The Washington times., 1906-07-11
Mr.. StillingS Puts Blame
for EngroSsing Middle
Up to Congress
Official.
AFFAIR TAKES ON
A SERIOUS ASPECT
Blunder Made the President
Sign Bill With Big Appro-
priation That Didn't
Belong There.

/ Public Printer StUuugs has raised an
( issue in the present sharp controversy.
/ between the Government Printing Office
/ and Congress. tha. gives promise of
/ serious II not startling. results.
He charges thai tie $3.50 0o0 item Ia
ihe suHdry civil appropriation bin, pro-
yiding FOR the purchSse OF site for
i the Departments Of State, Justice. and
/ Commerce and Labor. and which was
/ finally ordered sSFunsed from the bin
/ by both branches Of CongI ess. had been
| retained in the act upOn the orders OF
| some official al TIE Capitol
This was a subject Vif.r the Congress
/ sionai investigating committee did not
/ care 10 enter into. but the Public Print
/ er. smarting under what he declares has
/ been unjust criticism OF his esta bllsh-
| ment. has insisted upon placing Ia the
| record Of the committee the charge that
/ his force now under a severe fire, dis
| covered a provision ir The bin that
| should not have been there. that ths
| proper officials al the Capitol were in-
/ formed OF the fact. and that only after
| the printing force was notified specif-
| cally 20 follow copy" was the bill en-
| crossed and sent back 20 the House for
| proper signature.
Office 0beyed Orders.
| Our Office .obeyed orders absolutely IN
! the engrossing OF the sundry civil bill.
| he exclaimed with emphasis. Lying in
| his bed where he has been confined
| some days. he answered all lnterrogatO-
/ ries OF the committee without mucn IN
/ dicatlon % emotion untn this point was
reached Then he lifted himself upon
his elbow. glanc.ng. as be spoke. at Cap
| tain Brian and the half dozen other
| heads OF the printing ho-4se who were
| present.
Secretary Root discovered the item in
the bill on the closing Gay Of Con-
gress. The bill had just been signed by
the President and had virtually become
a law. The correction OF II required the
passage Of Joint resolution. Senator
Hale, who forced the present investlga-
tion OF the big printing house, cited the
incident as an additional proof of his
declaration that there was incompetency
IN the printing house management.
Not the Printers EuoT
Mr.. SulIings' declaration that the re
tention OF the provision was intentional.
and not an error as has been generally
supposed Will lead 20 a rigid investiga-
ton of the enrolling system OF Senate
and House.
Public Printer Stnlngs made his
statement TO A. Fl. Howe. clerk Of the
Senate Committee on Printing Mr.
Howe is conducting the investigation Of
the Printing Ofhce under the Hale reso-
luton passed by the Senate on the clos
ing day OF the session, after Senator
Hale had made some sharp comment on
the delay IN the enrolment OF bills For
more han an hour the Public Printer
! gave a detailed account Of the methods
employed in the Printing Office In the
handling Of Congressional copy, and
sought 10 make IL clear that the delay
,ould IN no seI.se be charged 10 the
Printing Ofhce.
He further emphasized the statement
that the 100000 appropriation for the
Departments OF State, Justice, aHd
Commerce and Labor which was i'm
properly retained in the sundry civil
bill, was called TO the attention OF
House Enrolling Clerk McKenney, and
that official sent word that his instruc-
tions were 20. keep the item in the BIZ.
The Public Primer obeyed the instruc-
tions.
Went Into Details.
Mr.. SuIlings gave an accoun- Of his
experience as a printer and manager or
large offices. and explained the system
? in the Printing Ohice in handling the
| work OF Congress in the closing hours
of a session. how the action OF the two
Houses was often anticipated by hav-
ing bills printed on the parchment ready
for the signature OF the proper officers.
and mentioned that one Of the deficiency
= hills which passed the House on the last
dav of the resslon and reported by the
| senate Appropriations Committee with
ont amendment, was printed and deliv-
| cred 10 the enrolling clerk OF the House
before the announcement was made in
the House that the Senate had passed
: the hill without amendment. Captain
Rrisu. chief clerk OF the Printing Of
fee: Foreman OF Printing Young, and
Assistant Foreman of Printing Spots
wood who were present. stated TO Mr..
Howe that Il was by these methods that
the Printing Office kept up with Con-
cross and saved valuable time In the
/ Closing hours OF the session
! While the Public Printer was repeat
| Ing what Mr.. McKenney had said 10
him about the Printing Ofhce being as
| axDedftfous as usual Mr.. Howe said:
! as / understand IL. there was an error
. In the enrolment OF the sundry civil
biu which produced some CONSERVATION.
Lumber Trust Broken.
| = "a Lrtoo.f.-.- -, 20 n 49, 1nh -