Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-06
The Printing Office Troubles.

The suspension from Office of Public
Printer Stillings must be regarded, in all
justice, merely as a means to the end of
ascertaining just what are the conditions
at the governments printing shop. 1t is
easily conceivable. as Representative Ian
dis declared to the President. that as long
as Mr.. Stillings remained in charge of the
work no satisfactory inquiry into the cir
cumstances could be conducted. How
ever the report might run, 1t could with
some measure of logic have been asserted
that his presence at the head of the es-
Establishment under scrutiny had had its
influence upon the inquiry. Now.-with a
substitute in charge. the details of the
' transactions which are under investiga-
ton can be readily and fully examined.
? to the end of permitting a perfectly fair
Judgment of the situation.
1t has been apparent for some time that
the printing Office was in need of some
sort of examination. to restore discipline
and confidence and to render a more eco
nomical accounting of the enterprise to
the government. Mr.. Stiilings' admins
tration was stormy from the beginning.
He possessed. however, the entire conf
dence of the President. and in some re-
spects a public printer never started
under more happy auspices. But the an
tagonisms aroused soon after the new
regime was opened precipitated situa-
''tion which called for more than mere
firmness of administration. 1t is believed
by many that Mr.. Stiliings lacked this
quality of holding things on a level basis
under stress. Certainly it is obvious to
the unprejudiced observer that the diff
culties and disputes constantly reported
from the great shop had their cause more
or less directly in the lack of tactful
balance at the head of the organization.
The present troubles. however. are of a
different character, the charge being d.
rectly made that the public printing is
costing the government too heavily and
that a certain system of ONCE auditing
and accounting has involved heavy ex-
penses without bringing compromising
etoLomies. The serious charge has been
brought that the law is violated by the
participation of those who are virtually
employees of the government in the sup
plying of materials for printing. An ex-
pert investigator has already rendered
an opinion that the printing is too
expensive. and the joint subcommittee Of
Congress on the subject of the printing
ONCE administration is at work seeking
the facts in connection with the audit
and supply system. 1t Is this latter in
vestigation which is to be facilitated by
the temporary removal of the head of the
ONCE.
:. Whatever may be In detail the outcome
of this latest printing ONCE ruction, it is
TO be hoped that some system Of admin
istration may be devised by which, both
by virtue Of its organic method and its
personnel. the affairs of the governments
printing shop will be managed both eco
nomically and smoothly, with justice to
all classes and favoritism to none. The
problems to be encountered there are
difficult. 1t is true, and the responsible
ties are heavy. but there is surely way
to do the governments printing economi-
caliy and peacefully and man capable of
doing the werk in this way can unques-
tionaoly be found.