Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-06

William S. Rossiter,
Acting Public Printer.
copyright by G. v Buck,
10 us i'm Boston and asked for our in
dorsement We told MIR. Stillings that
had recommended Mr.. Ricketts,. but
= that if the President selected Stillings we
= should gladly concur in the Presidents
: selection and assent to it in the Senate.
;. But neither of us had ever heard of Mr..
Stillings before he came to us for our
Endorsement, and we neither suggested
nor urged his appointment TO the Presl-
dent.
State of Decentralization.
Secretary Loeb. who is credited with
having done more than any other man
10 retain Mr. Stillngs in his position. is
himself startled at the reported accumu-
lation of facts adverse to the Boston man.
He has told some of those with whom
he has talked that he was all along under
the impression that the complaints against
the public printer arose largely because
of the many dismissals he was compelled
to make in carrying out his plans of re-
organiza ton.
The President has been informed that
the great printing Office has never been
in such a state of decentralization, and
that it is surprising that effective work
has been possible there for many months.
Mr. Stillings. it is stated. is cordially
dislikcd by even those he has favored
The reputation of Mr.. StiHings by SEN
ator Lodge is of unusual significance. anu
is taken to indicate that the senator con-
= sfders that unfavorable developments
Will follow. for which he does not care
TO have any responsibility.
Boom for Ricketts,. =.
A boom for Oscar Ricketts, as the sue
ressor to Mr.. Stillings has already been
started. He is now at the head of a
good private business and might not
: want to return to the printing office,
szwhere he was for years chief clerk and
practical directing head The kindly
words said in his behalf are from sera-
tors and representatives who remember
how smoothly matters were conducted
= while Mr.. Ricketts, was in the Office.
Senator Lodge. i'm his statement refers
TO the fact that he was personally ia
vorabie to Ricketts,. but that lie sup
; ported Stillings because the latter was
Boston man and asked for mis- sup
port. which he could not refuss in a
|. perfnnctory sort of way. If Mr. Ros-
sitter. now in charge of the Office meets
the requirements Of the law in being a
- practical printer the proba bility is that
2, the President will ask him to retain the,
:. place permanently, assuming that Mr.
4Sti1linGs will be forced out. If MIR Ros-
sitter. however. does not meet with the
legal qualifications Mr.. Ricketts, will be
81 pressed hard.
Stillings at the Office.
Public Printer StiTlinss was at the gov
ernment printing Office today. He occu-
= pied the front office reception room facing
:. North Capitol street and it was explained
= that he was present to answer any in
>, aulries that might be made to him. He
:. positively declined to make any state
ment for publication.
8 One of his friends said. however. that
Mas ahS Into F.;t
:; President will give him square DEAL
q 1T was also remarked that before the in
! duiry is completed other officials of the
~ printery may be grilled on the gridiron
: on investigation"
: The same friend pointed to the fact
i mat the Keep commission at the concIu-
. sion of its iBquisition. had Informed tho
PRESIDENT that there was no cost -kee ping
= system AT the government printing Of
: flee. and recommended that some such
= system be installed
-. 1T was also stated by the commission
that The public printer did not have the
y authority 30 install such a system under
!. the then existing laws. Then it was. the
statement was further made. that the an
.. preparation committee of the House of
: representatives inserted i'm the sundry
; civil appropriation bill a clause author
: 1zing MIR. Stillings tn install a cost keen
n. ing and audit system. This was done nv
= contract with the present New York Audit
T. Company.
Extracts From Report.
In TINS connection the following excerpts
from MIR. StilIings' recent annual renort
quoted:
Considerable progress has been made
in the development of the cost. audit and
inventory systems now being introduced
into every branch of the work Of tho
rffice No delay has been occasioned by
= their installation. and relia BILE information
: Is now quickly obtainable whereas here
= tofore only conjectural statistics could he
secured
: Il renew the rec6mmcndati ton made in
my last annual report. that provision
should be made whereby the purchases of
equipment. material and supplies by the
. pubic printer may be supervised and re-
strlcted within reasonable financial
limit. by methods as carefully safeguarded
IS those now existing in relation to the
purchase of papers. etc. and that the
joint committee on printing he instructed
I" take up this matter with a view to
securing legislation covering the same.
This action is necessary. not only as q
:; protection to the government but i'm ms
tic to the government printing office and
- to the public printer
Feeling Among Employees.
The stunning effect of the announce
ment at the government printing office
yesterday afternoon by Star reporter
Of the suspension of the public print or
WAS sun observable TO some extent to-
day. The typos and others talked i'm
undertoneS about the matter and the
probable outcome. There were some who
expressed sympathy for Mr.. Stillings and
declared he had been the victim of cir
'umstanceS and "A system Others were
olated at the prospect of the final oustins
of the present public printer and the Sc
lection of a new man for the place. Some
even went so far last night as to cele.
brate the order suspending Stillings.
An air of mystery and secrecy pervaded
>;ie workrooms and corridors of the
printery today. similar. II was said. to
the secretive days of the inquisition of the
Keep mum commission" The conditions
were likened to those which precede d
disaster like an earthquake or cyclone.
Mr.. Lands at the Printery.
Chairman Lands of the printing sub
committee. which investigated the charges
Of irregularities in the government print