Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-11
BUSY WITH the DETAILS
MR.. RosSITER SURROUNDED By
rMAsSEs OF FIGURES"
No Developments Today in the Pub
lie Printing ONCE Investigation.
~ Status of Employees.

with his inquiry into government printing
office methods today to see representatives
of the press. Word came from him, how
ever, that he was surrounded with masses
of figures and data bearing upon the sub
ject under inquiry. and that occasionally
one Of the employees is summoned to -ap-
pear and give verbal testimony
At the beginning of the inquiry Mr..
Rossiter stated to a Star reporter that he
did not intend to interfere with the status
Of the employees Of the printery by max
ing any dismissals or suspensions He
has. supplemented that statement by a
bulletin he issued last evening, as follows:
In view Of the misstatements and ru-
mors Of changes in organization and pol
Icy which have been in circulation in con-
nection with my presence in the govern
ment printing Office 1t seems advisable to
call attention to the fact that Capt. H. T..
brian Is the acting public printer during
the period OF Mr.. Stillings' suspension.
and Is thus responsible for the general
conduct OF the government printing Office.
Goes Back to Census Office.
las soon as the inquiry for which 1
have been detailed is completed 1 shall
return to my regular duties in the census
office. 1t would not only be impossible,
but manifestly improper. for me to at
tempt to institute any important changes
In the organization. personnel. Or policy
of the government printing Office. Such
changes, II any should appear to be neces-
sary. could appropriately be made only
by tho public printer. 1 have not been
delegated to attempt to reorganize the
government printing office, or to fix a
policy for its future administration.
- . 49,
printing Office will not permit themselves
to be disturbed by statements at variance
with the above"
Since the inquiry was entered into last
week. 1t is stated that changes have been
made as follows in the SYSTEM
The audit system. with it's seventeen
employees. with salaries ranging from So
to $75 week. has been dispensed with,
and Henry Simons, head bookkeeper
discharged by Public Printer Stillings. has
been reinstated: 1t is also believed that
dispensing with the audit system will
necessarily mean reorganization of the
Office force. This change, however, will
not be made by Mr.. Rossiter. but will take
place only through his report to the Pres
ldent.
Inventory Of Supplies.
1t Is also said that an inventory of GER
tain supplies and machinery is being made
with view to a complete check as to
amount on hand and comparative prices,
ana that difficulty is being experienced in
ascertaining the total cost of many items
OF expense owing to the system of book
keeping recently installed. Under the old
system, 1t IL said. glance would give
the totals, but now each item is separated
and must be dug out" This confusion
10 attributed to the enormous amount of
red tape necessary in handling the install
lation and operation of the mechanical
elements In the Office. Bolts used in re-
pairing press would be charged as hard
ware, while replacing the wooden sup
ports Tor the same machine would be
credited as woodwork and charged to the
carpenter shop.
It is declared there is no truth in the
report that the President will be appealed
to for an executive order exempting GER
tain OF the late employees Of the audit
system from the civil service require
nents. that they might remain in the
office to run the system" 1t would
place the officials in an embarrassing
position, It is pointed out. to have people
handling the work who had been in any
way connected with the installation Of
the cost-keeping and audit system.
Candidates for Public Printer.
The name Of Mr. Milo Shanks has been
presented to tho President by senators.
representatives and others from Kentucky
az tho successor Of Public Printer Still
Engs. Mr.. Shanks Is q member Of Co.
lrmbia Typographical Union and the Ken
lucky Republican Association. He was a
foreman at tho government printing Of
fee, but was deposed by Mr. Stillings.
The other known candidates are Mr..
Rossiter, Oscar J. Ricketts,, Capt. H. T.
Brian, Past President Donnelly Of the
New York Typographical Union and Will
liam B. Turner. printing clerk Of the
Senate,