The Washington herald., 1908-02-03

Munsey Building
These entries are to be found in the
Washington telephone directory.
Some of the bids made for contracts TO
furnish supplies TO the Government Print
ing ONCE are signed as follows.
SUFFOLK DISTRIBUTING COMPANY.
By W A. Root Agent.
The Audit system which, since Septem-
bcr. 1906. has been employed by the gov
ernment TO install new methods In the
Government Printing Office at a cost Of
$l.65e per week. las its headquarters at 50
Duane street, New York
The Suffolk Distributing Company
which has been the successful bidder on
contracts in the past through Wv. 4.
Root agent" and whose bids for $4,000
ON white paper supplies for the next fiscal
year are now held Up, has its headquar-
ters at 80 Duane street. New York.
Officers of Tile Audit system. .
Duane street New York. are connected
with the Suffolk Distributing Company.
% Duane street New York w. A. Root
has acted as agent Of both
NtiIIinEs Thought IL Proper,
Public Printer Charles A. Suuings saw
nothing improper in this. Representative
Lands. of Indiana, chairman of the
subcommittee of the Printing Commits
sion, when lis attention was called to it.
considered it 'manifesHy improper" not
To- use a stronger Characterization. and
searching investigation is now pending.
A government official or empIove cannot
he interested in government contract
without rendering himself criminany
liable, Tt is not alleged that there was
collision between Public Printer Charles
A. Stliings and The Audit system in con
nection with these C p o. contracts.
but the question arises whether The Audit
system, being employed by the govern
mcnt and. tn effect. an official of the
government engaged in specified work
Tor the government. has not rendered
itself liable under the statutes. as did Off
eiaIs and employees Of the Post-office De
partment, who were prosecuted and pun
ished a few years ago.
The combined annual salaries Of Public
Printer Charles A. Suuings and his Audit
System contractors amount to so. go The
Public Printer receives $3.50 a year. Tie
Audit System contractors receive $3.50
per week. OF $S5,Sd0 a year
Questions Suggested.
Tie Printing Committee probably will
ask the Public Printer some very pointed
questions. These are some that properly
suggest themselves.
We're yo1 ever employed by vbat is known as
The Audit system rrsyi0us TO your appointment as
Public Printer.
How long uas The Audit System in existence
previous 10 vcur appointment as Public Printer?
can vou give the committee as reference. the
-uams or names Of any institutions satisfactorily
se-rematizod hv The Audit System Of 81 Duane
street, New York.
Are yoH Interested ia any way with Tho Audit
system ihe Audit Srs'em Supplies Company. or
tHe Suffolk Distributing Company
Have E0U ever purchased without competition.
9zem .be suffolk Distributing Company through an
Audt sgstem agsnt supplies of engine oh, cylinder
oI. and press OIL
Have rou ever purchased without competition
from The Audit System, supplies Of binders and
lr0ssi6ai ledg5rs necessary TO the proper instsa-
ton @, a cost audit and inventory systemf'
Have son ever purchased furniture from The
Audit system without competition.
Have yG ever awarded q contract to The Audit
system for ever Slg0 fr furniture after allowing
~
upon the merits # the goods Of its comustitors
Were the first Cooper Hewitt lamps introduced
into Che Government Printing Office through The
Arit Nr5tems
Would S15.G0 cover the cost Of those now in uss'
To- yoa u=e lhis system OF Lighting IN your
executive Offices: If NOT. why not?
These are but few of the pertinent
questions that Public Printer StiIiings
may be called upon 90 answer. Possibly
he can answer some of them to the credit
of his administration. But all Of them he
cannot.
Tt is said al the Government Printing
once that the hunt for lost notion bv
The Audit System is costing the tax
PAYERS of this country over S1.0O0 a day.
And, according TO Mr.. Raynor. Of The
Audit System, it will take five years TO
nud it.
Chairman LRndis' Statement.
Chairman Landis has summed up the
case in the following statement.
Under provision Of the s1rdry civil alaroprisiions
act for the fiscal year 1905 the Public Printer vas
aatherized 30 aTTFnd money in installing in the
Government Printing Ufce a Ssten Of accounts.
Ry reason II This the Public Printer continued 4
contract originally entered into in September 1856
with The Audi. System, of New YORK City, said
contract providing that for vors done as above
contemplated The Audit System should receive
sl.E0 ID week. Ny attention was called to the
charge that The Audit System. in addition to this
WsIs Of installing an accounting system in the
,ioYcumeHt Printing Office, was furnishing supplies
TO tlc Government Printing Once in competition
with other bidders and also was furnishing sup
plies Oh which there was no competition.
7 took the matter up with the Public Printer and
DE- admitted them 90 be true, but stated that the
matters had not impressed him as being in any
way improper
Informed him that 1 considered it mauifestly |
improper. and it was tacitly agreed TIA, The Audit
system should be limited 10 the duties under its
CONTRACT and should refrain from furnishing sup
plies 10 the Government Printing Offce either |
with OF uithou- competition
Under the statutes the soint committee on /
printing every year receives bids and awards con |
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