Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-04
"RoSS|TER NOT A PRINTER
UNIoNIST'S OBJECTION TO HIM
AS sTILLINGs' SUCCESSOR.
Requirements Of the Law for Posi-
ton Are Plain, he
Declares.

The published statement that President
Roosevelt had virtually decided to ap-
point William s. Rossiter to be public
printer. to succeed Charles A. Stillings
has created sort of furore in labor cir
cles Local labor leaders today declared
that the appointment of Mr.. Rossiter
would be a violation Of the purpose and
intent of the law regarding the qualifica-
lions of public printer. 1t was also said
that the appointment would be in the ma
ture of slap at organized labor. and
particularly at the members of the print
ing craft. 1t was intimated that the ap-
pointment would be resented by the many
unions affiliated with the international
Typographical Union in every section OF
the country. as well as by the thousands
of unions of other trades.
A member of one of the largest organ
lied labor bodies in the District speaking
of the probability of the appointment OF
Mr.. RosSiter. said:
''Rossiter Not a Printer
'No one doubts the need-nay, the de-
mand--for an able. efficient and consc1en-
tious man to fill this high position. sec
u
folio and so far as / know. no one has
as yet denied that Mr.. Rossiter possesses
all these qualifications. But there Is
something more than the qualifications
mentioned above. and that is the require
ment imposed by law, which stipulates
that the man appointed to be public print
er shall be A practical printer and have
some knowledge of bookbinding. 1t is
admitted by even Mr.. RosSter himself.
understand. that he is not practical
printer and he is said to possess no more
knowledge of bookbinding than the aver
age public official who has to do with
publications
This being the case. the question nat
urally arises, How can he be appointed
public printer? Because he is capable
man and we'll versed in theoretical mat
tiers connected with printing? That can
be said of many other candidates, who
also meet the requirements OF the law.
Because the President is favorably inn
pressed with his ability? Does that OBJ
viate the necessity OF compliance With
the law? Hardly.
II have. heard some people say that
it is rather hard to comply with all the
trif1ing details of some laws. The bes:
way to get rid of bad law Is to enforce
It. and If the law governing the appoint
ment of public printer is a bad one-and
do not believe it is-then let Congress
amend the law so that the President can
do as he pleases. But so long as we have
the law. let us obey 1t.
Question Of Propriety.
There is another point in connection,
with the matter which it might be vel
TO bear in mind: Mr.. Kossiter was ap-
pointed by the President to investigate {
man for whose position the investigate
was at least tentative candidate. Under
such conditions would 1t be exactly thu
proper thing for the President to appoint
the investigator to succeed the man he
had been investigating?'
Mr.. Rossiter returned Yesterday from
Atlantic City. where he went to res,
after his work of investigating the affairs
Of the government printing office. He
said he had not been informed that Presi-
dent Roosevelt had determined to appoint
him public printer. When asked If h
would accept the place II it were offered
to him. Mr.. Rossiter is said to have re-
piled that he was an employe Of the gov
eminent and would obey orders
Reported Opinion Of Some Senators.
At the Capitol it was said today that
the question is certain to arise in the
minds of senator's whether Mr.. Rossiter
can be regarded as practical printer
within the meaning of the law which re.
quires that the public printer have a prac-
teal knowledge of printing and book.
binding. While no senator is wiling to
express opinion on this point for publica-
ton at this time, it is known that by many
senator's Mr.. Rossiter is not looked upon
as coming within the meaning of the law.
1t is known at the Capitol that there
is great opposition to the suggestion that
Mr.. Rossiter be made public printer on the
part of the labor organizations. It was
expected that delegation Of local labor
leaders would call this morning on the
committee on printing of the Senate to en-.
ter a protest against the confirmation OF
Mr.. Rossiter in case his name should be
sent to the Senate by the President. The
dele CATION, however. had not arrived at a
late hour this afternoon