Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-16
RICKETTS, SUCCESSOR
RUMOR AS TO THE CoMING Ap.
PoINTNHGT.
Closing Up the Work Of Foreman's De-
partmsnt--Mr. stillings Makes
Ruling as to Transfers.

Up to late hour this AFTERNOON Pubic
Printer Stiiings had not designated an act
ing foreman OF printing to take .ne riace
of Mr.. Oscar +. Ricketts, when he stems
down and out tomorrow. 1t is believed that
one of the division foremen will be selected
for the place until Mr.. StiilIngs decides
upon the man to whom the place will he
given permanently. The impression has
grown during the past twenty four hours
that the place will be rendered to an OUT
Side man who IS well versed In modern
typography and the management of large
force o.. employees. 1t Is claimed on the
other hand that the permanent appointment
VIII be In the nature of surprise and that
an empioye OF the big government. printery
VIII land the official plum
Mr. Ricketts, was busiIy ercuped TODAY In
closing up his affairs preparatory to his
ieavetaking tomorrow. Mr. Stilings has
made an inspection of the .orennn.s de-
pad tment and Is said to have found every
thing In splendid condition. An official in
Spection was made by the public printer
Mr. Collins. hts secretary. and Chief In
spector Brown yesterday afternoon of al.
the branch departmental prIatcries and
the work was found to be IL good shape II
is said.
Public Printer Makes Ruling.
The public printer has made an important
ruling IN regard to transfers of employees
from one branch of the service to another
at the government printing Office. Here
after workers must be familiar with the
technfcallty of the work of the division to
which 1t is intended to transfer them. The
matter came up recently when 1t was pro-
posed to add to the force of proofreaders
on the night force. and 1t was decided that
hereafter readers must be familiar with the
style OF the division to which fhav "A a
to be detailed.
1t has occurred I'm the past that men who
were not familiar with the punctuation,
capitalization and general makeup Of the
composition of some Of the divisions have
been detailed to read proof. and In some
cases men have come into the office with
out any knowledge of the character Of the
work and been assigned to the task of judg-
ing the character of the product of the COM
posttors. The public printers latest move
is In line with strict Interpretation Of the
civil service laws, and Is meeting with the
appreciation of the employees throughout the
Office.
Reduction in Expense.
On the basis Of past experience 1t has been
figured that IL there are no more appoint
ments made at the big printery the pay
rolls will be reduced by 1925. 600 per an
mum at the end of this year. and the fol-
lowing year the estimate Is reduction OF
$3400 Removals from the service from
deaths designations and discharges for
cause are said to average one q day.
Mr.. Robert Fletcher, a temporary EN-
pIoye of the composing room. has been de-
tailed as Lanston operator in, the fifth
division.
The watchmen Of the government printing
Office have, through Capt. Richard B. Har-
low. their chief. expressed their thanks to
Mr. Charles A. Stillings. the public printer.
for his recent action In permitting the MEM
hers of the watch force to read newspapers
while duty on Sundays and holidays.
Also for heading the subscription list for
the benefit of Waterman s. T. Satterfeld.
whose wife died recently.