The Washington herald., 1908-01-14

Public Printer Charles A. Stiliings, II
has been said, has increased the expenses
OF his executive department to something
like S46S.0O0 a year. Some of those ex-
ecutive officers have evidently remem-
bered Mr.. Stillings, or. possibly. the odd
Audit System. and have attempted to earn
their salt in various ways.
1t was not many months ago that
firm in Washington was requested by the
Treasury Department. through the Gov
ernment Printing Office. to submit bids
on a stamp" not. Of course. Of the
ordinary 2-cent variety, but machine.
This firm submitted a bid for. approx
mately, go, The Government Printing
Office, strangely enough, awarded the
contract to the Washington firm. and it
thereupon supplied the Treasury. through
the "Printery," with the machine in
question.
Machine Used Two Months.
The Treasury Department used the ma
chine, it is said for about two months,
having first given the Government Print
ing Office. and through 1t the firm in
question, notice that the machine was
satisfactory. The Washington firm had
got the bid. it is asserted. through a
certain employe of the Government Print
ing Office. This employe sent the firm
the money due for the machine
After about two months use the Treas
ury Department found this machine was
not the kind wanted, and informed the
employe of the Government Printing
Office that the machine would not do.
This empioye. who. it is asserted, had al
ready paid cut of his own pocket the
amount due to the Washington firm, was
thus out, apparently, about S55 But he
was resourceful
He proceeded TO the Office OF the Wash
ington firm one daY. after the Treasury
Department had informed him it did not
intend 10 take the machine-it had never
paid him for it-and had a little bit of
conversation bearing on that machine.
Perhaps the conversation started with
some remarks about the weather. or Mr.
sullings' health, or some equally perti-
nent topic. but it wound up more inter
estingly. This employe of the Govern
ment Printing Office evidently knew what
he was talking about when il came down
20 business.
Didn't Want the Machine.
He asked the firm in question, 1t il
alleged, whether It would take back the
machine for which he had paid. but for
which he had received no compensation
from the Treasury Department. for which
il was ordered. This firm. through one
Of its members, replied 1t certainly did
not intend to take the machine back af-
ter + had been used for two months, and
after the employe of the Government
Printing Office had accepted it and paid
for il.
IF you don't" It is alleged this en-
pIoye said, you won't get any more con
tracts from the Government Printing Of
fee" And the firm says that it never
has.
Evidently, Mr.. Sullings' employees in his
executive offices have various ways in
which 10 talk 10 bidders who don't do
what the former want done.
Surely this emplOye couldn't mean that
he was running the award Of contracts
which Charles A. Stillings has, on
numerous instances, signed. Surely no
good employe OF Mr.. stilllngs would
threaten q business man Who wouldn't be
COeTCed-
The Odd Audit system.
It is sincerely to be hoped that neither
the odd Audit System nor our Public
Printer knows anything about such goIngs
on as this.
It is really to be hoped that the en-
ploye Of the Government Printing Office,
who is possibly under civil service, and
who is supposed to be serving the
best interests Of the government. does
get back his $50. so he can allow some
outside bidders to get In once in q while
on government contracts.
What a merry life it must be in the
Government Printing Office. when you
can try to dictate to outside bidders.
What a nice executive force Mr.. Still
ings has got around him. possibly through
the odd Audit System.