The Washington times., 1908-02-08
Strike "StrOng Box"

me otsctaF probe at the Government
Printing Office today struck the strong
box" and the financial accounts.
T. = Gongwer, OF the office o. the
Comptroller Of The Treasury. and f. c,
Getzendaner, OF the Office Of the Auditor
for the State and Other Departments.
have been called IN to 80 over the hnaR-
cial accounts as the representative. OF
the Treasury Department. The experts
commenced their investigation this
morning.
M. Rosciter said today that he would
probably find il necessary to call IN
experts in other lines before he con-
Guided the investigation, which from
sl appearances at the Office today IS
designed tc be most searching and com
plete.
Calls on Committee.
Mr.. Rossiter called 10 his assistance
a committee Of three Government OH
Gals who are posted on contracts. for
supplies. who viii delve into the meth
DDS OF making purchases that the Of
fee has followed.
This committee consists Of Col. s. r.
Burch, chief clerk Of the Department
Of Agriculture; William w. Fowler,
chief OF the division Of supplies of the
Department Of Commerce and Labor
and Lawrence T. SChmeCkebier, chief Of
the division Ct publications Of the De
partment OF the Interior.
The committee made a preliminary
survey or the situation yesterday af-
ternOOn, and are busy today investigat-
ing the contract procedure of the pur--
chasing agent and the supply division.
A member Of the committee stated
this MOI ming that the system. as far as
investigated, showed some defects. but
he declined to say whether or not any
thing had developed 10 indicate irregI-
lsrities in the conduct of the purchase
and supply division.
Stillings Preparing Reply.
Mr.. stnlings is busy at the Office to-
day or his reply TO the statements
made in the report OF the Presidents
special Commissioners, DR.. Havenner.
who reported to the President that cost
Of printing had been greatly increased
To the departments.
Special Commissioner Rossiter yester--
day issued a circular for the informa-
tion OF the officials and employees OF the
Office. in which he states that the audit
system must be continued until further
orders.
It is said many Of the employees in
the composing rooms and elsewhere,
reading in the newspape that the
Audit System had been suspended at the
office, thought that the suspension of
the contract with the Audit people
meant that the entire system OF blanks
and bookkeeping would be Immediately
dispensed with. and accordingly discou-
tinued keeping their individual time
slips.
ROssiter's Order.
Mr. Rossiter's order issued yesterday
afternoon, is as follows:
THE system of accounting established
which has been installed in the Govern
ment Printing Onice, and in operation
for the past year. VIII e.continued until
further orders.
IAN accurate record Of cost and pro-
ductiOn is the first essential in every
manufacturing plant. ana IL is Of the
utmost Importance that accurate and
conscientious records shall be kept by
each employe in accordance with the
requirements of such system as is in
force, and all the employees Of this Of
flee are expected to make accurate re-
turns upon theiF time slips Violations
of this ORDER result in confusion IN
charging work TO Congress and the va
rious departments Of the Government.
and viii not be tolerated. The fOremen
will be held personally responsible for
reasonable accuracy and promptness Of
delivery Of time slips.
Printing Blocked.
The press rooms have been instructed
to do no more printing Of Office work
until further notice. This order viii
have the effect of stopping the printing
OF all blanks designed by the Audit sys-
TEN, which are used in great numbers
daily.
Mr.. Rossiter said this morning that 81
far as he was informed there was no
basis for the report that certain official
papers had been spirited away hurriedIy
following the suspension of the Public
Printer. Mr.. Rossiter said this report
had come to his attention. but he was
not prepared to fully confirm or deny
the truthfulness of the allegation ex-
Cept that it was his opinion that such
move would not have availed any pur-
pose, as there are duplicates of all
official papers in the Office.
Miss Martha Cook, who was the 9rin-
cipaI instructor arnDInVed hv. fha EtrdFf.