The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-02-09
G. P. 0. INQUIRY
WELL UNDER WAY,
ROSSITER BUSY
Experts From Treasury
Department Will Look
Into Books.
More Employees at Gov
eminent Printery Than
Ever Before.

The investigation at the Government
Printing once is proceeding without re-
gard to the limitations OF the eight
hour law or other restrictions.
The Presidents special investigating
commissioner, William s. Rosslter. after
spending a strenuous day at the Office
yesterday, was again at his desk last
night for several hours labor.
Il was announced Luat the iuvestlga-
ton had passed the preliminary stages,
and that on Monday morning an EFFORT
would be made 70 reach pay dirt" at
once. At this time a thorough investi-
cation is expected to be set on foot that
will either confirm the charges or lift
the veil of suspicion from the purchas-
ing. department Of the big printery.
Probe Going Deeper.
The committee that is to conduct this
investigation is composed of three OF
the most practical men that were avail
able for the task. 1t consists Of Chief
Clerk Sylvester r. Burch, Of the De-
partmenU OF Agriculture Lawrence F.
Schmeckbier, chief Of the division or
publications of the Department Of the
Interior, and Wilbur w. Fowler. chief
of the division Of supplies of the Depart
ment Of Commerce and Labor.
At the same time experts from the
Treasury Department, E A GongWer.
and r. C. Getzen6anner, viii be AT work
on the cash accounts and financial
transactions OF the Office.
It was stated last night that there was
10 possibility Of reducing in numbers
what is said 70 be an extra large force
Of clerks in the bookkeeping and cler-
ical ends Of the printery, but that means
Will be found 10 greatly reduce this
force in the rear future IS thought 70
be possible.
Audit Clerks Gone.
It was stated last night that the Office
mad not given employment to any Of the
clerks formerly employed by the Audit
System and that It was not though;
necessary to recall any OF the numbeI
that were dispensed with as a result
Of the cancelinE Of the contract,
tt is shown By the Official roster OF
the office that more people are now en-
pIcyed in the of1ce than ever before
This increase is said 10 be principally
ir the clerical and administrative parts
OF the office, as the mechanical force Is
several hundred less than employed al
q few years ago
The Havenner report points to what
IS termed overhead expenses, and 1t {;
said that the great increase in prices
referred TO in that report are the direct
result OF these heavy expenses for book
keeping and supervision.
Found He Had No Authority.
It was learned last night that PUbIi
Printer stiuings visited some OF tn
departments on Tuesday afternoon an'
announced to the officials that he hat
concluded that he did not have author
ity 10 detail people from the Govern
ment Printing Office for service IN tn
departments as printing clerks, a pTac
tice that las been IN vogue for som
time. Several OF the departments hav
one or two printers detailed from tn
printery to supervise their printing, edi
copy, read proof. and look after print
ing acquisitions.
It so happened that these people wer
called on 70 furnish facts and figure
for use in the report Of DR. HavenneI
and that these facts and figures wer
uniformly adverse TO the Public Printe
and contrary to mis- claim Of economy
Appealed to Cabinet.
The threat to withdraw these men ant
have them return to the Government
Printing once Is said to have infuTfRte,
some Of the officials, and ar least ont
member Of the Cabinet was appealed t
to save hts printing experts.
The next day the Public Printer wa
rendered hors de combat by a broad
side from the White House, and III
printing experts are still on their Jobs
Chairman Lands. OF the Joint Con
gressionaI Printing Commission. is sal
10 be up TO his-ears IN work. ard tina
besides looking into the cost OF print
ing az the Office for the past tire
years, IS his report is designed Z
cover. some live wires are bein
laid to give the third degree 70 som
rnGFe people OF the don't remember