Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-03

The above communication was received
recently by Mr.. Charles A. Stillings the
public printer. from Oyster Bay. Having
received these assurances from President
Roosevelt that he would not be interfered
with in whatever equitable step he might
take for the betterment of the service at
the big printery, Mr.. Stillings has entered
upon policy with that end in view.
First Steps Today.
One of his first steps was taken today
when he promptly dismissed from the
printing Office w. A. Miller formerly as
sistant foreman of the bindery. and Milo
Shanks, formerly foreman of the second
typesetting division. These dismissals fol-
who was in charge Of the waste paper d.
vision.
In each Of these instances the public
printer gave as his reasons for making
these disnissals that 1t was necessary for
the good of the public service"
The case of w. A. Miller has attracted
widespread attention because of the fact
that in 1903, when Miller was suspended
from duty by the then public printer MI.
Palmer. he was restored to duty by the
President. This act on the part of the chief
executive was in no manner personal one.
President Roosevelt stated that he had re-
stored Miller purely as a matter of prin-
ciple.i 1t appears that Mr.. Miller has been
suspended from membership In the Book
DlnQeTS OIllOn. ana therefore ceased TO DC
a union working man. Pressure was
brought to bear. 1t was stated on the then
public printer by the trade unionists to
have him ousted from the government
was without union working card On
these grounds. 1t was stated, he was dis
missed.
When the matter was called to the at
tention OF President Roosevelt he took the
ground that. as the government OF the
United States was greater than trades
unions or any other organizations. If the
dismissal of Mr.. Miller should be allowed
to stand 1t would be a tacit acknowledge
ment that the government was controlled
or Influenced by trades unions In the oper-
alton of the printing office and othe public
establishments IN which tradesmen are en-
ployed. He therefore restored Miller to
duty, and in doing so practically declared
the government printing office and similar
establishments to be open shops.
Not a Personal Matter.
A friend of the President said at the
time of this occurrence that the action
could in no manner be construed as rec
ognition of any claim that may have been
made by Mr.. Miller. but was on the broad
ground stated Had the employe In quAs-
ton been any one else the action OF The
President would have been the same.
TIE dismissal of Mr.. Milo Shanks followed
soon after his reduction from foreman of
the second division to compositor. Soon
after he had been SO reduced, it appears,
Mr.. ShanlsS wrote several communications
to President Roosevelt, making certain al
legations against the conduct of the print
ing Office under Mr.. Stillings management.
These communications were all returned to
the public printer by the Presidents direc-
tion, accompanied by the letter from Mr..
Loeb, given above.
The dismissal of w A. Miller followed a
succession of alleged acts on his part which
were construed by Acting Foreman Ashton
htr,dG n ha snc hnr 7fr,af lon,
insolence.' In referring to these matters
today an official of the printing office said
that the act complained of on the part of
Mr.. Miller had been brought to the atten-
ton of Public Printer Stiliings time and
time again, covering period of more than
one month. When these matters were
brought to Mr.. Stillings' attention by Mr..
Ashton the public printer directed the act
ing foreman to follow the precedent In such
cases to do his duty in the matter.
Order of Suspension.
Following this declaration, Mr. Ashton
promptly suspended Acting Foreman Miller
from duty. The public printer thereupon
decided to investigate both sides of the
case and give each side fair trial and full
hearing. He wrote three communications
to Mr.. Miller at different times. directing
him to appear and set forth his side of the
case. 1t is claimed that two OF these COM
munications were disregarded by Mr. Mil
Ter, altnOugn IN edch instance he had per-
sonaly received the summons either as a
registered letter or from the hands of q
messenger sent by Mr.. Stilhngs to his resi-
dence.
Finally the public printer sent DR. Man.
ming. the medical inspector OF the Office, to
Mr.. Miller's home. and on a report made
to him by Dr. Manning the dismissal of
Miller was ordered.
In addition to the charges preferred
against Mr.. Miller by Acting Foreman Ash-
ion. another charge-that of disobedience
OF the order Of the public printer to appear
before him for investigation-was hled
against Mr.. Miller. This latter charge was
considered the more serious. and upon IT, 1t
Is said, was based the action OF sfr. Still
his position in the printing ofnce
Case Of Mr. Powers.
The case OF Mr.. J. W. Powers. superin-