Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-05

The long bitter fight against Public
Printer Stillings :culminated today in an
order from President Roosevelt tempo-
rarily suspending him pending further in
vestisation Of various charges as to the
management of that Office In the same
order the President placed William s.
Rossiter, chief clerk Of the census bu.
reau, in charge Of the big establishment.
The order Of the President followed q
conference earlier in the day with Repre-
sentative Lands, who is understood to
have furnished the President with in
formation of a somewhat startling natur.
Cnquestionably the visit OF Mr.. lands
brought about the action Of the Presi-
dent, who was pointedly. informed that
from the viewpoint Of practical men who
have been looking into the great priutery
DIR. stillinss was impossible in his pressns
position.
Mr.. Lands announced today that tho
Investigation into the affairs Of the o{acA
would continue by his comfhfttAo. ana
that a most searching inquiry would be
made. II Mr.. lands is right IN his con-
clusions. it is probable that the outcome
will be the dismissal Of Mr.. Stilhugs from
the printing ONCE and q hunt by the
President for new man capable OF MI
ing the position. The probabilities now
look to the permanent retention of Mr..
Rossiter. who was mentioned for the place
before the selection Of Stiuings. The only
question will be as to whether Mr. ROsei-
ter comes up to the requirements In being
a practical printer.
President Rooseveat's Letter.
The President today addressed a fetter
to Representative Lanlis. which was as
follows:
My Dear Mr. Landh: Tire information
ycu have given me this morning is 80 i'm
portant that I deem II 0est TINT there
should be a written recore thereof. had
already begun some weeks ago IN tEtvee
tigstion into the government printing
office under Mr.. Stillines, this investtea-
tion originating because OF Information
which reached me ss to the increased
cost Of the printing to the AePastmeute.
I accordingly directed Mr.. HsveNner cf
the Department of Commerce and Labor
to ifvestigate and report upon this mat
ter. His report on IT'S face was severely
condemnatory Of Mr.. StfllinGs. I h1Tnish-
ed Mr.. Stiliings with copy and reouested
an answer from him, which I have not
yet received.
Il incIose you a copy OF Mr. Haven
nerS report and as soon a. receive The
answer shall also forward that 70 you
for your Information, and will lNt you
know what action have taken on the
report.
"You now inform me that your oom-
,nittee has discovered circumstances in
connection with the printing ONCE, nots-
bly, ia connection With expenditures for
furniture in the printing once and tho
20 {Ah 1xA
feel that there il great irregularity
therein. You also inform me that you
believe that the present Audit system OF
the printing bureau serves to shield theae
charge of this Audit System exert an un-
due and improper influence, not only in
the purchase Of supplies for the govern
ment printing ofhce, but in the manage
men. of the Office itself You also say
that your subcommittee feels that il can
not make a satisfactory investigation OF
the Office while Mr.. Stllings and the per-
sons in charge Of the Audit System are in
the Office. and request that. suspend
Mr.. StilIings pending Investigation. and
also suspend the execution OF the con-
tract made under the Audit System.
II have accordingly temporarily aus
pended Mr.. Stillings and shall put Mr..
Rossiter in his place. directing him 10
cooperate In every way with your COM
mittee. and furthermore TO make 4n ex-
haustive report to me on conditions in
the office. Sincerely yours, 4
(SigneO THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
Notice to Ar. Rossiter.
The letter conveying to Mr.. Ross,ter
notice Of his appointment and also dated
at the White House was as follows:
''Str: The inclosed copy Of letter to
Congressman Lands explains itself In
accordance Herewith you will aasume i'm
mediate charge of the government print
ing once. Please place yourself in COM
munication with Congressman Landis ana
afford him every facility for Obtaining the
information his committee desires In their
investigation. You win also report to
me In full as soon as practicable the
condition. OF affairs in the ONCE as YOU
found them.
Very truly.
6signedp THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
AT the very minute the correspondence
was handed out by Secretary Loeb "A
committee of labor leaders OF the city
was waiting 10 see the President and
hand him charges against the pubic
printer The committee, which consisted
or John II. Lorch. y. A. James. p J.
Ryan. j. l.. Feeney. Z. A. Ryan. J. }.