Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-05

for the Central Labor Union. The Pres-
dent informed his visitors as TO the action
Inc had already taken and they came
away greatly pleased feeling that their
work for the last year has hau much
To do with the final result
Additional Charges.
The committee presented the following
to the President, in addition to copies OF
resolutions adopted recently at meeting
of their union:
We have the honor to submit, and
herewith inclose. for your consideration. a
copy of set of resolutions introduced
and adopted by the Central Labor Union
of Washington. d. c., at its regular
meeting held Monday. January 20. 1908.
in regard to the maladministration of
Charles 4. Stillings. public printer in his
conduct of the government printing office.
1T is respectfully submitted that We
have sufficient evidence of Mr.. Stillings
violations of the law: as more par
ticulariy set forth in the resolution
heretofore referred to. We are of opinion
Stillings will call for executive action.
Your attention IS more particularly in
vlted to violations of the efght-hour law
by him in the government printing Office
and ask to be allowed to state our case
orally. and will follow the same up with
affidavits later. 1t is difficult at this
time to get witnesses against Mr.. Still
ings. for the reason that many of them
are employed in the government printing
office and directly under his charge. We
hope. however. to follow our oral state
ment up by way of afiidavits if necessary.
1T is also requested that We he al
lowed to submit our testimony of his al
legged violations of the law before any
investigation now in progress against Mr.
-StiiliBgs
Upon proof of these charges we think
to Ia
ice that Mr.. Stillings should be removed
from Office, and We ask the same in the
name of the Central Labor Union of this
city
Labor Union Interested
Secretary Sam De Nedrey of the Central
Labor Union said this afternoon that reso-
1utions calling for the investigation Of Mr.
'Stiliings and the government printing
Office had been forwarded to Congress
and the President by about 400 Central
Labor Unions throughout the country
representing many thousands of working
men. The specific charges were viola
ton OF the eight-hOur law, discrimination
AGAINST veteran soldiers and the widows
of soldiers, and violation of the civil serv-
Ice laws These charges are said to be
backed by barrels of affidavits"
Charles A. Stillings of Massachusetts,
was appointed public printer to succeed
Frank w. Palmer of illinois, and Acting
Public Printer Oscar Ricketts,. November
y. 1903 During his administration he
instituted many new features, including
the Audit System, and published with fire.
quency general orders for the enforce
ment of almost military discipline among
the printers and others He has been
opposed by organized labor, partly be-
cause of his alleged open shop tendencies
and was criticised severely for designat-
ing the public printery as 1.-The works.
He also created many new offices and
ht,r, vl,t
of the system that had been in vogue at
the Office under former public printers.
News of Stunning Character.
The first information Of the suspension
of Public Printer Stillings by the Presi-
dent was conveyed to the government
printing office this afternoon by a re-
porter of The Star. The announcement
seemed to stun the officials of the big
priritery, who had believed that even
pending an investigation Mr. Stillings
would be allowed to conduct the affairs
of the office until a conclusion had been
reached In the matter.
The news of the suspension of the chief
spread over the office like wildfire and
II is said to have brought about almost
a cessation of the work in certain divi-
sions while the printers and others stood
about in groups and discussed the situa-
tion.
When the announcement was made that
Mf- RosSiter OF the census bureau had
been designated as acting public printer
surprise was expressed that Capt. Brian.
deputy public printer. had not been Sc
lected for the temporary chiefship IL
was explained that man outside OF the
printery was selected in order that a
more thorough investigation could be
made. which might involve others i'm the
office.
Mr.. Stillings received hurry call about
ESQ O'Clock and left the printing ONCE.
being whiried away in his carriage 1t
was said lie had been summoned 10 the
White House by President Roosevelt to
be handed his suspension in person. Later
In the afternoon Mr.. Stilings could not
ne found.
The charges against the public printer
were outlined in The Star several months
ago Since that time other complaints
nave been formulated by labor organiza-
lions and individuals.
Views Of MI. Lands.
Representative Lands OF Indiana. chair
man Of the subcommittee on printing
which has been engaged in an inquiry into
alleged irregularities in the government
printing office in connection with white
paper bids submitted by the Suffolk Dis:
tribuunS Company, received the letter
from President Roosevelt announcing the
suspension of Mr.. Stillings at = O'Clock
this afternoon. :
Mr.. Lands told Star reporter he called
"Poii 'tic iiesiurhl TINS morning and re-
Iuested the suspension OF Mr.. Stiiings
In view OF conditions at che govern
-mcnt printing office, it is my opinion this
course of action is justified and due the
government. the government printing Of
ice and Mr.. Stillings himself
Mr.. Iandis did not indicate Just when
ne subcommittee will resume its sessions
and its inquiry into the affairs of the bi /,
oTintery. hut he did say that the probe
Hill ne pushed clear TO the bottom.
Mr.. Rossiter Takes Charge.
Mr.. Rossitcr. the new acting public
printer when seen this afterpoon by a
Star reporter said he had received notice
hat the President had appointed him TO
take charge Of the government printing