canoe in Uncle stR'S Big Shop,
CAN SAVE MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR
Tons of Useless Documents Are
Printed Every Year and situa-
tiOn Fairly shrieks for
Correction.

WASHINGTON, oct o.-supplementlns
his statement yesterday regarding extrava-
gance and waste in public printing, Repre-
sentative Charles B. lands, chairman Of
the subcommittee Of the congressional
printing investigation committee, charged
with an inquiry into the alleged extrava-
gances in the public printing, today insisted
that the statement he made to congress
before its adjournment that the government
could save 100000 a year on it's printing
bill, was not at all extravaeant.
Mr.. Lands declared today that "a print
ing oontagion seems to have swept over
and taken possession OF congress and all
departments of the government to such an
extent that an arbitrary reduction in the
printing appropriations Of from 20 to e per
cent could be made without doing violence
TO the public welfare"
Mr.. Lands stated that the committee
had been endeavorins first Of all to learn
the actual valuation placed by the public
upon the documents so freely distributed
and 20 determine whether the Dement'S OF
the country Justify the expenditure in
volved and whether the distribution has
been to the best advantage.
THE inquiry" he said, has extended to
every section of the country and an effort
made to obtain the estimate Of value placed
upon these documents by the people for
whom they are intended as well as by the
| officials by whom they are prepared. There
| is no doubt that many Of them are Of
| great value, but intelligent discrimination
| and more effective distribution should re-
suit from the inquiry. There are tons and
| upon tons of documents for which there
will never be any demand piled UP in the
| committee rooms and in the various de-
| partments about washington and in the
| garrets ana woodsheds of senator's and
representatives throughout the country. 1t
| all represents waste and extravaganza and
improvidence and the situation fairly
shrieks for correction"
Pay Director ring Dropped.
The action OF the Navy department upon
the report of the court of inquiry convened
at the request Of Pay Director James A.
| Ring L. s. N, to inquire into his admins
tration Of the office OF general storekeeper
at the Boston navy yard, was made public
at the Navy department today. Following
is the Official statement: IN
The court finds that Pay Director Ring
has been negligent and careless In the per
! Torrance Of his duty in a. number OF in
stances; that his ADMINISTRATION of his
excuse, and that he has shown a disregard
| OF the provisions of the navy regulations
derellction Of duty. The court, however,
after mature deliberations upon the whole
s1oS}eSt TgSo mn tnst no lSeJher pro
The facts brought out by the court are,
in the departments judgment, ,sufticient 70
ingiy are approved, but the recommenda-
ton against further proceedings cannot be
OF very serious concern to the department
whether the interests of the service 90
odSa TP f6 BY Re Pay e PFsfo a Rqg
OF duty disclosed in this record. In view,
however. OF the courts distinct recon-
| mendation against such action and of the
fact that no corrupt motive on the part OF
Pay Director Ring is shown for his onis-
department d Concludes upon q view Of the
whole matter that the interests Of the
ssTyes would be best served P this
that he be restored to duty as general store
keeper and by an expression Of the de:
Tafts Trip to Panama.
Secretary Taft announced today that he
and party will arrive on the isthmus No
vember 2, and that they will remain there
until November and return to Washington
about the 10th. The party will consist Of
Secretary Taft, General Storey, former
chief OF artillery, now retired; Colonel
Black. engineer corps; Colonel Edwards,
| Cnio1 OF the bureau OF lnsuldl dIIdlTS, ana
w w. Michler.
Secretary Taft said there were a number
of questions that he wants to discuss with
the Panamans; that he wishes to see what
has been accomplished this year so he cnn
compare IL with last years work, and that
his chief reason for making the trip is his
desire TO go before congress and tell where
the money has gone. In this connection
Secretary Taft said his report from the
isthmus was very satisfactory and he CON-
plimented for the work of Chief Engineer
Stevens, Governor Magoon and Chief San.
itary Oficer Gorgas.
Panama Engineers Meet.
The members OF the board of consulting
engineers of the Isthmian Canal commits
sion met today for the first time since their
return from Panama. Mr.. Dodge at one
time connected with the engineering force
on the isthmus, submitted technical re-
port. The board is expected to meet again
next Friday, when, IL possible, Mr.. Wallace
} the former chief engineer of the canal, will
appear before them. Meantime the different
committees appointed for the special study
Of the lock canal, the sea level canal and
for the study OF the unit prices for both
will hold daily sessions.
McCuIIy Back from Port Arthur.
Lieutenant Commander Newton A Nc
Gully, who was until recently naval attacht
at Peking. China, and who was afterwarc
appointed naval attache to the Russian
forces In Manchuria. has returned tC
Washington and will shortly make his re-
port to the Navy department. He was al
Port Arthur from May until August last