Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-12

| Chief Inspector, Government Printing Office.
prior to its creation. Before coming hero
| Mr.. Brown had been employed for twenty
years by the big printers supply house OF
| Barnhart Bros. & Spindler of Chicago He
| had large acquaintance through the mid
die west as a salesman of printing ma
terials.
Behind the resignation of Inspector
Brown are numerous rumors of serious
| disagreement between him and his chief,
Mr.. StiHings, over the proposed condemna-
| ton of certain machinery at the government
printing office. In that connection it is said
that recently Mr.. Brown ordered the dis
mantlng of five Hoe printing presses
which were in the new printing office build
| ing and the removal of the same to the old
| building, there to be condemned and sold.
| It is said that when Mr.. Stillngs learned
of the action the part of his chief in
spector he forthwith issued an order direct
| ing that the Hoe presses be returned to
| the new building and again placed In serv-
ice, as. it is said he did not regard them as
unservicea BILE property tit for condemnation.
Removal of Machinery.
Prior to the removal of the presses, it is
| added. Mr.. Brown directed that ruling ma
chimes be removed from the bindery and
conveyed to the old building, there to await
| condemnation and assignment to the junk
pile. 1t was Mr.. Browns contention that
there were too many ruling machines in the
| bindery, and therefore he selected three OF
| the worst of them and had them removed,
| as stated 1t is reported that Mr.. Stillings
was informed that there were not enough
ruling machines in the biEdery in the first
instance to execute the volume of work re-
uuired He thereupon ordered that the
| three machines be taken back to the bind
cry and again placed in service.
1t was learned that Immediately follow
| ing the return of the ruling machines to the
bindery all the ruling machines there were
! kept at work overtime in order TO keep up
with the great volume of that class OF
| work.
| 1t is said that other orders of Inspector
| Brown were countermanded by Mr.. Still
| ings, the result being serious friction.
| which those who claim to know, declare re-
suited in the resignation OF Inspector
Brown.
Another report today has 1t that there
was also considerable friction between the
public printer and the chief inspector over
| the new auditing system recently put into
effect at the printing office.
Report Of Congressional Investigation.
Another matter of interest today I'm con-
nection with the resignation of Mr.. Brown
was the statement that irsis expected there
will be congressional investigation of the
| office, and that in preparing for the pro-
| posed inquiry into the affairs of the print
cry the chief inspector had for several
weeks been digging into the past expendi-
lures ana cOhuuct OF the government pTlHl-
| ing Office and had everything in shape to
prove that in the past there had been gross
| extravagances and carelessness. These
| things are said to be known to President
| Roosevelt. and it is stated. he was much
| pleased over the work of the inspector.
Several days ago Inspector Brown met an
acquaintance who formerly held high
| office under the government, and by his
conversation seemed TO be debating in his
mind whether he would leave the govern
ment printing office or not. He said to the
| former official:
would you stick If you were in my
place. or would you not?'
The matter seemed 10 be weighing heavily
on his mind. and he Indicated that there
had been trouble between Mr.. Stillings and
himself in relation to the conduct of the
inspection division 1t seemed to be Mr..
Browns belief that certain persons who
were near TO Mr.. Stillings'' had been in
fiuencing him against the inspector and
causing friction between them.
Completely Organized the Work.
Friends of Mr.. Brown said today that he
did not care to give up his old position