The Washington herald., 1908-01-22

the white House RMS week
An investigation has been ordered by
President Roosevelt Of the cost of print
ing done by the Government Printing
once for the various departments,
Evidently the Presidents action is in
spired by belief that the cost Of print
ing done for the departments is too high.
The order includes the additional order
that the result of the investigation be
reported 10 him.
Just when the reports will be made is
not known but it is said some of them.
at least, viii reach the White House
this week.
The Executive order is sweeping, and
has been sent to every department Of the
government which is compelled to get
printing done at the government printery.
Secretary Loeb said yesterday the
President had issued such an order. and
that it was directed to all departments.
He said he diI not know just when tho
reports would begin TO reach the White
House. Further than that he said. he
could not discuss the matter. He said,
however. that the President had desired
to ascertain the cost 10 the department
OF the work done by the Government
Printing Office.
In the Presidents Hands.
From other sources The Washington
Herald has learned that the investigation
was ordered by President Roosevelt some
days ago, and that some Of the reports.
AT least will likely be in his hands this
week The reports, it is understood, viii
be complete and viii show whether Pub
lie Printer Charles A. stlIings has so
economically conducted his once. as he
stated to a reporter lie had done.
Keeping entirely within the facts, The
Washington Herald has, from time to
time. endeavored TO show that the Public
Printer, Charles A. suungs, has not re-
duced the cost of work TO the depart
ments. as he claims to have done. Mr..
Stillings told a reporter several weeks
ago that he reduced the expenditures OF
the Government Printing Office almost
100000 during the first year he was in
office. and that his report for the year
1907 would show a reduction Of about $780,
Cl,
The Washington Herald has shown con-
clusively that Mr. StilIings has not re-
duced the cost Of printing: it has shown
that in many instances the Government
Printing Office has increased instead Of
reduced that cost
It has been known for some time that
there has been some dissatisfaction
among officials of the various depart
ments over the manner in which the
Government Printing Office has been car
rying out departmental work. In many
Instances it is known the departments
have been unable to get work done at
the government establishment as cheapIy
as it could have been done by private
firms in this city and elsewhere.
Some Estimates Furnished.
It mas been shown by The Washington
Herald that in some cases the estimates
furnished by the Government Printing
Office have proved almost farcicaI. and
that after the work was done the Office |
found, through its system Of cost, audit !
SC, which must have been introduced by
The Audit System that the original esti- |
mates and the actual cost of production. |
as shown by branch Of the same sys-
tem' did not agree by alarmingly large /
differences.
That there must have been some good
basis for the Presidents order is. certain.
and that that basis was the one that many
OF the departments have been contlnu-
ally dissatisfied with the work done by
the Government Printing Office has been
asserted in quarters qualified to know.
This Is not the first time the President
has ordered the departments 10 loolz into
the curtailment OF their printing hills
Something more than a year ago. short
ly after Mr.. Stllings came into Office as
Public Printer an Executive order was
issued by President Roosevelt. directing
all departments 10 cut down expenses of
printing wherever possible.
Since the President has found need Of
issuing a second order. which strikes
not this time at the expenses of the de-
partment. but at the cost of the work
done for those departments by the Gov
ernment- Printing Office, it is understood
he Is not satisfied with the manner in
which the work is now being done At the
big establishment conducted by Mr.. Still
ings. Il
Mr.. Stilllngs said 10 a reporter for The
Washington Herald that he was put in
office to get out the work and to reduce
expenses. Taking him on his own basis
Of efficiency. it is said that he must
have been found wanting That many
Of the reports will find him wanting is
believed.
He Told a Reporter.
Mr.. Stillings also to- reporter for The
Washington Herald he was not afraid of :
N examination into the way in which ,
he was conducting the Government Print
ng Office. or doing the work. It has :
,een shown, however. several times that
Ir. StIlIings, backed by The Audit Sys- i
EN-, which he put into the Printing Office
Continued on Page ., Column 4. Ip
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