Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-07

etc. will be taken up by the congressional
committee that is probing into govern.
ment printing Office affairs. Among the
contracts mentioned in this connection was
one for 81 900 per annum for suppiSins
the printery with bug powder. 10 De
sprinkled about the premises Tor the pur
rose of Kidding the establishment OF wafer
reaches cockroaches and the like IL Is
said a firm offered to perform the service
at about one-fourth Of the sum named
In this connection inquiry was mace as
to the status Of the offcfai NY swatter
and it was intimated that had not the
prevailing arctic weather put him out OF
commission he would have been returned
to the Office cleaning force whence ne
came.
The investigating microscope will be the
alleged destruction of thousands OF dollars
worth of time slips. which were SAID 10
he printed and reprinted over and over
again for the system until suitable slip
had been determined on: Many truckfuis
Of these slips were said to have been cut
In two under the paper cutters and as
signed to the waste-paper pile.
4 friend of Mr.. Rossiter said today that
he was not only A newspaper writer OF
note hut that while he never learned the
trade Of printer he had been manager OF
large printing concerns and knows all the
intricacies of the business from cellar to
rarret In fact, the friend added. while
he did not serve an apprenticeship at the
case he really knows more OF the bust
ne.s-in estimating calculating and in the
management of a printing plant-than
does the average typo
To Extract Electricity.
1t is said an investigation into the paper
supply now on in hand at the government
printing office will be made and that it
will show that there is a large quantity
of paper in rolls of an inferior quality in
the warehouse and cellar that cannot be
worked on the presses because of it's
flimsy quality. and also that there has
been enough paper ordered and stored
there under the name OF reserve 10 last
The printery many years.
Another matter that will come under
the probe. it is said. will be the recent
installation of a system which was in
tended to draw the electricity from the
printing paper stored at the office. mis-
system is said to have cost Uncle Sam
good round sum; and IT mas utterly
failed to attract the elusive electricity
from the paper as intended. One OF the
officials declared today that after the
paper had been treated by this plan and
was supposed to be free from electric In
fuences. it was sent 10 the press room,
and i'm going through the presses 1T
cracked like firecrackers and curled up
as a result of the electricity in 1T. badly
frightening the women press feeders:
In order to install this system it became
necessary to cut into walls, through
floors, etc.
Representative Lands Awed.
1t is related that an amusing incident
marked the visit of Representative Lands
to the government printing Office yester-
day afternoon to confer with Mr.. Rossi-
ter. AS Mr. Lands entered the main por-
tails Of the printery on North Capitol
street it is said. he was met by a tall in
<li,-11, zinc
TO cause him to be mistaken for Rus
sian rear admiral. The tall man wore
bell crown cap. decorated with gold lace
and buttons. and navy blue uniform also
highly decorated with FURNISHED buttons.
AS the attache of the. printery stepped
,,p to the genial member from Indiana
and came to attention. Mr.. Lands. with
Chesterfieldian grace and suavity, bowed
low and asked.
Whom have I the honor of address
inS?'
Il am the second assistant keeper of
the main door" the tall man replied.
oh. yes. wen.'' the representative who
is applying the probe replied. L see;
but really, my man. I thought you might
have been the lord high chief chamberlain
OF the great white car OF all the Husslas.
Commission Has Information.
Chairman Lands of the joint printing
subcommittee today received a copy OF
the Havenner report on the government
printing office. In this connection 1t Is
regarded as of interest that the printing
investigating commission. the member
shin cf which is identical with that of the
Joint printing committee OF the Senase
and House has been for several montns
eneaced in the collection of Information
which will afford compete ANALYSIS e'
The entire problem of the public print
ing. both for the departments and Tor
1.nn1ress. for the last three fiscal years.
The commission started the inquiry NO
vember IL last by letter aoaressec r, 10
replies to this inquiry will cover al the
government publications. by title. d1vidlng
the printing into two classes-pubHcat1ons
and miscellaneous.
government printing ONCE calling for still
further information which. together with
the report from the departments. will al
ford among other things. the opportunity
for a complete and comparative Analysis
and cost accounting covering the three
years in question.
Reports Not Complete.
The departmental and the government
printing ONCE reports are yet incomplete.
and even after the last report shall have
been received. it will probably require
several weeks to compile and analyze the
data they will supply. Although a COM
parixcn Of costs was not the principal OBJ
ject of the inquiry, Yet II was one of the
important objects. and ii is the purpose
of the commission to make the inveStiga-
ton as complete and as thorough as pos
sible.
Mr. Lands IL in charge of this inquiry
as chairman Of the subcommittee Of the
joint committee on printing. He said to-
day that the special investigation into
the Audit System and into the Suffolk
Distributing Company In connection with
bids which were held up recently will
be resumed in few days. when a num-
her of additional witnesses will be in
attendance
1t was stated today that few weeks
ago the public service commission of New
York selected Mr.. Rossiter to prepare its
annual report and arrange it for publica-
ton. Owing to the increased duties Of Mr..
Rossiter i'm connection with the printery
Investigation the director of the census
states it will be impossible for Mr.. Rossi-
ter to attend to the matter.
Cancellation Of Contract.
ronrurrinH In tho recoSnn nd n: