Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-23
WILL 60 TO CONGRESS
PUBLIC PRINTER TO ASK FOR AN
INVESTIGATION
Local Bookbinders Pursuing an In
quiry Into G. P. o. Methods
Statement by Mr.. Stillings.

II Is reported that Public Printer Stillings
Is going to demand that Congress appoint
q commission to inquire into the charges
that have been made against his methods
Of conducting the government printing Of
flee and its branches Coincident with this
statement comes the report from Minneap-
oils. where the American Federation of
Labor Is in annual session,tha a resolu-
ton has been presented to the federation
by the Allied Printing Trades. including the
International Brotherhood of Bookblnders.
demanding that the federation through its
executive council. investigate Mr.. Stillings
and his methods. In the meantime II Is
said that the local union of bookbinders Is
already investigating him. 1t therefore ap-
pears that the public printer will ''be very
much Investigated" II present plans do not
miscarry
The resolution introduced at yesterdays
session of the American Federation of
Labor at Minneapolis recites that IAN
order by Public Printer Charles A. Sdllings
directing the foremen and chiefs of divis-
Ions to prepare lists of employees whose
services can be dispensed with. basng their
findings on the efficiency. character. deport-
ment. health, cleanliness. attendance, length
OF service. future desirability, and special
defects of the men In question.
Humiliation Alleged.
This order the resolution AYERS, tends
will bring dissatisfaction. discord. disor-
ganization. and results prejudicial to the best
interests and efficiency of the government
printing office. 1t also. says the resolution.
tends to prejudice the standard and indie
pendence of an American citizen"
The resolution calls on the federation to
investigate, through Its executive council.
the general policy of Mr. Stiilings toward
employees of the government printing Of
flee. and recommends that heads of de-
partments removed from positions by
son of refusal to stultify themselves by
aiding In such methods be offered every
protection by the American Federation of
Labor"
It is said that back of this resolution is
suspicion on the part of trades unionists
that the proposed wedding out process is
ruse to cover the discharge of union en-
pioyeS. 1t is probable that the open shop
policy announced by President Roosevelt
in the Miller case will come in for it's share
Of comment when this resolution is taken
up
1t is the expressed hope of Mr.. Stllings'
friends that his announced intention to ask
for congressional inquiry into the affairs
of the printery will still the rising storm of
agitation and settle the unrest that is said
to exist among the employees of the office.
In view of the threatened Investigations he
IS said to be preparing data for his de-
Tense.
Mr.. Stillings' Statement.
.In public statement he is reported to
nave yeSleTudy dlteIHoOi,
scrbes the inspection division. its personnel
and its purposes. He denies that the in
spectors are employed spies, and ex-
plains the necessity for the employment of
Charles s. Brown chief inspector, at
5000 per annum.
Mr.. StIllings declares he found the Office
'n a state of demoralza tom when he
took hold of it. and that 200 of the men
employees were late every morning. He
adds that most of the men employed at
the printery are well-behaved and honest
workers. but there are others who are
Just plain hoodlums." He expiains. that
improper conduct the part of the men
workers when crowded into the elevators
with the women workers on certain occa-
sions resulted in an order designating sepa- !
rate elevators for the sexes. This order,
he says, was distorted by his enemies.
The public printer tells how he wiped out
the symposiums and handbooks on the
races. and explains that he favored the
Introduction of time clocks in order to ia
cilitate the weekly instead of bi-weekly
payment of the wages of the employees He
denies the report that he intends to appoint
Harry F. Ashton permanent foreman of
the bindery. and presents figures which
show that the inspection division has saved
the government S3.761.0S per annum.