Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-07
BRIAN NOW THE
PUBLIC PRINTER
Treasury Officials Say Rossi.
ter Cannot Serve.
ACTION BY THE PRESIDENT
Announcement That Executive Ex-
ceeded His Authority.
INVESTIGATION IS IN PROGRESS
Joint Committee Proposes to Delve
Very Deep. With the Lid
Entirely Of.

Announcement was made late
this afternoon that William =.
Rossiter is under suspension as
acting public printer Mr.. RoSsiter
visited the Treasury Department
this afternoon. The officials there
declined to approve his bond. on
the ground that the President had
exceeded his authority in appoint
ing Mr.. Rossiter temporary public
printer.
, The Treasury Department Off
cials say that under the law Capt.
II. T. Brian, deputy public printer.
succeeds to the vacancy caused by
the suspension of Mr.. Stillings.
1t is said Mr.. Rossiter stepped
aside. and Capt. Brian took charge
of the government printing Office
1t is also said that Mr.. Rossitcr
will continue the investigation of
the Office as the personal repre-
sentative of the President.
With the much-criticised audit system
suspended and ''out of the running" Act
ing Public Printer Rosster today re-
sumed his investigation into the expendi-
lures and management OF the government
printing office. He said to Star re-
porter today that the contract with the
audit system has been terminated to take
effect February 13, which, he explained.
was the minimum limit under the terms
of the agreement.
AS a result of President Roess~elts
action in terminating the contract with
the auditing company late yesterday
afternoon. as recommended by Mr.. Rossi-
ter. the familiar forms of the erstwhils
auditors" and cost Keepers were not
i'm evidence at the public printery today.
The list of absentees showed that NJ. 7.
Raynor. chief; J. Fl. Mock. Z. G. Budd
and w. 4. Hardy. assistant chiefs of the
system were not in the building. The
elaborately decorated and furnished quar-
ters of the company were occupied by
some of the officials of the printery who
have been understudies of the managers
of the system-about fifteen in all having
passed through the tutelage of the audit
chiefs it was stated.
, Up to late nour yesterday afternoon
the numerous attaches Of the audit sys-
tenn were continuing their recent practice
of instructing the workers in the latest
business way" to perform their several
duties. In the composing sections. the
bindery and i'm the press room there was
activity on the part Of the experts" i'm
ported from New York to teach the q.
p. o. employees how to get out the
work
II was said that those of the en-
ployes who had been threatened with
dismissal or suspension for some alleged
infraction OF the rules and regulations
of the system were highly elated. and
celebrated I'm lively manner the ousting
of the auditors themselves
Little Friction Expected.
1t was also stated that there will be but
little friction on account Of the suspen-
sion Of the officials and numerous in
structors of the audit system. '.he sec
ton where the actual cost keeping is
handled has been placed under the charge
of Miss Cora Brady formerly Of the chief
clerks Office. and Ii is understood that
the work will go on In the same manner
tlement of the present investigation. "
is i'm that section all the time slips
made cut by the workers are brought to-
gether and the cost figured out.
These time slips are said to have
been the main cause OF dissatisfaction
with the workings of the audit system
among employees. Various blanks are pro-
vided for the several vocations. and tho
workers are expected 10 indicate the
time of commencing work upon certain
Job. the jacket number. the department
to which the work is credited and the
nature of the work performed. IL Is SAID
that each employe would have occasion 10
repeat this enumeration from three to Q
dozen times a day. and the slightest va
riation of the manner of marking the slip
meant a severe 'call down, and finally
the issuance of the famous general order
No IL. This order specified that any
atn IN king in Jacket num-
bers or the time spent on any job would
be suspended. and upon substantiafion OF
the charges dismissed from the govern
ment service.
Audit System Responsible.
That the audit system is responsible
for the suspension of the public printer
is the general sentiment expressed among
workers in the government printing Of
fce 1t was ascertained today that
large number Of the minor officials of the
Office had for months conferred frequent
ly with the head of the audit system re-
garding conditions in the office. and in
case of immediate necessity went to the
doctor" as the general manager styled
himself. that action might be obtained
without recourse to the miles OF red tape
every detail.
Of1cials of the office were required TO
spend a large share of their time signing
their name to routine papers. II is al
legged. and this specimen of rcd tape
has. in the minds OF some of the work
ers interested in the welfare Of the print
ing service. greatly retarded the getting
out Of the work. IL supply of paper
ran short. it was necessary to make out
a new requisition. which was sent up for
the superintendent OF manufacture 70
sign before the presses could proceed with
the work, and delays OF hours are said 10
have occurred while ofi1cial confirmation
Of routine matter were In process OF
adjustment.
Then. too. orders are understood to have
been given that section chiefs should re-
main in their own territory. and the con-
sequence was that frequently large hur-
ried job would be unexpectedi. precIpltst-
ed on the workers, and the ensuing con-
fusion necessarily following the rapid
Changing Of machines from one kind OF
work TO another would further delay get
ting out the work
Paper and Bug Powder.