The Washington herald., 1908-02-24
GRO. EXPENSES 19O6.oz.

Former Public Printer Charles 4 still
inss. serene and unafraid. forgetting an
paTently. tho increased cost OF white pa-
per. the increased cost OF his executive
force. and the increased cost entaiIed on
the Government Printing Office BY the
installation OF and instruction in a cost
audit, and inventory system sailed
blithely cut into the good fiscal year OF
l997 with al appropriation OF approx
mately S.J09ea0
Comprehensive figures. which must nee
essarily leave out some items which viii
not be placed AT the final accounting upon
the Stillings side of the ledger, show that
the Government Printing Office. through
$Ss former head. Public Printer Charles
A Stillings, has already spent or con
tracted 10 spend. almost S600o0W- Evi-
IDENTIFY Mr.. StiIlings was not good ad-
minisrator. for deficit OF S5.eeG9. proba-
bly, more, faces the man who attempts 10
guide the destinies OF public printing for
the next four months Of the fiscal year.
ROSsiter Keeps Counsel.
While the tenor of the report Of VIII
liam 5. Rossiter. the Presidents inresti-
gator, now almost ready. IS not known.
nor has Mr.. Rossiter nor any Of his as
'sistants been willing TO confirm any report
Iof a deficiency. q glance at the report Of
the late Public Printer and look at the
table given viii show that this shortage
is grim reality and not delusion-
Under The Audit System. there IS
bound to have been an Increase in the
amount Of supplies and material pur-
chased. Leaves Of absence" the las.
item given in the table. wis figure fuH5
as great for this year. if not greater.
II is, therefore. safe 20 say that the
S4il.464 deficit shown in the table. is
minimum estimate.
PrObiem for Successor.
Rosters report is expected TO fully
cover this phase OF the Government print
ing Office situation. Whoever. viii assume
charge Of the Office. after the President
receives the report, viii be confronted
with the problem CT conducting the
prtntery so economically as to round out
the fiscal year as nearly within the ap-
preparations as Pcssih.c
The practical certainty Of a deficit al
the Government Printing Office. and the
already disclosed fact or huge increases
In the cost Of printing 20 the executive
departments. warrant The prognostication
that Mr. Sullings viii be severely ar
raigned in the Rossiter report for the
lack OF judgment and gross mistakes in
management.
A rumor is current that the investi-
gators. who have been handling the cues
ton OF supplies az the Government Print
ing Office have found conditions that re-
feet seriously upon tie methods Of The
Audit System officials.
The nature of these disclosures can
not be forecast. Il is expected that
dealings OF an INSCRIPTIONS Character
have been discovered in the contract
records Of The Audit System.
stilIinRs viii Not BE Blamed.
No reflections of personal nature
against Mr.. Stillings are expected. II
is believed TIE Audit system officials.
however. will be shown 10 have handled
the Government Printing onice ike
good thing
Rossiter is expected TO finish his report
BY to-morrew evening. He has been
working al top speed ever since he BEGAN
the investigation
During the past few days he is reported
to have begun TO feel the effects of The
strain An immense amount Of figures
and data have been collected.