The Washington herald., 1908-02-07
VISIT Mr.. ROSSITER
Central Labor Union Com
mittee Presents Charges.
STILLINGS IS AGAIN ACCUSED
Hearings Demanded on Complaint
that the Suspended Public Printer
DisFegarded the Eight-hOur Law.
Assured ny the Acting Chief that
Their Charges VIII BE Considered.

James L. Feeuey and P. J. Ryan, repre-
senting the Central Labor Union of this
city, called at the Government Printing
Office yesterday and were granted an au-
dieuce by William S Rossiter, Acting
Public Printer.
Following the removal Of the Public
Printer. Charles 4. Sulings. the Central
Labor Union, through its executive COM
mittee, went before President Roosevelt
and made additional charges against MIR.
Sulliugs. These are that the Public
Printer is guilty Of violation Of the eight
hour law and two OF three other statutes
governing the Office of the Public Printer.
Agrees to Notify Them.
Mr.. Rossiter informed Mr. Feeney and
Mr.. Ryan that he would notify them of
the date for hearing Of the charges. lie
said he was glad they had called
The charges which were filed with
President Roosevelt, have been turned
over to Mr.. Rossiter
Il have the papers here" said Mr.. Ros-
sitter, pointing 10 the documents ON his
desk. "and they viii receive considera-
lion just as soon as possible. There are
other matters that are pressing at this
time, and are being attended TO. You
gentlemen can rest assured that the al
/ legations YOU make viii be investigated" ."
Mossrs. Ryan and Fcency were satis-
fed with tie interview they had with Mr..
Rossiter. and told him they would await
| his pleasure I'm notifying them of the
date for the investigation.
Several ahidavits have been made this
week, and these viii be submitted when
the deposed Public Printer is given a
/ hearing
The Awarding of Contracts.
One of the foremost charges made by
the Central Labor Union against Mr..
Stnlings is based on facts printed in The
/ Washington Herald. regarding the alleged
awarding Of contracts without c0mpeti-
| tive bidding
Members of the Central Labor Unions
| executive committee give The Washington
Herald credit for uuearthing the alleged
violations OF law in the Government
/ Printing Office, and compliment the pa
per's efforts. which eliminated in the
/ suspension Of Public Printer StilliHEs.
II IS also aIleged-and this charge IS one
which the Central body believes the cas-
/ lest 10 prOve-that the eight-hour law has
/ been faErantly violated. Instances are
cited where the men worked twelve hours
/ a day being so directed by an order from
/ MI Sulliugs This order il is asserted
was posted in the composing and press
rooms, and was obeyed for thgse or four
/ days before u was revoked by Mr.. still
/ ings. whose attention was called 10 the
/ fact that he was violating the law by a
member of the Central Labor Union.
/ After o'clock In the afternoon the en-
/ pIoyes. under a revised statute, are al
/ lowed % per cent increase in salaries. and
/ it is alleged Mr.. Sulings deducted this
/ inFrease from their pay roll.
Union soldiers and widows employed at
/ the Office were not, so the statements of
I the labOriug men claim, given preference
when there was "a scarcity Of work de-
manding the suspension of employees Mr..
Rossster has all these charges in his pos
| session.
Mr.. Rossiter Hard at Work.
Mr. R0ssitpr was az his office early yes