Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-27
DON'T STEAL THE LEATHER
But Congress Committee Will Inves.
tigate. Just the Same.
PRINTING COMMITTEE BUSY
Probing Into Charges at Big Print
cry Is Begun to Dis
close Facts.

am SttiSIleu Indt every safeguard
to prevent the theft of leather from the
government printing office has been
adopted. short of the point of putting
a guard over every man and making
every employee feel that he is being
watched as an undeveloped thief.
When that point is reached the eff
ficiency of the employees is bound to
decrease. l don't want to be public
printer when We have to regard every
employee as an undeveloped thief"
Such was the comment made today
by Public Printer Samuel B. Donnelly
when asked about the charges that
government leather has been utilized
by some employees in the big print shop
10 make purses. match box covers
pocketbooks and other similar articles
Belittled by the public printer. the
charges are being taken seriously by the
Joint commission on printing of Con-
gress. The commission has heard about
twenty witnesses. and plans to hear many
more after the holidays Members of the
commission have not made up their minds
as 10 the truth or faIsity of the charges,
of course, but they are determined to
give them a thorough airing.
The charges were brought to the atten-
ton of the public printer and of the joint
printing commission about two months
40. TWO employees in the bindery divi-
sion of Uncle Sans printery were let out
at that time, one permanently and the
other temporarily. And they furnished
the information which started the probe.
One Section Involved.
Their accusations involved only one Sec
ton of the bindery division, and were to
the effect that. with the knowledge of the
foreman of that section. leather that be-
ionged to the printshop was being taken
TO make leather articles for the personal
Use of the employees. and that the en-
ployes We're making such articles during
the time for which they were being paid
by the government.
1t was charged that the leather was
obtained i'm various ways that could not
he discovered under the system of ac-
counting for supplies now in force. For
instance, after a dishonest emplOye had
obtained leather for use in binding books
making covers in which to file maya
zines. he would help himself to some of
the leather pieces that were of the size
he needed for making small leather ar
ticles, and obtain others on the plea
that some of those given him were
spoiled. 1t has even been alleged that a
number of employees in the section were
put to work behind a pile of boxes, but
with the knowledge of the foreman. in
making personal articles. such as purses
and bottle covers. 1t was not charged
that any of the articles made from stolen
leather were made to sell.
. During the investigation which has al
ready been made by the printing commits
SION, headed by Senator Smoot, several
witnesses have confessed that they did
use government leather and time in MAX
ing small leather articles. They have ac-
cused others Some of the accused have
already made fiat denials. either to the
I'M m Qoi0 nY Tn it's r1Y11n vx-1&
getting the witnesses together. and others
of the accused will be brought up as wit
nesses when the inquiry is continued
early in January.
Commission Not Satisfied.
That the printing commission of Con-
sress is not satisfied with the investiga-
ton Of the charges made by Public Print
er Donnelly became known today. And
the fact that the commission is probing
the charges thoroughly is pointed to as
confederation Of the statement When
the charges were brought to his atten-
ton. some of the members Of the COM
mission have felt. he did not go deeply
enough into them.
Il have worked around printing shops
and binderies for many years." Mr. Don
nelly said this morning. and there is
always petty thievery going on. But l
been adopted in the printing office, short
OF making each employe feel that he is
being watched as possible thief
could call some men into my Office
and they would make charges about
thievery. i could call down the accused
and they would deny il. There would be
no confederation. ! have to take so much
time to run the printing office that l
haven't time to put out n dragnet I'm
this case | knew, too, that the printing
commission was making an investigation
and would find out what should be done"
Mr.. Donnelly said this morning that
several months ago a grating was found
pried open and five skins We're missing
Tie theft was not fixel on any indiyid-
nal, but two subsequent inventories have
shown no further shortages. Six en-
ployes have been dismissed in the last
several months for thievery. lie also said
but none of them were for thefts of
leather. Two of them could have stolen
leather. he said, If they had been dis
POSED To.