The Washington herald., 1908-02-09

Chief Investigator ". S Rossiter and
the five assistants assigned to him by
the President dug their official probes
deeply into the internal mechanism Of the
Government Printing Ofce yesterday.
At the end of their iabors a mass OF
data, figures, and ideas concerning tho
administration Of the suspended Public
Printer. Charles a. Stllings, and his pro-
tege, The Audit System, had been coll
lected and assimilated.
Secrecy guarded the results Of the days
Investigations, but it is known that the
information was such as to convince Mr..
Rossiter and his assistants OF the neces-
sity for the most minute scrutiny Of the
various transactions made BY Mr. Still
ings and The Audit System
I Longer Than Was Expected.
4 The investigation viii take much longer
than was thought at the start The prob
ers have found themselves confronted by
such a multitude Of matters requiring
their attention it Wiz, in all probability.
take until the end Of this month to finish
the work and report the findings in ful
10 the President
Neither Mr. Rossiter nor his five assist
ant probers would discuss the result Of
the days work yesterday. but it IS under
stood, on good authority, that nothiag
so far has been discovered Of a criminal
nature.
Whereas there has been nothing. so FAR,
to show that Mr. Stillings has been guilty
of intentional wrong-doing. the evidence
produced so far conclusively points 10 his
lack Of executive ability. gross errors in
judgment. and an unwarranted extrava-
gance in the disposition Of government
money.
The Audit System is shCWn to be un-
wieldy. enormously expensive, and TO
have cost the government. through AIr.
Stilhngs. large sums of money. that need
never have been spent
Facts Brought 10 Id-ht.
The fact that 10 evidence Of dishonest
work on the part of The Audit system
officials has been brought 70 light by AIr.
lRossiter's Investigations means little at
this stage OF the work.
The Presidents experts. whose selec-
ton was announced exclusively by The
Washington Herald yesterday morning,
have hardly begun the task that lies be-
fore Them. These men-Wllbur W. Fow-
Ter. sylvester K. Burch. and Lawrence F.
Schmeckebier-5usie themselves yester-
d. solely in making the rounds Of the
plant and familiaTizing themselves with
the question of supplies in each division
and section of the great building.
FROM now on they viii devote their at
tention 10 examining the records Of all
purchases Of supplies made through the
order OF Mr.. StiIlings and under the re-
gime of The Audit System The c0unec-
ton between the Audit system and the
Suffolk Distributing Company that is
known 10 have made bids for furnishing
supplies 10 the G. p O. will be given
close scrutiny, and if there is anything OF
q shady nature in these transactions, il is
considered hardly. possible it will be over
looked by the probers.
Mr.. Rossiter requested the President
yesterday morning 20 send two expert au-
ditors to assist in the investigation of the
financial affairs Of the printery. and E. A.
Gongwer. financial expert in the Office Of
the Comptroller of the Treasury, and F.
/ C. Getzendanner. expert in the Office Of
the auditor OF the State and other de-
partments, were assigned TO the task
other Experts Called.
The calling in of these expert auditors
at this time merely means that Mr.. Ros-
sitter is determined TO get the financial
affairs of the printeTy Strengthened out as
soon as possible. and has no special sig
nideance as far as the investigation OF
suspicious contracts is concerned.
The confusion among the workers
brought about by the suspension of The
Audit System officials and the cancella-
tion of their contract with the govern
ment, resulted in a special order issued
by Mr. Rossiter yesterday, notifying the
/ employees of the printeTy that The Audit
| System itself is still in operation and viii
continue until further notification. Il ap-
pears a number Of employees had thought
the system Of auditing expired with the
suspension of the officials Of the concern,
and had been neglecting to keep their
Mr. Rosters Order.
Mr.. Rossiters order was as follows.
Tie systeEH-ef accounting established by The
! Audit System Of New York, which has been installed
IN the Goyemment Printing Office, and in 0ueTa-
ton for the PAST year. VIII &c continued until iU
| theT orders
| An accurate record Of cost Of production is The
first essential in every manufacturing plant and IL is
of the utmost importance that accurate and cousen-
tious records shall be keTt BIZ each empl0ye IN &C..
c0Tdance with the requirements .; such system Is
/ Ia force, and al the employees Of this Office
! expected % make accurate returns upon their time
slips Violations Of this order result in confusion
charging work TO Conpezs and the various depart
ments Of the government. and viii not be tolerated
The foremen viii be held personally responsible for
reasonable accuracy and promptness Of delivery IA
time slips
Lands Sees President.
Chairman lands, Of the Joint Commit
tee on Printing. called on the President
yesterday in regard to the investigation.
| It is understood the President announced
! his satisfaction with the conduct OF the
Investigation to date, and made known
Continued on Page ?, Column 4.