Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-21
D0NNELLy, SET BACK
No Right to Abolish Printeries,
Says Attorney General.
OPINION FOR PRESIDENT
Departments Fight Suppression Of
Branches by Public Printer.

0A0uVUCS Wy UU1IC xIlUtCIs
In general. the act vests the print
ing offices Of the government under
the control OF the public printer oh
vfously for the purpose Of operation
and not suppression" from q
recent decision Of George w. Wicker
sham. Attorney General of the United
States, at the request OF President
Taft.
Recent acts Of Public Printer Dom
nelly have resulted in bringing down
upon him criticism both in Official and
private circles.
Doubt is expressed as to his authority
and his wisdom in abolishing certain
branches OF the government printing
ONCE and curtailing the effectiveness OF
1t is claimed that because OF the public
printers action in this matter the eff
cheney OF certain government depart
ments has been lessened, and inciden-
tally number of employees of the
branch ofices. who felt secure in the
civil service positions, have been thrown
out of employment.
Claim Of Directors.
The claim is made that Mr.. Donnelly
had no more right to abolish branch
printeries than he has to abolish the gov
eminent printing ONCE proper, and that
his action in the matter was arbitrary and
uncalled for. 1t Is asserted by those who
to take the step in order that he might
say to the President he had reduced ex-
penses.
On the other hand, it is contended that
the public printer was within the law in
his action, which was sanctioned by the
1Ofnt committee nrnfnp IF Cnn0re1Q
The branches abolished practically by
and with the consent of the joint commit
tee were those connected with the De-
partment Of Agriculture. Department of
the Interior and the Treasury Depart
ment.
At the instigation Of Mr.. Donnelly 1t is
said the printing investigating committee
OF the Senate and House is now conside--
branches at the War, State and Navy
The officials of the departments inter-
ested are said to be strenuously opposing
the action Of the public printer in the
premises. They claim that the removal
of the branches to the government print
ing Office proper will seriously hamper the
work OF their Offices.
Some of11cials also declare that, because
Mr.. Donnelly desires to make a showing
OF retrenchment in his own department.
he should not. in carrying out that idea.
embarrass other departments of the gov
eminent.
Official Consideration Given.
The matter is being considered by the
President, the Department Of Justice and
by committees Of Congress. Printers and
other employees who have lost their po-
sitfons because of the changes have con-
suited attorneys and contemplate bring
ing suit against Mr.. Donnelly for their
wages from the time of the abolition of
the branch off1ces in which they were
employed until the date Of their rein
statement.
The discharged men claim that.
while the public printer can dismiss
men for lack Of work, he cannot put
them out OF employment by Illegally
closing the Offices in which they
Copies Of the opinion Of Attorney
General Wickersham defining the du-
ties OF the public printer, especially in
such matters as the abolition OF the
branch ofiices, are in the hands Of rep
resentatives and senators who are in
terested in the affair.
1t Is understood that Gen. Ainsworth
appeared before the investigating com
mission yesterday and opposed the re-
branch, claiming that it would seriously
interfere with the work of the record
and pension division.
1t il stated the Treasury Department
made strenuous objection to the discon-
tinuance of it's branch. on the ground
that much Of the work it requires done
is Of a strictly confidential character.
But Mr.. Donnelly did not heed the
protest.
1t is granted that the public printer
IL he has not sufficient
work to keep all employed.
But 1t is claimed it was not because
of lack OF work that the Treasury
nd nth dfono ,AI
because the work Is still going on. The
abolition Of particular branch, it is
declared, does not necessarily mean
there is not work for it to do.
Opinion Of Attorney General.
The opinion of Attorney General
dated March 20 last, is
In part:
II am in receipt of a letter addressed
to you by the public printer, under
date of March 20, 1910, in which he
requests my opinion as to whether or
not the public printer Is authorized by
law to abolish, of his own motion. any
Of the branch printing offices under his
control, and what offices may be abol-
lshed by the public printer. with the
Of the joint committee on
The powers and duties of the public
printer are prescribed by the general
printing act Of January L., 1895, enti-
tied An act providing for the public
and binding, etc. t2S Stat.
601). Section II in the only provision
Of the statute dealing with the printing
Offices and branches. 1t is in the fol-
lowing language.
''Ail printing Offices in the depart
ments now in operation, or hereafter put
Into operation, by law, shall be consid-
cred a part of the government printing
office, and shall be under the control OF
the public printer, who shall furnish all
presses, types, etc, from the general
supplies OF the government printing once.
md ali persons employed In said printing
offices and binderies shall be appointed
by the public printer, and be carried on
his nav roll the same 40 meployes In the
nain once, and shall be responsible to
Provided, That the terms of this act
shall not apply to the Office OF the
weather bureau. or 30 much OF the print
ne rs L. necessary to expedite the work
,f the record and pension division Of the
War Department. nor to the printing Of
ice now in operation in the census once:
but the public printer. with the approval
If the joint COMMITTEES on printing. may
lbolish any OF these excepted ofiices
whenever in their Judgment tae economy
# the public service would be thereby
advanced.
All work done in the said Offices shall
De ordered on blanks prepared for that
purpose by the public printer, ETC.
THE only power conferred In this sec
ion," the Attorney General adds, with
aspect to the abolitio NOT any Office. is
k-t.