The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1908-02-14
BOND WAS REFUSED
President Turned Down in Appointment Of
Rossiter as Temporary Head Of
Government Print Shop.


Government Print Shop.
A Washington special says: William
S. Rossiter, appointed by President
Roosevelt as acting public printer in
place of Public Printer Stillings, who
is under suspension pending an inves-
tigation Of the affairs Of his Office. went
to the treasury department Friday to
have his bond approved. The depart
ment refused to consider the matter,
on the ground that the president had
exceeded his authority in appointing
Mr.. Rossiter; that the assistant pub
lie printer, Captain H. T. Brian, suc-
ceeds to the vacancy. Under this
informal ruling Mr.. Rossiter later in
the day stepped aside and his place
was taken by Captain Brian, who will
administer the government printing Of
fee as public printer for the time
being. Mr.. Rossiter, however, does not
relinquish the work OF inquiry laid out
for him by the president. His position
in the government printing Office be-
comes that Of the presidents personal
representative and he is proceeding
with the investigation upon which he
is to base his report to the president
of conditions existing there and of the
best methods of putting the big plant
on a business basis.
Chairman Lands of the joint con.
gressional committee, which is inves-
tigating alleged irregularities in the
government printing Office, has given
out the following statement:
''The printing investigation commit
tee has been for some months engag-
ed in the investigation of information
which will afford a complete analysis
of the problem of public printing, for
the departments and for congress for
the last three years. The commission
started this inquiry ON November Ii
by letter addressed to the various
executive departments. The replies to
this inquiry will cover all of the gov
eminent publications and will divide
the printing into two iasses-publi-
cations and miscellaneous. An inquiry
was also addressed to the government
printing Office calling for still further
information. None of these reports
are as yet completed and after they
have been submitted 1t is likely that
several weeks will be occupied in COM
piling and Analysing their data While
a comparison Of cost is not the pri-
mary object of this inquiry, it is one
Of the important objects and it is the
purpose of the commission to make
the investigation as thorough as pos
sible."
The act under which the treasury
department decided not to accept Mr..
Rossiter's bond was that of January IL,
1895, which provides that in case of
death, resignation, absence or illness
Of the public printer, the chief clerk of
the government printing Office should
perform the duties Of public printer
until a successor was appointed or such
absence or illness shall cease. 1t also
provides that the president in his dis
erection authorize and direct any other
officer of the government whose ap-
pointment is vested in the president by
and with the advice and consent of the
senate to temporarily perform the du-
ties Of the vacant Office. Under the
ruling Of the treasury officials, Mr..
Rossiter can have no other standing
than that of personal representative Of
the president without specific authority
in matters pertaining to the manage
ment Of the Office.